The AI Coding Toolkit
Modern development isn't about choosing one AI tool—it's about orchestrating multiple assistants for different tasks. Each tool has strengths that complement the others.
Anthropic's CLI-based coding agent. Excels at complex reasoning, architectural decisions, multi-file refactoring, and understanding entire codebases. Best for deep work sessions requiring careful analysis.
The original AI pair programmer. Unmatched for inline completions, boilerplate generation, and understanding coding patterns from context. Integrates seamlessly with your workflow.
Git-aware AI coding assistant. Automatically commits changes with meaningful messages. Excellent for pair programming sessions where you want a complete git history of AI-assisted changes.
When to Use What
| Task | Best Tool | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Quick inline completions | Copilot | Fastest, minimal context switching |
| Complex refactoring | Claude Code | Deep reasoning about architecture |
| Multi-file feature implementation | Claude Code | Agentic multi-file changes with reasoning |
| Legacy code migration | Claude Code | Understanding entire codebases |
| Pair programming with git history | Aider | Automatic meaningful commits |
| Writing tests | Copilot + Claude | Copilot for boilerplate, Claude for edge cases |
| Code review | Claude Code | Thorough analysis, security review |
The AI-Assisted Workflow
Understand with Claude Code
Start new tasks by asking Claude Code to explain the relevant codebase areas. Use /add to include files in context and ask architectural questions.
Plan the Implementation
Use Claude Code's reasoning to design the solution. Ask for a step-by-step plan before writing any code. Review and refine the approach.
Implement with Claude Code/Copilot
Use Claude Code for multi-file changes with agentic reasoning, Copilot for inline completions. Iterate quickly with AI assistance.
Review with Claude Code
Return to Claude Code for code review. Ask it to find bugs, security issues, and suggest improvements. Use /diff to review changes.
Commit with Aider
Use Aider to create meaningful commit messages. It understands the changes and generates descriptive messages automatically.
Hands-On Exercises
- Set up VS Code Insiders with all four AI tools configured and working
- Use Claude Code to understand an unfamiliar open-source codebase
- Implement a new feature using Claude Code across 5+ files
- Refactor a messy function using Copilot suggestions and Claude review
- Build an AI adapter that switches between Anthropic and OpenAI
- Add caching and retry decorators to an AI service class
- Complete a pair programming session with Aider, reviewing the git history
- Compare solution quality: same task solved by Copilot vs Claude Code
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