AI Coding & Developer Tools · TRACK 02/03
Coding Agents & Assistants
One guide per major tool, from Claude Code to the open-source agents.
// THE TRACK
01 · START HEREClaude CodeUnderstand what Claude Code is, how a terminal coding agent differs from an editor plugin, and how to run your first real task with it.BEGINNERCursorUnderstand what Cursor is, how its Composer and codebase indexing work, and why baking AI into the editor itself changes what you can ask it to do.BEGINNERClaude Code vs CursorCompare the terminal-agent and AI-editor approaches head to head and know which tool fits your workflow and budget.BEGINNERCopilot: Cost vs ValueGet an honest cost-vs-value verdict on Copilot's tiers so you can decide whether to pay, stay free, or switch tools.BEGINNERCursor: The AI-Native EditorLearn what makes Cursor different from VS Code with a plugin — Tab predictions, codebase-aware chat, and agent mode — and how to decide if it's for you.BEGINNERGemini CLILearn what Gemini CLI offers — an open-source agent loop, a generous free tier, and Google ecosystem hooks — and when it's the right terminal agent.BEGINNERGitHub CopilotUnderstand what GitHub Copilot actually includes today — completions, chat, and the coding agent — and how to get suggestions worth accepting.BEGINNEROpenAI CodexUnderstand what OpenAI Codex is across its cloud and CLI forms, how it differs from Copilot, and how to delegate your first task to it.BEGINNERAGENTS.md & CLAUDE.mdLearn how project context files like AGENTS.md and CLAUDE.md steer coding agents — what belongs in them, what wastes tokens, and how to keep them honest.INTERMEDIATEMCP for Coding AgentsLearn how the Model Context Protocol extends a coding agent beyond your files — into databases, browsers, and live docs — and when adding a server actually helps.INTERMEDIATETerminal vs IDE AgentsUnderstand the real workflow difference between terminal-based agents and editor-embedded agents so you pick the form factor that matches how you work, not just the brand.BEGINNERCloud Coding AgentsUnderstand the new class of coding agents that run remotely and asynchronously — kicking off tasks that finish as pull requests — and how they change your day.INTERMEDIATE