The Extension That Helped Me Create a WebApp in Less than 2 Hours

If you're a developer, you're probably always looking for ways to optimize your workflow. I recently had the opportunity to try Qodo (formerly CodiumAI), a Visual Studio Code extension I used to generate, review and improve code. This article describes my experience in November 2024: how I installed it, what helped and what I learned while building a website.

Installation: As Easy as Creating an Account

The first thing that surprised me about Qodo was how easy it is to install. Literally within a couple of minutes it was up and running. You just need to go to the VS Code extension store, search for Qodo and install it. Then you create an account (a super quick process) and that's it. There were no complicated setups or strange steps, which is appreciated when you want to start using something right away.

Usability: Intuitive and Straight to the Point

Once you have Qodo running in your environment, you realize that it is designed to be easy to use. There is no complicated learning curve; The commands and tools are built right into VS Code, so it feels like a natural part of the workflow. From the beginning, you can tell that Qodo is not made to reinvent the wheel, but to make your life easier.

How is Qodo Different?

In my test, what interested me most about Qodo was its ability to fix, optimise and improve existing code. For example, you can write code that works but isn't optimal, and Qodo will offer suggestions to make it cleaner, more efficient, or just more elegant.

I also tried a fairly subjective request: a “formal orange that feels dynamic, like something a serious company would use, not a sports drink brand.” I liked the suggestion and it matched what I was looking for. It worked well in that particular test, although other requests may take more iteration.

Ideal for Novice and Expert Programmers Alike

Qodo adapts to different levels of experience. If you are a beginner in programming, it can help you solve basic problems and avoid common mistakes. If you already have experience, but are working in an area that you don't fully master (like web development, for example), it can also be a great support.

I tested it by creating an interactive web page from scratch. In less than two hours, with my limited web design experience, I had a functional page. Additionally, if you spend more time and rely on Qodo's suggestions, you can build more complex projects even without being an expert on the subject.

“Task-Aware Coding”: An Innovative Feature

One of the most notable features of Qodo is what they call «task-aware coding». Basically, you can write in natural language what the problem you are trying to solve is and how you plan to address it. With this information, Qodo adapts its suggestions and helps you stay focused on your goal. For example, if you tell it that you want to optimize the loading speed of a page, the suggestions will be specifically aimed at improving code performance.

Best of all, it's not limited to just one environment. In addition to the VS Code extension, Qodo offers integrations with GitHub, GitLab and Bitbucket, a Chrome extension and even a CLI tool. This allows you to work with Qodo virtually anywhere in your development flow.

Is Qodo Worth Trying?

My experience was positive. Qodo helped me both create code and review what I already had, and I could explain my goals in natural language. I found it useful for experimenting and learning, provided I reviewed its suggestions and checked that the result worked.

Whether you're just getting started in the world of programming or are a veteran looking to optimize your workflow in a specific area, Qodo has something to offer. If you haven't tried it yet, I recommend you give it a try. It could become your new favorite code assistant.

You can see the website I built during this test:

👉 https://saturdaygamecorner.netlify.app