Gemini Code Assist 3.0: It's now BETTER than Cline & Roo? BG Mode, Code Mode, Checkpointing & More!

Gemini Code Assist Updates: June 12th - August 15th

Key Concepts:

• Gemini Code Assist: AI-powered coding assistant integrated into VS Code and IntelliJ.
• Agent Mode: Allows Gemini to perform complex, multi-step tasks.
• Checkpoints: Save states of files to revert to previous versions.
• Codebase Awareness: Gemini analyzes the entire project for better suggestions.
• Inline Diff View: Highlights code changes (additions/deletions) directly in the editor.
• Auto Approve Mode: Agent automatically applies changes without explicit approval.
• Thinking Tokens: Visual indicators of Gemini's processing activity.
• Repository Indexes: Organized collections of code repositories for access control.
• Release Channels: Indicate the version and features available (e.g., experimental builds).
• Context 7, Biterover: MCPs (Memory Context Providers) used for documentation fetching and memory management.

I. VS Code Updates

A. June 18th:

• Chat Suggestions Preview: Gemini Code Assist chat suggestions are displayed in a preview block by default, improving readability. The preview pane can be configured to show suggestions as collapsed or expanded.
• Checkpoint Reversion: Ability to revert to a checkpoint after applying a chat code suggestion, enabling safe experimentation.

B. June 25th:

• Agent Mode Improvements:
  • Complex multi-step tasks are now supported. The agent presents a plan for review and approval before making changes. Users can edit, approve, or deny each suggestion.
  • Persistent agent mode and chat state between IDE restarts.
  • Multi-file editing is available, allowing Gemini to update multiple files simultaneously.
  • Full project context awareness for more accurate code completions and suggestions.

C. July 18th:

• Improved Code Completion Speed: Gemini Code Assist suggestions appear faster.

D. July 28th:

• Inline Diff View: Highlights code changes directly in the editor (green for additions, red for deletions).

E. July 31st:

• Agent Mode Enhancements:
  • Auto approve mode is available, allowing the agent to automatically apply changes. Changes can be reviewed and rolled back.
  • Real-time shell command output is displayed.
  • Improved UI performance.
  • Persistent chat state between IDE restarts.

F. August 8th:

• Quick Preview for Multi-File Chat Code Suggestions: Preview all suggested changes in one place and jump to specific files and suggestions.

G. August 12th:

• Code Customization Management: Code customization can be set up and managed directly in the Google Cloud Console. This includes creating repository indexes, adding repositories, and managing repository groups for granular access control.

H. August 15th:

• Performance Improvements: Lower CPU and memory usage, and reduced extension slowdown.
• Release Channel Display: The VS Code chat banner now shows the release channel.

II. IntelliJ Updates

A. July 24th:

• Stop In-Progress Chat Responses: Ability to halt Gemini's response mid-generation.
• Thinking Tokens: Provide insights into Gemini's thought process before producing a response.

B. July 31st:

• Agent Mode Enhancements: (Same as VS Code - Auto Approve, Real-time shell command output, Improved UI performance, Persistent chat state)

C. August 1st:

• Code Diff View in Chat: Additions and deletions are highlighted in the chat conversation.
• Multi-Part Chat Code Suggestions: Accept one change or all at once.
• Clickable File Names: Open files directly from the chat output.
• Release Channel Display: The chat banner shows the current release channel.

D. August 15th:

• Delete Chat History: Delete individual prompt and response pairs from chat history.

III. General Updates & Model Improvements

A. July 1st:

• Gemini 2.5 Pro and Gemini 2.5 Flash: These models became generally available and now power Gemini Code Assist's chat, code generation, and code transformation capabilities. These models are better at handling complex code, math, and science tasks.

B. July 17th:

• General Availability of Preview Features: Checkpoints, selected code snippets, terminal output, and multi-file editing are now generally available.

IV. Ninja Chat Advertisement

• Ninja Chat is an all-in-one AI platform with access to models like GPT40, Claude for Sonnet, and Gemini 2.5 Pro for $11/month.
• Features include an AI playground for comparing model responses and a mind map generator.
• The basic plan includes 1,000 messages, 30 images, and 5 videos monthly.
• Discount codes: king25 (25% off any plan), king40yearly (40% off annual subscriptions).

V. Demonstration and Additional Tools

• The presenter demonstrates the updated features in VS Code.
• Local codebase awareness can be enabled in settings to improve suggestions and navigation.
• The presenter uses Context 7 for documentation fetching and Biterover for memory management. Biterover allows creating and sharing memories across coders.

VI. Conclusion

Gemini Code Assist has received numerous updates, enhancing its capabilities in both VS Code and IntelliJ. Key improvements include agent mode enhancements, improved code completion speed, inline diff view, auto approve mode, and the integration of Gemini 2.5 Pro and Flash models. These updates aim to improve developer productivity and code quality. The presenter encourages viewers to use Gemini Code Assist and share their thoughts.