5.1. AI Coding Assistants

AI-powered coding assistants are rapidly becoming indispensable for developers - providing suggestions and automated features that help in writing code more efficiently and accurately. As popularity for these features continues to increase, so does the demand for development environments that can provide such functionality. AI code assist functionality is available with CCStudio™ IDE using functionality bundled with the IDE, as well as numerous third-party AI code assist extensions available on Open VSX. CCStudio IDE also offers MCP (Model Context Protocol) servers that enable AI assistants to interact directly with the CCStudio IDE project and debug servers, allowing for more integrated and context-aware development workflows.

Caution

AI coding assistants are designed to assist developers by providing suggestions and automating certain tasks. However, they are not perfect and may occasionally provide incorrect or suboptimal suggestions. It is important for developers to critically evaluate the suggestions provided by AI coding assistants and use their own judgment when deciding whether to accept or modify those suggestions.

5.2. AI Assistant Configurator

The AI Assistant Configurator view allows you to configure and manage supported AI coding assistants. Agents configured through this view will have access to specific information provided by CCStudio IDE to provide the agent the information and context it needs to fully automate development flows.

You can access this view by using the Set up an AI assistant link from the Get Started view or by navigating to Help > Get Started with AI.

_images/ccs_ai-get_started.png

The AI Assistant Configurator view appears as below:

_images/ccs_ai-configuration01.png

5.2.1. Step 1: Select Agent

The first step in configuring an AI coding assistant is to select the Agent you want to use. Currently, only Claude Code and Codex is supported, but more agents will be added in the future.

If the extension for the selected agent is not already installed, it will be installed automatically. Please ensure the proxy is configured correctly in CCStudio IDE to allow for the installation of the extension.

5.2.2. Step 2: Connection Settings

After selecting the Agent, configure the Connection Settings.

Select the Provider from the available options. The list of available options with vary depending on the Agent selected. After selecting the provider, additional fields will appear to allow you to provide the necessary information to connect to the provider's services.

Select the Scope for the Connection Settings. You can choose to apply the settings to the current workspace (Workspace) or to your entire system (Global). The settings file path will be automatically populated based on the selected scope. The Settings File is where your configuration will be saved. If you select Workspace, the settings will be saved in a file within your current workspace. If you select Global, the settings will be saved in a global configuration file that applies to all workspaces. Any existing configuration file will be automatically detected and loaded when the relevant scope is selected. If no existing configuration file is found, a new one will be created when you apply your settings.

Warning

Any settings stored in the Workspace will always override any settings stored in the Global configuration file. This allows you to have different configurations for different workspaces, while still maintaining a global default configuration that can be used when a workspace-specific configuration is not available. Even if the AI Assistant Configurator view is used to configure settings at the Global level, any workspace that has settings configured at the Workspace level will override the global settings when that workspace is active.

The below parameters are used to connect to the provider's services and configure the AI assistant:

  • Auth Token / API Key: Enter the token/key for the selected provider to authenticate your access to the AI model.

  • Base URL: Provide the base URL for the API endpoint of the selected provider.

  • Custom Headers / HTTP Headers: If the provider requires any custom headers for API requests, you can add them here.

  • Model: Choose the specific AI model you want to use for code assistance.

If you have already configured your model for this agent and provider in the past, this information will be automatically populated with the relevant information for the selected Scope. If you have an existing subscription with the provider and wish to use those credentials, the above connection parameters may be left blank.

Note

Depending on your environment, not all of these parameters may be applicable/needed. Please refer to the provider's documentation and/or your local IT department for instructions.

5.2.3. Step 3: Enable MCP servers

To allow the AI assistant to interact with CCStudio IDE functionality, you need to enable the MCP (Model Context Protocol) servers. This can be done by checking the Enable CCStudio ecosystem MCP servers option in the configuration view. Enabling this option allows the AI assistant to access CCStudio IDE functionality such as building, debugging, monitoring, and controlling SysConfig.

MCP servers are only active when CCStudio IDE is running and a workspace configured for AI functionality is active. When enabled, the configuration will attempt to start the MCP servers automatically. The servers are stopped when CCStudio IDE is closed or when the option is disabled.

Once all the steps are complete, press the Apply button to enable AI functionality for the current workspace and save your configuration. If the Claude Code or Codex extension is not already installed, it will be installed automatically.

Note

Claude Code: Only the Claude Code extension is installed by CCStudio IDE. The Claude Code desktop and CLI terminal is not installed as part of this process. If you wish to use the desktop version of Claude Code, it will need to be installed separately. Note that some features of the Claude Code extension may require the desktop version to be installed and running.

Warning

CCStudio IDE will install the latest available version of the Claude Code or Codex extension. Due to the frequent updates to the extension, there may be occasional issues with new versions. If you encounter any issues after installation, please refer to the FAQ for troubleshooting steps and potential workarounds.

The AI coding assistant is now configured for use within CCStudio IDE with the current workspace. If using Claude Code, open Claude Code with the Open Claude Code link or with the menu option View > Claude Code Chat to start using the assistant. If using Codex, open Codex with the Open Codex link or with the menu option View > Codex to start using the assistant.

_images/ccs_ai-configuration02.png

5.3. Using Claude Code

Important

Claude Code requires Git to manage the local repository that it uses to store conversation history and other relevant data. Please ensure Git is installed and properly configured on your system before using Claude Code.

Once the Claude Code extension is installed and configured, you can start using it to assist with your coding tasks. To open the Claude Code chat interface, use the Open Claude Code link in the AI Assistant Configurator view or navigate to View > Claude Code. This will open the chat interface where you can interact with the Claude Code assistant.

If a subscription will be used and the Auth Token and Base URL fields were left blank, the below login prompt will appear in the chat interface:

_images/ccs_ai-configuration03.png

Select the relevant option to log in to your account and authenticate the connection between the AI assistant and your subscription. Once authenticated, the AI assistant will be able to access the configured model and provide code assistance based on that model.

Once the AI assistant is set up and authenticated, you can start using it to assist with your coding tasks. You can ask questions, request code suggestions, or seek help with debugging and other coding tasks. The assistant will provide responses based on the context of your project and the information you provide in the chat. You can also use the chat interface to manage your conversation history and access other features provided by the Claude Code extension.

_images/ccs_ai-configuration04.png

For more information on using the Claude Code extension and its features, please refer to the Use Claude Code in VS Code documentation.

Tip

For tips and best practices on using Claude Code with CCStudio IDE, please refer to the Supercharge development with AI-powered CCStudio™ IDE video series.

5.4. Using Codex

Important

Codex requires Git to manage the local repository that it uses to store conversation history and other relevant data. Please ensure Git is installed and properly configured on your system before using Codex.

Once the Codex extension is installed and configured, you can start using it to assist with your coding tasks. To open the Codex chat interface, use the Open Codex link in the AI Assistant Configurator view or navigate to View > Codex. This will open the chat interface where you can interact with the Codex assistant.

If a subscription will be used and the API Key and Base URL fields were left blank, the below login prompt will appear in the chat interface:

_images/ccs_ai-configuration03c.png

Select the relevant option to log in to your account and authenticate the connection between the AI assistant and your subscription. Once authenticated, the AI assistant will be able to access the configured model and provide code assistance based on that model.

Once Codex is set up and authenticated, it required to set up the Codex Agent sandbox to allow Codex to execute code in a safe and controlled environment. Press the Set up button to configure the sandbox environment. This will allow the Codex to execute code and perform actions on your behalf without giving it unrestricted access to your machine.

_images/ccs_ai-configuration-codex-sandbox01.png

The below message should appear after the set up process is complete:

_images/ccs_ai-configuration-codex-sandbox02.png

Once the set up is completeyou can start using it to assist with your coding tasks. You can ask questions, request code suggestions, or seek help with debugging and other coding tasks. The assistant will provide responses based on the context of your project and the information you provide in the chat. You can also use the chat interface to manage your conversation history and access other features provided by the Codex extension.

_images/ccs_ai-configuration04c.png

For more information on using the Codex extension and its features, please refer to the Use Codex in VS Code documentation.

5.5. Using other AI Assistants

While Claude Code and Codex are the only AI assistants fully supported for use within CCStudio IDE, it is possible to use other AI assistants that are available as extensions on Open VSX. To use a different AI assistant, you will need to install the relevant extension from Open VSX and configure it according to the instructions provided by the extension developer. Once the extension is installed and configured, you can use it within CCStudio IDE to assist with your coding tasks. Please refer to the documentation for the specific AI assistant extension you are using for more information.

Please refer to the Using AI Code Assistants with CCStudio IDE documentation more details on some extentions tested with CCStudio IDE and instructions on how to get started with them.

Caution

Only Claude Code and Codex are fully supported out of the box with CCStudio IDE. While other AI assistants may work to some extent, they will not have the same level of integration or functionality as Claude Code and Codex when used with CCStudio IDE. Use at your own discretion when using other AI assistants with CCStudio IDE, and be aware that you may encounter issues or limitations when using assistants that are not fully supported.

Note that the CCStudio IDE MCP servers are designed to work with any AI assistant that supports the Model Context Protocol, so you may be able to use the MCP servers with other AI assistants as well. However, the level of integration and functionality may vary depending on the specific AI assistant and its capabilities. Claude Code is currently the only AI assistant that has been fully tested and verified to work with the CCStudio IDE MCP servers, so if you choose to use a different AI assistant, you may need to do some additional configuration and testing to ensure it works properly with CCStudio IDE.

To configure the MCP servers to work with a different AI assistant, you will need to refer to the documentation for that specific assistant to understand how to set up the connection and ensure compatibility with the Model Context Protocol. The below information provides the command and configuration file information for the MCP servers in CCStudio IDE, which will be required when configuring other AI assistants to work with CCStudio IDE:

  • Command: [CCS INSTALL DIR]/ccs/tools/node/node

  • Arguments:

    • Debug MCP Server: [CCS INSTALL DIR]/ccs/theia/resources/app/plugins/ccs-ai/extension/dist/mcp-server-proxy.js debug

    • Build MCP Server: [CCS INSTALL DIR]/ccs/theia/resources/app/plugins/ccs-ai/extension/dist/mcp-server-proxy.js project

    • SysConfig MCP Server: [CCS INSTALL DIR]/ccs/theia/resources/app/plugins/ccs-ai/extension/dist/mcp-server-proxy.js sysconfig

    • Serial (UART) MCP Server: [CCS INSTALL DIR]/ccs/theia/resources/app/plugins/ccs-ai/extension/dist/mcp-server-proxy.js serial

[CCS INSTALL DIR] refers to the directory where CCStudio IDE is installed on your system.

5.6. Theia AI

Theia AI is an extension to the Theia IDE framework that integrates artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities to enhance the software development experience within the IDE. It comes bundled with CCStudio IDE and can be used as an AI coding assistant option. Please refer to the Theia AI section of the Using AI Code Assistants with CCStudio IDE documentation.

5.7. Training

Please refer to the Supercharge development with AI-powered CCStudio™ IDE video series for examples on effectively using Claude Code (configured with the AI Assistant Configurator view) within CCStudio IDE.