Scribe AI
Scribe AI is an extension for Visual Studio Code that allows programmers to use ChatGPT or GPT right inside the code editor. The extension ...
Last verified:
What is Scribe AI?
Scribe AI is a Visual Studio Code extension developed by Andrew Zhang that brings ChatGPT and GPT capabilities directly into the VS Code editor. It allows developers to understand code by highlighting a piece of code and asking questions about it similar to how they would in ChatGPT. The extension serves as an AI programming assistant that developers can talk with to understand complex code, modify and improve their code, or generate comments for their code.
Key features include Ask AI, which lets users highlight code, click the chat icon, and type questions like
Scribe AI pricing
Pricing model: Free
Scribe AI extension is free to install from the VS Code marketplace. However, it requires users to provide their own OpenAI API key, and all AI requests are charged through OpenAI's token-based pricing. There is no built-in free tier or subscription from the extension itself. Users pay OpenAI directly based on token consumption for the GPT models they use (code-davinci-002 by default, or ChatGPT model if enabled in settings). OpenAI's API pricing varies by model and token count.
Scribe AI pros
- Free extension to install from VS Code marketplace
- ChatGPT-like interface directly inside VS Code editor
- Highlights code and asks questions without switching windows
- Continuous conversation with context maintained between queries
- Conversations saved in workspace for later review
- AI Edit feature to modify code with simple instructions
- Note-taking capability within conversations
- Supports both ChatGPT and GPT models via API settings
- Good for understanding complex legacy code
- Can generate code snippets on demand
- Can add comments to code automatically
- Undo support for AI Edits using standard Ctrl/Cmd+Z
- Can refactor code to different programming languages
- Native VS Code sidebar panel integration
- Works for programmers of all experience levels
Scribe AI cons
- Requires user's own OpenAI API key (not included)
- Uses OpenAI API tokens which incur costs based on usage
- Not as performant as directly using ChatGPT website
- Initially used code-davinci-002 which is slower than ChatGPT
- Requires active internet connection for all AI features
- No offline capability for AI assistance
- Occasional formatting issues with AI Edit results
- Must reset extension when changing settings
Frequently asked questions about Scribe AI
What is Scribe AI?
Scribe AI is a VS Code extension that brings ChatGPT and GPT capabilities directly into Visual Studio Code. It allows developers to highlight code and ask questions about it, similar to how they would interact with ChatGPT, without leaving their editor.
Do I need an OpenAI API key to use Scribe AI?
Yes, Scribe AI requires you to provide your own OpenAI API key. You can get one by going to the OpenAI website, creating an account if needed, clicking 'Create new secret key,' and copying it. Then paste this key into VS Code when prompted or in User Settings under Extensions > ScribeAI settings.
How do I use the Ask AI feature?
To use Ask AI, highlight a piece of code in your editor, click on the chat icon that appears, type any question you have about the code (such as 'Explain the code'), then hit the Ask AI button. The AI will respond, and you can continue the conversation by replying to its response just like in ChatGPT.
How does AI Edit work?
To use AI Edit, highlight a piece of code, click on the chat icon, enter your instruction for how you want the AI to modify the code (such as 'Refactor the code to include comments' or 'Rewrite the code in Python'), then hit the AI Edit button. Your selected code will be modified. If you don't like the result, you can undo it with Ctrl+Z (Windows) or Command+Z (Mac).
Where are my conversations saved?
All conversations in Scribe AI are saved in your VS Code workspace. You can close the conversation and open it anytime later to review your previous questions and AI responses, making it useful for note keeping and reference.
Can I use ChatGPT or just GPT models?
Scribe AI supports both. By default, it uses the official OpenAI API with GPT models (code-davinci-002). With version 1.1.5 and later, the official ChatGPT model is also available and can be selected in the extension settings.
How do I create notes in Scribe AI?
You can add notes inside your conversation by typing your note and pressing the 'Create Note' button. Your notes will not be sent to the AI, allowing you to keep personal notes alongside your AI conversations.
What happens if AI Edit breaks my code formatting?
Sometimes the formatting of AI Edit results may not be correct or your highlighted section may get messed up. In such cases, you can re-highlight the code and ask the AI to 'Reformat the code so that it's correct,' then press the AI Edit button again.
Do I need to reset the extension after changing settings?
Yes, remember to reset your extension and workspace when you change your settings. You can do this by clicking on 'restart your extension' in the API key settings for Scribe AI.
Is Scribe AI free?
The Scribe AI extension itself is free to install from the VS Code marketplace. However, you need your own OpenAI API key, and OpenAI charges based on token usage for the AI requests. You pay OpenAI directly, not the extension developer.