Amazon CodeWhisperer
FreeBuild applications faster with the ML-powered coding companion.
FreeFree tier
Inputs: code
About Amazon CodeWhisperer
Amazon CodeWhisperer, now part of Amazon Q Developer, is a generative AI-powered coding assistant that provides real-time code suggestions, security scanning, and agentic capabilities to accelerate the entire software development lifecycle. It integrates with major IDEs like VS Code, JetBrains, Visual Studio, and Eclipse, and offers CLI support with natural language-to-bash translation. The tool can autonomously implement features, generate tests, review code, and perform upgrades. It also specializes in AWS expertise, helping developers optimize cloud costs, diagnose network issues, and transform applications (e.g., Java upgrades, .NET porting). Amazon Q Developer is available with a free tier and supports customization via private repositories.
Key Features
Real-time code suggestions from snippets to full functions based on comments and existing code
Inline chat directly in the code editor and CLI completions with natural language-to-bash translation
Security scanning that detects vulnerabilities and suggests automated remediations
Agentic coding capabilities that autonomously implement features, write tests, document code, and perform code reviews
Customizable code recommendations by securely connecting to private repositories
Expert assistance on AWS: explore capabilities, review resources, analyze bills, and architect solutions
Support for transforming applications: .NET porting from Windows to Linux and Java version upgrades (e.g., Java 8 to 17)
Integration with AWS Management Console, Microsoft Teams, and Slack for cloud operations
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Highest reported code acceptance rate among multiline code suggestion assistants (per BT Group)
- Provides significant developer productivity increases (based on internal studies and Eviden quote)
- Offers a free tier with generous usage limits for individual developers
- Security scanning outperforms leading publicly benchmarkable tools across popular programming languages
- Supports multiple IDEs and CLI, making it accessible for different workflows
- Agentic capabilities automate complex multistep tasks, reducing manual effort
Cons
- Tightly integrated with AWS services, which may be less useful for developers primarily using other cloud providers
- Rebranded from CodeWhisperer to Amazon Q Developer, potentially causing confusion with legacy references
- Some advanced features (e.g., agentic capabilities, security scanning) may require an AWS account and proper configuration
- Customization via private repositories may raise data privacy concerns for some organizations
Best For
Accelerating software development with AI-assisted coding in IDEs and command lineImproving code quality by automatically generating unit tests and performing code reviewsUpgrading legacy Java applications from version 8 to 17 with automated toolingBuilding analytics, AI/ML, and generative AI applications faster with natural language queries and data governanceOptimizing AWS cloud costs and resources through conversational assistance and anomaly detectionDiagnosing and resolving networking issues and operational incidents on AWS
FAQ
What IDEs does Amazon CodeWhisperer (Amazon Q Developer) support?
It supports VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, Visual Studio, Eclipse, and command-line interfaces (CLI).
Is Amazon CodeWhisperer free?
Amazon Q Developer is available with a Free Tier, which allows developers to get started at no cost. Additional usage may be subject to AWS pay-as-you-go pricing.
Can I customize code recommendations with my own codebase?
Yes, you can securely connect Amazon Q Developer to your private repositories to generate more relevant code recommendations and get answers about your company's code.
What security features does Amazon CodeWhisperer offer?
It provides security scanning that detects vulnerabilities and suggests remediations. Amazon Q Developer's security scanning outperforms leading publicly benchmarkable tools across most popular programming languages.