These AI editors are getting out of hand

Summary

The video discusses the recent controversy surrounding Pier AI, an open-source AI code editor built on top of VS Code. The controversy began when it was revealed that Pier AI is essentially a fork of Continue.dev, with minimal changes aside from rebranding. The presenter shares concerns about the ethics of forking an open-source project, raising funds, and competing with the original. They also highlight the challenges of competing with large entities like Microsoft, which consistently improves VS Code, questioning the long-term viability of such AI-powered editors in the developer space.

Takeaways

• 📢 Pier AI is a new open-source AI code editor built on top of VS Code and another editor called Continue.
• 🔥 The project faced backlash after a tweet revealed it was a fork of Continue with minor modifications, raising questions about originality.
• 🔍 Pier AI is accused of simply rebranding Continue by replacing references to Continue with Pier in the codebase, which led to community criticism.
• 💼 Pier AI's team applied and got accepted into Y Combinator, despite YC already funding Continue, leading to discussions about the ethics of funding forks.
• ⚡ Some developers believe the value proposition of Pier AI is weak, arguing that VS Code and Continue already solve many of the same problems.
• 🛠️ Developers argue it's challenging to build a truly innovative editor, especially on top of VS Code, which already provides powerful extensions and tools.
• 🤔 The community is concerned that Pier AI is relying too much on existing work, particularly in the AI-powered editor space, without providing significant differentiation.
• 🏗️ The discussion extends to the broader editor landscape, where most new editors are built on VS Code, except for Zed, which is starting from scratch.
• 💡 Some developers prefer using external AI tools like GPT-4 or Claude, instead of integrating them directly into editors like VS Code or GitHub Copilot, due to interruptions in workflow.
• 📉 The general sentiment is that Microsoft's ecosystem, including VS Code, GitHub, and Copilot, is too robust for these new AI editors to significantly disrupt in the long term.

Q & A

What is Pier AI and why has it caused controversy?

Pier AI is an AI-based code editor built on top of VS Code and Continue.dev. It caused controversy because it cloned Continue.dev, made minimal changes (mostly renaming), and applied for funding from Y Combinator, which had also funded Continue.dev. Many criticized this as unethical, raising funds based on another project’s work.

What is the main criticism of Pier AI's approach?

The main criticism is that Pier AI cloned Continue.dev, replaced its branding, and presented it as a new product. This was seen as unfair and disrespectful to the original developers, especially since Pier AI raised funding by marketing itself as a distinct product.

Why are people upset about Pier AI getting funding from Y Combinator?

People are upset because Y Combinator funded both Pier AI and Continue.dev, despite Pier AI being a fork of Continue.dev. Critics argue that funding multiple similar projects creates uncertainty and shows a lack of innovation.

What is AGPLv3 and how does it relate to this controversy?

AGPLv3 is a license that requires any changes or improvements made to a software project to be shared if the project is used over a network. In the Pier AI controversy, the discussion around licenses highlighted concerns about transparency and the ethical use of open-source software.

What alternative examples of code editors are mentioned in the script?

The script mentions several alternatives, including Zed, Cursor, and GitHub Copilot. Zed is praised for building an editor from scratch to address performance issues, while Cursor and Copilot are seen as more intrusive in the development workflow.

Why is VS Code considered difficult to disrupt, according to the speaker?

VS Code is considered difficult to disrupt because it has a massive codebase and is backed by Microsoft, which is heavily invested in the developer ecosystem. VS Code’s constant updates and wide integration make it challenging for competitors to outpace its development.

What are some issues with AI-based code editors like Cursor and Copilot?

The speaker criticizes AI-based editors like Cursor and Copilot for being intrusive, interrupting the coding workflow. Although AI can assist with coding tasks, these editors sometimes overstep and complicate the user experience.

What does the speaker mean by ‘fork of a fork’ in this context?

In this context, 'fork of a fork' refers to Pier AI being based on Continue.dev, which itself is a fork of VS Code. This layering of forks creates concerns about originality, as Pier AI is seen as making minimal changes to its predecessors while raising funds.

How does the speaker view Microsoft's position in the developer space?

The speaker believes that Microsoft is strongly positioned in the developer space, owning key tools like GitHub, npm, TypeScript, Azure, and VS Code. They argue that Microsoft will continue to dominate, making it difficult for competitors like Pier AI to succeed in the long term.

What is the speaker's stance on using AI in coding?

The speaker is open to using AI in coding but prefers to use external tools like GPT or Claude instead of integrated plugins. They find that integrated AI tools like Cursor and Copilot interrupt their workflow, whereas external tools provide more control and flexibility.