VSCode + ClaudeDev + Aider + Supermaven : STOP PAYING for CURSOR with this ULTIMATE Alternative

Summary

The video discusses alternatives to the Cursor editor and shares recommendations for a comprehensive AI-powered coding setup. The speaker highlights various tools, including VS Code, Super Maven, Continue Dev, Ader, and Claude Dev, each serving unique purposes like autocomplete, chat-based coding, and autonomous programming. They explain how to configure these tools, emphasizing the benefits of using open-source options over Cursor's proprietary software. The speaker showcases a workflow using these tools, creating sample projects, and concludes by encouraging viewers to explore these free and effective solutions for an enhanced coding experience.

Takeaways

• 🚀 The video covers alternatives to Cursor, focusing on tools like VS Code, Claude Dev, and Ader for a superior coding experience.
• 🖥️ The creator personally uses VS Code due to its intuitive design, extensive extensions, and wide adoption.
• 🔄 Ader is recommended as a better alternative to Cursor's composer feature, supporting various models and offering better flexibility.
• 👨‍💻 Claude Dev is used for more autonomous coding tasks, while Ader acts as a co-pilot for iterative work, providing different strengths.
• ⚡ Super Maven is praised for its efficiency and speed in providing autocomplete suggestions and performing calculations, much faster than Cursor's autocomplete.
• 🤖 Continue Dev is suggested for chat-related tasks and simple refactoring, especially when using the Gemini 1.5 Flash model for basic interactions.
• 💡 The video provides detailed steps for installing and configuring Super Maven, Continue Dev, and Ader in VS Code.
• 💸 The creator emphasizes the ability to use these tools for free, by leveraging options like Google's API keys and Anthropic's services.
• 🛠️ Ader's CLI tool offers a streamlined chat interface in the terminal, making it easier to create or modify code directly within VS Code.
• 👍 The creator prefers these open-source tools over proprietary ones like Cursor, highlighting that the alternatives are more cost-effective, customizable, and reliable.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video?

The video focuses on discussing alternatives to the Cursor editor, specifically for developers looking for AI-powered coding tools. It highlights the tools the presenter personally uses and recommends over Cursor.

Why does the presenter not recommend using Cursor?

The presenter dislikes Cursor because it automatically configures itself as the default editor for all files and is a proprietary fork of VS Code, which conflicts with the presenter's values of supporting open-source tools.

What does the presenter use as a replacement for Cursor’s composer feature?

The presenter uses Ader, a CLI tool, as a replacement for Cursor's composer feature. Ader is seen as more reliable and flexible, supporting multiple models like Anthropic and Gemini.

Why does the presenter use both Claud Dev and Ader in their setup?

The presenter uses both because Claud Dev functions as an autonomous programmer, while Ader acts more like a co-pilot for iterative development. They complement each other depending on whether the user wants full automation or more interactive control.

What tool does the presenter recommend for code autocomplete?

The presenter recommends Super Maven for autocomplete, praising its efficiency, speed, and ability to even perform calculations, making it a better option compared to Cursor’s autocomplete.

Which tool does the presenter use for code-related chats and simple refactoring?

The presenter uses Continue Dev for chatting about code and performing simple refactoring tasks. It is configured with the Gemini 1.5 Flash model for this purpose.

How does the presenter suggest configuring Continue Dev with free options?

The presenter suggests configuring Continue Dev with free models like Gemini 1.5 Flash. Users can obtain an API key for free from Google AI Studio and use it for simple code-related chats and refactoring.

What are the key benefits of using Ader over Cursor’s composer?

Ader is praised for being more reliable, flexible, and user-friendly. It supports multiple models, allows for chat-based interactions, and can create and edit code based on simple commands.

What model does the presenter use with Claud Dev, and why?

The presenter typically uses Claud Dev with the cla3.5 Sonet model, or sometimes with Google Vertex AI for free credits. This allows for the creation of fully autonomous code with minimal input from the user.

How does Claud Dev differ from other tools like Ader or Cursor?

Claud Dev is more of an autonomous programming tool, capable of iterating and completing entire tasks with little user input. It can even inspect sites for errors, unlike Cursor, which offers less functionality. Ader, on the other hand, is more like a co-pilot for making iterative changes alongside the user.

Outlines

00:00

👋 Introduction and Editor Preferences

The speaker welcomes viewers to another video and briefly discusses cursor alternatives they've covered in the past. They emphasize that while these alternatives are efficient, the speaker wants to share their personal preferences for tools and extensions. They explain their dislike for proprietary software like Cursor and explain why they use VS Code for their projects, citing its intuitive design and extension support. The video will show viewers the speaker's preferred setup for coding and how to move away from using Cursor.

05:01

🔧 Composer and Alternative Tools Setup

The speaker introduces Ader as a superior alternative to Cursor’s Composer, explaining that Ader is more reliable and versatile, supporting multiple models. They highlight how Ader’s iterative approach as an autonomous co-pilot differs from Claud Dev's fully autonomous programming style. The speaker emphasizes using both Ader and Claud Dev for different programming scenarios, where Claud Dev takes charge of the whole process while Ader is ideal for step-by-step development. Additionally, Super Maven and Continue Dev are introduced as essential tools for efficient code writing and chat-based refactoring, respectively.

10:02

💻 Installing and Configuring Key Tools

The speaker walks through the steps to install and configure tools such as Super Maven, Continue Dev, and Ader in VS Code. Super Maven is highlighted as an efficient autocomplete tool, while Continue Dev helps with code-related chats and simple refactoring. Ader, which acts as a command-line chat tool, is praised for its flexibility and ease of setup. The speaker shares how to configure these tools with various models (e.g., Anthropic, OpenAI, and Gemini) using API keys and explains how each tool helps improve the coding process.

Keywords

💡VS Code

Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is a widely used code editor developed by Microsoft. In the video, the speaker prefers VS Code for its intuitive interface, extensive development features, and its compatibility with multiple extensions. It serves as the foundational platform for the coding setup discussed, representing the core environment where various tools and extensions like Super Maven and Continue Dev are integrated.

💡Cursor

Cursor refers to a forked version of VS Code mentioned in the video, which the speaker criticizes for automatically setting itself as the default editor and for not aligning with open-source values. Cursor is presented as a suboptimal alternative to VS Code and the tools the speaker uses, emphasizing the speaker's preference for open-source, non-forked software.

💡Ader

Ader is a CLI (Command Line Interface) tool used as a replacement for Cursor's composer feature. It allows users to interact with AI models directly through the terminal for code generation and editing. The speaker highlights Ader’s flexibility and reliability in comparison to Cursor's composer, showing its utility in improving workflow within VS Code.

💡Claude Dev

Claude Dev is an autonomous programming tool that the speaker recommends as an alternative to Cursor. It is designed to iterate and produce finished code autonomously, making it suitable for more complex tasks where the user wants the AI to take control. Claude Dev complements Ader’s iterative approach and is part of the video’s suggested AI-powered coding setup.

💡Super Maven

Super Maven is an AI-powered autocomplete tool that the speaker installs in VS Code. It enhances coding productivity by providing intelligent code suggestions, auto-completion, and even performing calculations. The tool is praised for being faster and more effective than Cursor’s autocomplete, making it a key component of the speaker’s development environment.

💡Continue Dev

Continue Dev is another tool used for chatting about code and performing simple refactoring tasks. The speaker highlights its ease of use for chatting and editing in VS Code, making it an alternative to Cursor’s chat features. It is configured with the Gemini 1.5 flash model and is appreciated for handling basic code edits and refactoring effectively.

💡Gemini 1.5 Flash

Gemini 1.5 Flash is a version of the AI model that Continue Dev uses for chatting and refactoring tasks. The speaker mentions it as a lightweight, free option for simple code interactions, contrasting it with heavier models for more complex tasks. This model’s free usage and efficiency make it appealing for developers who need quick, simple solutions.

💡Anthropic

Anthropic is one of the AI models the speaker uses with Ader for more advanced code generation tasks. The speaker contrasts Anthropic with other AI models like OpenAI and Google’s Gemini, noting its use in more autonomous, large-scale programming tasks. The tool allows users to interact with models via API keys, enhancing Ader’s functionality.

💡Open-source

The speaker emphasizes the value of open-source software throughout the video, positioning it as superior to proprietary alternatives like Cursor. Open-source software allows for more transparency and community-driven improvements, aligning with the speaker’s values of freedom and control over the tools used in the development process.

💡Composer Feature

The composer feature is a functionality that automates the generation and completion of code. The video critiques Cursor's composer for being subpar and unreliable. In contrast, the speaker favors Ader’s composer-like abilities for code generation and iterative improvements, offering a more efficient and flexible solution for developers.

Highlights

Introduction of the video discussing alternatives to cursor for programming tasks.

The creator shares their personal preferences and what they recommend for coding environments.

Introduction to VS Code as the preferred editor due to its intuitive interface and extensions.

Comparison between Claude Dev and Cursor's Composer, with Claude Dev being highlighted as more reliable.

Introduction of Ader as a better alternative to Cursor’s Composer for generating code and iterative editing.

Claude Dev is portrayed as an autonomous programmer, while Ader acts as an autonomous co-pilot for code.

Super Maven is recommended for code autocomplete and performing calculations quickly.

Continue Dev is suggested for chat-related tasks and refactoring code, with support for various models like Gemini 1.5 Flash.

Steps for installing and configuring Super Maven in VS Code, including account creation and API key setup.

Ader's versatility in using different models like Anthrop, OpenAI, or Gemini for generating code through a simple CLI.

Claude Dev can generate code autonomously, inspect code, and debug by taking screenshots and console log data.

Super Maven's superior autocomplete and multi-functionality over Cursor’s autocomplete.

How the creator built a full app with Claude Dev without writing a single line of code, and for free.

Claude Dev’s constant updates and features like referencing, making it more powerful than Cursor.

The video promotes open-source tools over proprietary forks like Cursor, highlighting cost-efficiency and customization.

Transcripts

[Music]

[Applause]

hi welcome to another video I've already

covered some cursor Alternatives like z

a VSS code Claud Dev vs code AER and a

few others all of those are great for

people who want to get things done

quickly however many people ask me what

I personally use and what I recommend

for others to

use so I thought maybe I should share

with you what I use and what I think

most of you could benefit

from plus there have been several

upgrades to the extensions I used in

previous

videos this could serve as both a new

setup and usage guide and help you ditch

cursor

forever I don't use cursor at

all I installed it once but as soon as I

saw it automatically configured itself

as the default editor for all my files I

uninstalled it I don't want proprietary

forked software on my machine and since

it's a vs code Fork I won't support

something that doesn't align with my

values anyway let me tell you what I'll

be using today for the editor I'll be

using vs code everyone generally prefers

it it's more intuitive fully developed

and has the extensions we'll need for

what we're about to do

next now I recently tried out cursor's

composer feature and it was much worse

than Claude

Dev I didn't want to embarrass Claude

Dev by comparing it to cursor's subpar

composer so for the composer likee

feature I'll be using ader ader is

significantly better than cursor's

composer it supports all kinds of models

and its recent upgrades have made it

incredibly cool to use it's also much

more reliable so we'll use ader instead

of cursor's composer in addition to that

I'm going to elevate things by adding

CLA Dev to our

setup you may ask why use both Claud Dev

and ader well they're quite different

Claud Dev is more of an autonomous

programmer while ader acts more like an

autonomous

co-pilot Claud Dev aims to create a

finished product by iteratively doing

things while ader takes a more relaxed

iterative approach almost like a

co-pilot Claude Dev helps when we want

the AI to handle everything

autonomously while ader is perfect for

when we want to chat and make changes

iteratively I use them both in this way

so we'll do the same

here along with that I'll be using super

Maven as my co-pilot because I

personally love it I use it all the time

and it's super efficient it's far better

than cursor's autocomplete and works

incredibly fast in addition I'll also

use continue Dev for chat related tasks

and simple

refactoring now that we've got

everything sorted let's get started by

installing everything and seeing how it

performs first open up vs code next

let's install super Maven because it's

the easiest to set up

just go to the extensions tab search for

super Maven and install it once it's

installed you'll see it in your sidebar

and it will prompt you to sign in simply

create a free account and sign

in once you've done that super Maven

will start

working it has a chat interface where

you can set up your anthropic or open AI

API key but I don't use that feature

anyway once you've signed in the

autocomplete will begin working it's

very effective even capable of

Performing calculations which is just

incredible I really enjoy using it next

we need something for chatting about

code and doing some basic editing and

refactoring for that I generally use

continue Dev let's configure it to

configure continue Dev just go to

extensions SE search for continue and

install it once installed you'll see it

in your sidebar open it up now when you

open it you can configure it in various

ways I typically use it with the Gemini

1.5 flash model because I only use it

for simple chats and

refactors the flash model is sufficient

for that and it's also free for limited

usage it doesn't cost me a cent to use

but you can configure it with anything

else if you

prefer to set it up click add model and

select the Gemini option it will ask for

your API key you can get it for free by

visiting Google's AI studio and creating

an API key there copy that API key and

paste it here then select Gemini 1.5

flash once you've done that go to config

and change the model name to Gemini 1.5

fl2 because the version two models are

better after that you can start using it

I mainly use it for simple code related

chats and

refactoring but it can also do what

cursor's composer does you can ask it to

generate code and it applies it easily

which is really useful and works well

you can also directly generate code

within the file like cursor by pressing

control+ I and generating the

code this is super cool as well you can

also use it with other options like

cerebras sanova and others for free you

can see how to configure those in my

other videos anyway now that's done but

we also need a better composer feature

than cursor itself to do that we'll use

ader ader is a simple CLI tool that

gives you a chat interface in your

terminal it allows you to give it a

prompt and it can make changes or create

things from scratch as well to use it

just open up the terminal in vs

code run the PIP install AER chat

command and it will install AER once

it's installed we'll need to use it

using it is quite easy first we need to

figure out which model we want to use

with it you can use it witha anthropic

open AI

and others I like using it with

anthropic but you can also use it with

Gemini or other free options to

configure these for free check the video

links I'll put in the description to

configure it with anthropic open AI or

Gemini you'll need to set up the API key

like this once that's done you can start

ader with the model name in the operator

if you're using anthropic you can also

use catched prompts once you've done

that it'll start up like this now you

can ask it to do anything in simple

language and it will do that or you can

use its modes like ask mode for chatting

or edit mode for editing a specific file

let's ask it to make a simple Finance

Tracker app using HTML CSS and

JS if I send it over here you'll see

that it starts working it will take a

bit

[Music]

and once it creates the code It'll ask

for your approval just approve it and

the files will be created if you run it

it should work well this is a great

replacement for cursor composer and

works even better this is what you need

to get a better alternative to cursor

and you can use it for free as well

apart from this we're going to take it

up a notch by using Claud

Dev configuring Claud Dev is pretty easy

just go to extensions search for Claud

Dev and install it once installed go to

the Claud Dev option and you'll see the

chat

interface first we need to configure it

with a model to do that click the

settings button and you'll see all the

model

options in the previous cursor

alternative video I did these options

weren't available and you had to use it

with Cloud only but now there are a

bunch of

options I generally use it with clae 3.5

Sonet but I also use it with Google

vertex AI since they offer $300 worth of

free credits when you sign up make it

free for me to

use I'll create another video on how to

set that up because it's a little

complex but you can also use it with the

original anthropic and it would cost a

lot less with prompt

catching you can also use Claude via

open

router apart from that you can use

Gemini for free as well today I'll be

using anthropic directly you can see the

general pricing if you decide to use it

let's set that up once that's done you

can start using it let's ask it to make

a simple to-do app let's send it and as

you can see it's working on it if we

wait a bit you'll see that it generates

the code and asks for your approval once

I approve it it can even give you the

command to run the code it can also

inspect the site by taking screenshots

and using console log data to find

errors which cursor can't do

if we run it it works really well I mean

what else could you

want I recently created a whole app with

Claud Dev without writing a single line

of code and I did it all for free which

was

cool you can also look at the full 1hour

long version of it as well by becoming a

member there are a bunch of other videos

available as well it just starts from $5

and also support the channel

anyway Claude dev has also recently

added features like referencing which

cursor

has so now it's even better and it gets

updates almost daily which is

insane it's just amazing what you can do

with open-source tools these days yes

sometimes you need to be creative to use

things for free but the best part is

that if you try hard enough you can

actually use it for free which is

great just look at cursor's free version

it's

unusable why do they even offer

it I think this is the best AI coding

setup right now it not only beats cursor

but is actually

state-of-the-art even if you use real

credits it'll still cost less than

cursor I don't think anyone should

support forked tools like cursor overall

it's pretty

cool anyway let me know your thoughts

thoughts in the comments if you liked

this video consider donating to my

Channel Through the super thanks option

below or you can also consider becoming

a member by clicking the join

button also give this video a thumbs up

and subscribe to my channel I'll see you

in the next video till then bye

[Music]

the