From Copilot to Cursor to Claude Code for VS Code: My Journey to the Optimal Setup
A software developer details their journey to find the optimal AI coding assistant, ultimately settling on VS Code with the Claude Code Extension and a MAX plan. They found that while tools like GitHub Copilot and Cursor offered various models, Claude's ability to persistently debug complex code issues and its conversational depth made it superior for their architect-style development approach. The developer also noted that Gemini 3.1's tendency to inject unauthorized code and GPT-5.4's limitations in deep debugging led them back to Claude, whose usage limits refresh every five hours, making it a cost-effective and reliable choice. AI
IMPACT Developers can optimize their AI coding toolchains by leveraging Claude's strengths in debugging and conversational depth.