Sourcegraph Cody

What is Sourcegraph Cody?

Sourcegraph Cody is an AI coding assistant built for software development teams that need context-aware help across large, complex codebases. It uses Sourcegraph's advanced Search API to pull relevant information from both local and remote repositories, giving it access to APIs, symbols, and usage patterns from across your entire codebase. Unlike assistants that only see the file you have open, Cody connects to code hosts like GitHub and GitLab so its responses reflect your actual project structure. It is available as an extension for VS Code, JetBrains, and Visual Studio, and also runs in a web app and via command line.

Key Features

• Chat: Ask questions about your code, generate new code, or edit existing code through a direct AI chat interface within your IDE or browser.
• Auto-edit: Analyzes your cursor movements and typing patterns to suggest code changes in real time.
• Prompts: Automate repetitive tasks using premade prompts or build your own customizable prompts to fit your workflow.
• Context: Pulls context from both local and remote codebases using Sourcegraph's Search API, giving the assistant access to symbols, API references, and usage patterns across your projects.
• Debug Code: Identifies and helps fix errors in your code, with a focus on accuracy when diagnosing problems.
• Context Filters: Allows teams to exclude specific repositories from chat and autocomplete results, giving administrators control over what data the assistant can access.

Use Cases

• Software Developers: Use Cody to generate code snippets and debug existing code, resulting in increased productivity and reduced time spent tracking down errors.
• Team Leads: Onboard new team members by using Cody to surface code context and explain how different parts of the codebase work, speeding up the ramp-up process and improving collaboration.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths:

• Users on G2 (142 reviews, rated 4.5 out of 5) report that Cody meaningfully accelerates the coding process.
• Context-aware suggestions are frequently cited as a standout quality, helping developers get answers that reflect their actual codebase rather than generic code examples.
• Available across multiple environments including VS Code, JetBrains, Visual Studio, a web app, and a command-line interface.

Weaknesses:

• AI suggestions are occasionally irrelevant to the task at hand, which can interrupt workflow.
• Response times can slow down during peak usage periods.
• Currently only available for Sourcegraph Enterprise users, limiting access for individual developers or smaller teams.
• IDE support is limited to specific integrations and does not cover all editors.

Pricing

Cody is part of the Sourcegraph Enterprise platform. There is no free tier.

• Enterprise: Contact Sourcegraph for pricing (billed annually), includes access to all Cody features and enterprise-level support.

FAQ

What is Sourcegraph Cody?

Sourcegraph Cody is an AI coding assistant that uses large language models and your codebase's context to help developers write, understand, and fix code. It is part of the Sourcegraph Enterprise platform.

How does Cody get context from my codebase?

Cody uses Sourcegraph's Search API to pull context from both local and remote repositories, including information about APIs, symbols, and usage patterns across your entire codebase.

Which IDEs does Cody support?

Cody is available as an extension for VS Code, JetBrains, and Visual Studio. It also runs in the Sourcegraph web app and via a command-line interface.

Does Cody work with GitHub and GitLab?

Yes. Cody connects to GitHub and GitLab as code hosts so it to pull context from repositories stored on those platforms.

Is Sourcegraph Cody free?

No. Cody is only available to Sourcegraph Enterprise users. There is no free tier. Pricing is available by contacting Sourcegraph directly.

How much does Sourcegraph Cody cost?

Sourcegraph Cody is priced as part of the Enterprise plan, billed annually. The exact price is not publicly listed. You need to contact Sourcegraph for a quote.

What can Cody's chat feature do?

The chat feature lets you ask questions about your code, request code generation, and edit existing code, all from within your IDE or browser.

What is the Auto-edit feature in Cody?

Auto-edit analyzes your cursor movements and typing to suggest code changes in real time, without requiring you to open a chat window.

Can I customize the prompts Cody uses?

Yes. Cody includes both premade prompts and the ability to create customizable prompts designed to automate repetitive tasks in your workflow.

Can Cody be restricted from accessing certain repositories?

Yes. The Context Filters feature allows administrators to exclude specific repositories from being used in chat and autocomplete results.

What are the main complaints about Sourcegraph Cody?

Based on user reviews, the two most common complaints are that suggestions are sometimes irrelevant to the task, and that the tool can be slow to respond during peak times.

How is Cody rated by users?

Cody holds a 4.5 out of 5 rating on G2, based on 142 reviews.

Who is Sourcegraph Cody best suited for?

Cody is aimed at software development teams working within enterprise environments, particularly those with large codebases spread across multiple repositories and code hosts.

Does Sourcegraph Cody have an API?

Yes. Sourcegraph provides an API, which is accessible as part of the broader platform alongside Cody.

What alternatives exist to Sourcegraph Cody?

Alternatives in the AI coding assistant category include GitHub Copilot, Cursor, and Tabnine, among others. Cody's primary differentiator is its use of Sourcegraph's codebase-wide context retrieval rather than file-level or tab-level context.