Two of the most popular AI autocomplete tools used by developers today are Tabnine and Kite. These smart code completion tools aim to boost developer productivity by providing intelligent code suggestions as developers type. But which one of these AI coding assistants is better in 2024? This article compares Tabnine and Kite across several categories to help you decide which tool best fits your needs as a developer.
Key Takeaways:
- Tabnine supports a wider range of programming languages (20+) thanks to integration with Codex AI. Kite only supports Python and JavaScript.
- Tabnine provides extremely accurate code suggestions powered by advanced training of Codex model on billions of lines of code. Kite’s accuracy is decent but can vary more.
- Tabnine has lower latency between typing and suggestions appearing, leading to better coding flow. Kite’s suggestions have slightly higher lag.
- Tabnine offers more robust customization around aspects like suggestion types, code style enforcement, imports etc. Kite has less flexibility.
- Tabnine integrates with more IDEs like VS Code, PyCharm, Vim, Emacs, JupyterLab, etc. Kite supports fewer coding environments.
- Both offer free versions but Tabnine provides 1 week of offline caching compared to 3 days with Kite.
- Overall, Tabnine outperforms Kite on more dimensions like broad language support, cutting-edge accuracy, lower latency, superior customization, and longer free offline use.
How Tabnine and Kite Work
Before diving into the feature comparison, let’s first understand how Tabnine and Kite work at their core.
Tabnine leverages a cutting-edge AI model called Codex to provide code completion suggestions in real-time as you type in your IDE. Codex has been trained on millions of open source GitHub repositories to learn common coding patterns across multiple programming languages.
Kite, on the other hand, uses machine learning combined with user behavior data to improve its code suggestions. As you code, Kite observes your style and preferences to personalize and prioritize suggestions. Kite also has deep integrations with Python libraries to provide enhanced autocompletions for Python code.
So in summary:
- Tabnine – Code suggestions powered by Codex AI model trained on GH data
- Kite – ML code suggestions personalized based on user behavior
Now let’s see how they compare across key criteria:
Pros and Cons Comparison
Here is a pros and cons breakdown of Tabnine vs Kite:
| Kite | Tabnine | |
|---|---|---|
| Pros | Broad language support via Codex AI Extremely low latency suggestions Very accurate AI-powered suggestions Granular customization options Long 1-week free offline caching | Decent Python and JavaScript support Tight VS Code integration Personalized suggestions based on usage 3-day free offline caching |
| Cons | Only 1-week free offline caching Cloud sync needs paid plan | Limited language support Slightly higher latency Less customization flexibility Only 3-day free offline caching |
Programming Languages Supported
The number of languages supported is an important consideration when choosing an autocomplete tool.
Tabnine supports a very wide range of languages including Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, Java, C/C++, Bash/Shell, Go, Rust, Scala, C#, PHP, Ruby, Perl, OCaml, Lua, and more.
Kite, on the other hand, only supports Python and JavaScript as of 2024. So Tabnine clearly wins when it comes to language support.
Accuracy of Suggestions
The accuracy of the code suggestions provided is critical for speeding up development.
Tabnine leverages the cutting-edge Codex model which has been trained on billions of lines of public code to provide very accurate suggestions in line with coding best practices. The suggestions continuously improve as you keep coding.
Kite also provides decently accurate suggestions, but specialized more for Python code. The accuracy can vary more compared to Tabnine for other languages.
So when it comes to accuracy, Tabnine comes out ahead due to the advanced AI powering its suggestions.
Latency of Suggestions
The speed at which suggestions appear can impact coding efficiency and flow state.
Tabnine provides extremely low latency suggestions, appearing pretty much as you type with no perceivable lag. This helps achieve seamless autocompletions conveniently without interrupting your flow.
Kite has slightly higher latency where there can be a subtle lag before suggestions pop up. This minor lag can interrupt your flow at times.
So Tabnine wins when it comes to lower latency suggestions.
Customization Options
The ability to customize the tool’s behavior aligns better with personal coding preferences.
Tabnine allows setting granular preferences around suggestion types, favorites, imports, enforcement of code styles like quotas and indentation, and more.
Kite also provides personalization but across fewer axes like sorting algorithm and coding conventions.
Thus, Tabnine provides more robust customization capabilities to tune suggestions to your taste.
IDE Integrations
Having tight integration with popular IDEs makes the tools more convenient to use.
Tabnine has integrations with VS Code, Vim, Emacs, Sublime Text, Atom, Jetbrains IDEs like PyCharm, JupyterLab, and more.
Comparatively, Kite only supports VS Code, Atom, Vim, Emacs, and Jupyter Notebook as of 2024.
So Tabnine supports autocompletion across a broader range of coding environments.
Pricing and Plans
The pricing models for both tools are reasonably matched.
Tabnine offers a forever free community version with 1-week offline caching. Paid pro plans start from $10 per month billed annually and add features like unlimited caching, cloud sync, etc.
Kite’s free version offers unlimited use with a 3-day caching limit. Paid plans start from $10 per month billed annually which lifts limits and provides additional productivity features.
So unless you need extras like cloud sync, the free versions provide decent functionality. But Tabnine gives you longer 1-week offline support for free.
So in summary, Tabnine outperforms Kite across more dimensions as of 2024 based on this analysis.
Conclusion
Tabnine emerges as the clear winner when comparing the top AI coding assistants in 2024. With strengths like broad language support through Codex AI, extremely low latency, highly accurate suggestions, robust customization, and longer free caching duration, Tabnine leads on most aspects that are crucial for boosting developer productivity.
Kite is still a decent option for Python and JavaScript developers who prefer personalized suggestions. But Tabnine’s cutting-edge Codex integration makes it a more versatile, accurate, and lower latency autocomplete tool for most software developers today.
With AI advancements expected to continue growing exponentially in coming years, the future looks brighter than ever when it comes to supercharging developer efficiency using tools like Tabnine.
You may also like to read: Copilot vs tabnine
FAQs
How many programming languages does Tabnine support?
Tabnine supports over 20 programming languages including Python, JavaScript, Java, C/C++, Bash, Go, PHP, and more.
Does Kite provide personalized code suggestions?
Yes, Kite observes user coding activity to learn preferences and personalize suggestions tailored to you.
What IDEs support Tabnine integration?
Tabnine supports popular IDEs like VS Code, PyCharm, Vim, Emacs, Sublime, and more.
Does Tabnine work offline?
Yes, Tabnine’s free version supports up to 1 week of offline caching without an internet connection.
What underlying technology powers Tabnine’s suggestions?
Tabnine utilizes OpenAI’s Codex model an advanced AI trained on billions of lines of public code.
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