28/02/2026 9:30 am
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Ive been trying to figure out how to get AI stuff working inside VS Code without it being a total pain. Im mostly working on this Python web scraper for a class project thats due in about ten days so Im kinda on a tight timeline here. I did some looking around and saw GitHub Copilot is like the gold standard but honestly I dont really want to pay 10 bucks a month right now since Im a broke student living in Seattle. Then I found some free extensions on the marketplace that use your own API key but they all look kinda sketchy or the reviews say they stop working after a week. I tried one that just opens a sidebar but it feels like Im just copy-pasting code back and forth between windows which is exactly what Im trying to avoid.
My main things are:
- needs to be free or very cheap (under $5 maybe?)
- works directly in the editor so I can highlight code and ask questions
- good for Python debugging specifically
- doesnt lag my whole laptop because its a 2019 MacBook Air and it struggles lol
Has anyone actually found a setup that feels seamless? Im tired of switching tabs every five seconds just to ask why my beautiful soup logic is breaking...
4 Answers
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28/02/2026 9:55 am
@Reply #1 - good point! In my experience, you shouldnt pay a dime if you are in school. I used to struggle with tab-switching too until I got the GitHub Copilot Student Developer Pack which is totally free for students. If you want an alternative, Codeium Extension for VS Code is much lighter on the CPU than most and works great for Python debugging. TL;DR: Use your student status for free Copilot or try Codeium for a lightweight, free alternative.
12
28/02/2026 9:55 am
To add to the point above:
- check Continue Extension for VS Code
- use OpenRouter API Credits
- costs like $1 total, super cheap tbh
- wont lag your old macbook air
1
28/02/2026 9:30 am
I've been at this a long time and honestly, I'm so happy with the free setup I finally found.
- works well for python
- no complaints about performance tho
- makes debugging way faster
1
07/03/2026 3:52 pm
Like someone mentioned, definitely lean on those student perks first since you are in Seattle and living that broke life... we have all been there. If you want something that feels even more native than just another sidebar extension, you might want to consider Cursor Code Editor. It is a fork of VS Code so all your settings and extensions just work, but the AI is actually built into the editor itself instead of being an afterthought. I would suggest being a bit careful with the free tier limits tho. It is great for a quick project like yours but dont go crazy or it might throttle you right when you need it. If you really want to stay inside your current VS Code window, Sourcegraph Cody for VS Code is a super reliable alternative. It has a decent free tier and the autocompletion is actually really snappy for python scripts. Just make sure to let it index your files so it understands your beautiful soup logic. It shouldnt tank your macbook air performance as long as you arent running a million other chrome tabs... good luck with the scraper!
