# Seeking Recommendations: Which AI Models/Chatbots do you use daily for Software Development? **URL:** \ **Category:** Discussion & Solutions\ **Tags:** solved\ **Created:** [March 2, 2026, 12:00pm UTC](https://onehack.st/t/seeking-recommendations-which-ai-models-chatbots-do-you-use-daily-for-software-development/319112 "2026-03-02T12:00:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Aman\_Mourya](https://onehack.st/user_avatar/onehack.st/aman_mourya/32/117255_2.png) [@Aman\_Mourya](https://onehack.st/u/Aman_Mourya)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2026, 12:00pm UTC](https://onehack.st/t/seeking-recommendations-which-ai-models-chatbots-do-you-use-daily-for-software-development/319112/1 "2026-03-02T12:00:12Z")
Hi everyone, I recently started a role as a Software Trainee/Intern, and I’m finding it a bit challenging to keep up with the workflow and deadlines. To be honest, I feel my current technical skills are a bit behind, and I’m struggling to deliver tasks on time, which is causing some friction with my team. I want to leverage AI to help me work more efficiently and learn faster on the job. I’ve been using ChatGPT, but I often find that the responses aren’t specific or accurate enough for the complex coding tasks I’m facing. **I would love to know:** - Which AI models or free chatbots do you use daily in your professional dev workflow? - Are there specific tools or websites that are better for debugging or writing boilerplate code than standard ChatGPT? - Any tips on how to prompt these models to get production-ready code? My goal is to meet my deadlines and reduce the pressure from my seniors while I work on improving my core skills. Any suggestions for free or freemium tools would be a huge help! Thanks in advance! ---
**Author:** ![HvckLer](https://onehack.st/user_avatar/onehack.st/hvckler/32/149895_2.png) [@HvckLer](https://onehack.st/u/HvckLer)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2026, 1:26pm UTC](https://onehack.st/t/seeking-recommendations-which-ai-models-chatbots-do-you-use-daily-for-software-development/319112/2 "2026-03-02T13:26:30Z")
Very good ask……I am also interested in quality response to this post as i am a developer from a 3rd world country and i do not have the finance for expensive AI tools. ---
**Author:** ![Joni\_Rao](https://onehack.st/user_avatar/onehack.st/joni_rao/32/179576_2.png) [@Joni\_Rao](https://onehack.st/u/Joni_Rao)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2026, 1:40pm UTC](https://onehack.st/t/seeking-recommendations-which-ai-models-chatbots-do-you-use-daily-for-software-development/319112/3 "2026-03-02T13:40:33Z")
I have used **Cursor** its contextual remembrance is good and also my recommendation. **Github Copilot** hmm its good not bad but you have to do very detailed prompting in order him to actually grasp what ment in comparison to the cursor. thats pretty much it. i once build a web app along with backend support all vibe coded but the **MiniMax** man he did great job including with the testing and fixing on its own. ---
**Author:** ![Joni\_Rao](https://onehack.st/user_avatar/onehack.st/joni_rao/32/179576_2.png) [@Joni\_Rao](https://onehack.st/u/Joni_Rao)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2026, 1:50pm UTC](https://onehack.st/t/seeking-recommendations-which-ai-models-chatbots-do-you-use-daily-for-software-development/319112/4 "2026-03-02T13:50:24Z")
Also for free try **Antigravity** its free untill the limit reached ---
**Author:** ![Nulled](https://onehack.st/user_avatar/onehack.st/nulled/32/23165_2.png) [@Nulled](https://onehack.st/u/Nulled)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2026, 2:00pm UTC](https://onehack.st/t/seeking-recommendations-which-ai-models-chatbots-do-you-use-daily-for-software-development/319112/5 "2026-03-02T14:00:35Z")
Per my experience with AI chatbots, most of the bottlenecks is the **prompt** fed to it. I personally use claude, and I can say it is really time saving especially if you know your prompts. Used it for a complete website with both user and admin panel, (the free tier) gave me full source code, all I did was edit with company name and details with some personal touches which were very tine changes.. I only had to finish up the backend myself with database connections. You can try it out ---
**Author:** ![slimjval](https://onehack.st/user_avatar/onehack.st/slimjval/32/30254_2.png) [@slimjval](https://onehack.st/u/slimjval)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2026, 2:35pm UTC](https://onehack.st/t/seeking-recommendations-which-ai-models-chatbots-do-you-use-daily-for-software-development/319112/6 "2026-03-02T14:35:10Z")
I use **Antigravity (free tiers on models like Claude Opus and Gemini) & Windsurf (25 credits per month)** with 5+ Google accounts, and whenever I hit rate limits, I switch to another. it’s **free** to use as long as you have many Google accounts to sign in to. When you max out your monthly free 25 credits in **Windsurf** , you can keep using their fastest model, **SWE 1.5** , which generates code faster than your eyes can read. 😆 **Cheatcode** : There are some tasks that these models (Gemini and Claude Opus/Sonnet) couldn’t get accomplished while vibe coding, so I also installed the KiloCode extension and used the Minimax M2.1 **FREE** model to continue as well. I’m still exploring VS Code Copilot free tier and haven’t used it much recently. ---
**Author:** ![Kruger](https://onehack.st/user_avatar/onehack.st/kruger/32/151010_2.png) [@Kruger](https://onehack.st/u/Kruger)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2026, 1:52pm UTC](https://onehack.st/t/seeking-recommendations-which-ai-models-chatbots-do-you-use-daily-for-software-development/319112/7 "2026-03-03T13:52:41Z")
[OpenCode | The open source AI coding agent](https://opencode.ai/) ![image](https://onehack.st/uploads/default/original/3X/f/0/f09d246de89cec731f505e2318a5c55d569724f1.png) Not as feature rich as Antigravity, but if you are looking for free, don’t complain. ---
**Author:** ![PlayBoy83](https://onehack.st/user_avatar/onehack.st/playboy83/32/164314_2.png) [@PlayBoy83](https://onehack.st/u/PlayBoy83)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2026, 10:45am UTC](https://onehack.st/t/seeking-recommendations-which-ai-models-chatbots-do-you-use-daily-for-software-development/319112/8 "2026-07-07T10:45:38Z")
ChatGPT feels generic because it’s **blind** — it can’t see your files, your repo, or the error in your terminal. The fix: wire a **free** AI _into your editor_ so it reads your actual code. Same brain, real answers, $0/mo. ```auto free key ─▶ editor plugin ─▶ AI reads YOUR code (not code-in-general) ``` * * * ![image](https://onehack.st/uploads/default/original/3X/c/5/c51b583ea2d87e8bee2f238adaf334caf553f8c6.jpeg) * * * Tap what you need 👇 > **🔑 the fuel they sell you for $20/mo — grab it free** > > An **API key** = a password that lets an app use the AI. Grab one free, paste into any tool below. > > - [Google AI Studio](https://aistudio.google.com) — free Gemini, huge memory, feed it whole files > - [Groq](https://console.groq.com) — runs on an AI-only chip (LPU) = stupid-fast autocomplete > - [Cerebras](https://cloud.cerebras.ai) — fattest free daily limit > - [master list (live limits)](https://github.com/cheahjs/free-llm-api-resources) · [freellm.net](https://freellm.net/) — one-click configs > > > 💡 Stack 2–3 keys. Separate limits each → you basically never run dry. > **🧩 turn that key into a Copilot (BYOK = bring your own key)** > > These read your open files, not just your paste: > > - [Continue](https://github.com/continuedev/continue) — VS Code / JetBrains, autocomplete + chat. easiest start. > - [Cline](https://github.com/cline/cline) — runs commands, edits files, fixes its own errors > - [Aider](https://aider.chat) — terminal, multi-file edits, auto git commits > > No-key mood? zero-setup free: [Copilot Free](https://github.com/features/copilot) · [Gemini Code Assist](https://codeassist.google/) · [CodeGeeX](https://codegeex.cn/) (free forever) · [Trae](https://www.trae.ai) > **🎯 why answers come out vague — and the 6-line fix** > > Give it a **role** , wrap code in ``` , make it explain _before_ fixing. Steal this: > > ```auto > You are a senior [language] engineer. > Function: [code] Error: [error] > Expected [x], got [y]. > Root cause first, then the minimal fix, then what I misunderstood. > > ``` > > That last line = it fixes the bug **and** teaches you. Want to get sharp fast? [Free 9-chapter prompt course](https://github.com/anthropics/prompt-eng-interactive-tutorial). > **🪤 catch your own bugs before a senior spots them** > > Run before you push — the flag comes from a bot, quietly, not a teammate in the standup: > > - [CodeRabbit](https://www.coderabbit.ai/) — free VS Code extension, reviews locally pre-push > - [Qodo PR-Agent](https://github.com/qodo-ai/pr-agent) — open-source; also **writes the tests you forgot** > - [SonarLint](https://www.sonarsource.com/products/sonarlint/) — underlines bugs _as you type_ > **📚 level up on the clock (no idea what stack? start here)** > > - [roadmap.sh](https://roadmap.sh) — exact “learn-next” map for your role > - [Exercism](https://exercism.org) — 83 languages, free human mentors > - [freeCodeCamp](https://www.freecodecamp.org) · [The Odin Project](https://www.theodinproject.com) — full free curricula > **🔒 the move that keeps you employed** > > Free tiers often train on whatever you feed them — pasting company code can break policy. Two clean fixes: > > - ask your lead if tool X is allowed (reads as careful, not clueless) > - keep it on your machine: [Continue + Ollama](https://ollama.com) or [Tabby](https://github.com/TabbyML/tabby) — code never leaves your laptop > **💣 where this quietly saves your ass** > > - New ticket in a language you barely know → editor AI reads the repo’s style, you match it same day. > - 200 lines of boilerplate CRUD → Aider writes it across files while you grab coffee. > - PR test coverage is red → Qodo generates the missing tests, green before review opens. > - 3pm bug you can’t crack → in-editor AI + the error + the file = root cause, not a 40-tab Google spiral. > - Air-gapped repo, nothing allowed in the cloud → local Ollama stack, full assistant, zero data leaves. **The whole stack:** free key → editor → prompt right → bot catches bugs → you learn while shipping. Nothing paid, nothing leaks. You were never behind on skill. You were behind on setup — and setup is free. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://onehack.st/user_avatar/onehack.st/system/32/165705_2.png) [@system](https://onehack.st/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2026, 10:46am UTC](https://onehack.st/t/seeking-recommendations-which-ai-models-chatbots-do-you-use-daily-for-software-development/319112/9 "2026-07-07T10:46:07Z")
> [@PlayBoy83](#): > > ChatGPT feels generic because it’s blind — it can’t see your files, your repo, or the error in your terminal. The fix: wire a free AI into your editor … **📝 This answer is now a polished version, improved by the Core-Community with AI.**