02/03/2026 11:30 pm
Topic starter
Notifications
Clear all
DeepSeek Forum
4
Posts
5
Users
0
Reactions
770
Views
0
So I finally decided to jump into the DeepSeek hype for this big freelance project I have starting next Monday and I am honestly super hyped to see how it handles heavy logic! Im torn between sticking with VS Code using the Continue extension or just switching over to Cursor entirely since everyone keeps saying its the best for ai stuff but idk if the subscription is worth it if I can just use my own API key in VS Code? I am on a pretty tight budget this month and I need something that wont lag my older macbook air while I am deep in it. Which setup actually feels more seamless with DeepSeek for someone who is kinda picky about speed?
4 Answers
11
02/03/2026 11:55 pm
Honestly, seeing people suggest Zed or just basic Continue is cool, but I gotta disagree politely if you are doing a heavy logic project on a budget. I have been super satisfied using the Roo Code Extension for VS Code lately. It handles the DeepSeek V3 API Tokens way better for actually building stuff rather than just chatting in a sidebar. Continue is fine, but Roo feels more like an actual agent that gets things done. Since you are worried about lag on that older MacBook Air, you should try these tweaks:
- Turn off the global indexing feature in your extensions... it eats CPU like crazy on older macs.
- Use the DeepSeek API directly so you only pay for what you actually use instead of a monthly sub.
- Stick to a single-folder workspace instead of opening your whole user directory. Tbh I am very happy with how it performs compared to the $20 Cursor sub. No complaints here once I trimmed down my other VS Code extensions. The editor is only laggy if you let it be... keep it lean and it will fly. It handles deep logic stuff much better when it can actually scan and write the files for you. Good luck with the freelance start on Monday!
10
02/03/2026 11:31 pm
- Microsoft VS Code with Continue Extension is amazing for low RAM usage!
- Cursor AI Editor is fantastic but uses 1GB+ memory and costs more.
- Stick with VS Code! Ask if you need setup help!
3
02/03/2026 11:45 pm
I was just thinking... which specific year is your Macbook Air? If its an older Intel model, you really need to watch the CPU usage. Ive been messing around with Zed Industries Zed Code Editor lately and it feels way snappier than VS Code for me.
- Built with Rust for speed
- Native DeepSeek API support
- Very low RAM footprint Its a solid free option if youre worried about lag. Let me know those specs n I can help more!
2
16/03/2026 4:51 am
Just catching up on this thread. I definitely agree that managing your RAM footprint is the most critical factor for an older Macbook Air.
- Be careful with your swap memory usage if you stick with an Electron-based editor since it can really throttle your performance once the physical memory is topped out.
- Make sure to limit the file indexing depth in your settings so the file-watcher doesnt max out your CPU cycles while youre deep in the logic.
- I would suggest looking into a lightweight CLI-based interface to maintain a lower memory heap limit and ensure the system stays reliable.
