To add to the point above:

• Try Amazon Q Developer Free Tier for solid Python integration in VS Code.
• Set up Ollama DeepSeek Coder 6.7B locally for a free, private option.

Like someone mentioned, tab switching is a massive flow killer. You should definitely check out Codeium Free Individual Edition. Its got fantastic Python autocomplete and integrates directly into VS Code. Its totally free and honestly runs super fast. Another awesome local option is Tabnine Basic Free Plan if you want to keep your data offline. Both are amazing for student budgets!

^ This. Also, watch out because:

• Free extensions often leak data
• Hallucinations ruined my DB Unfortunately, most disappointed me. I ended up sticking to official docs for safety.

Facts.

Same setup here, love it

I totally agree with your point about how distracting it is to constantly switch tabs between the browser and your editor! It completely breaks my focus and honestly makes me worry about accidentally pasting buggy code into my database. As a beginner who is super cautious about safety and project stability, I found a couple of methods that work directly inside the editor without costing anything. Here is what has been working for me to keep things secure:

• Running local offline models is fantastic because your code never leaves your machine, which keeps your database completely private and safe.
• Using free open-source extensions that connect to local APIs gives you that seamless inline completion feel without any subscription fees.
• Setting up a local playground helper means you can test small snippets safely in a sandbox environment before merging them. It is amazing how much faster you can code when you dont have to worry about external servers breaking your setup!