What to do
Choose an AI IDE by testing it in your real repository with your extensions, keybindings, build tools, and security constraints. Model quality matters, but context retrieval and daily workflow friction usually determine sustained value.
Check the non-AI foundation
Confirm language support, debugging, remote development, source control, accessibility, extension compatibility, and performance on your largest repository. A strong assistant does not compensate for an editor that disrupts core work.
Test context behavior
Ask questions whose answers live across several files and inspect which context the product used. Then test edits that cross module boundaries. Good context handling should be understandable and correctable when retrieval misses something.
- Can you add or exclude files explicitly?
- Can the tool explain what it read?
- Does it respect ignore and sensitive-file rules?
Price the migration
Include subscription cost, onboarding, lost shortcuts, extension replacements, policy review, and team standardization. A short parallel trial is safer than an immediate switch. Keep export and fallback options clear.
Practical checklist
Continue researching
This guide is an editorial framework, not a product endorsement. Recheck vendor documentation and your organization's requirements before making a purchasing or security decision.