This guide covers how to evaluate AI tools for development: coding assistants, LLM APIs, and agent frameworks. We focus on information density and fit for your stack.
What to look for
- API vs IDE: Do you need an API (OpenAI, Anthropic, Replicate) or an in-editor experience (Cursor, Copilot, Continue)?
- Open vs closed: Local models (Ollama) and open APIs (Together, Groq) vs proprietary (OpenAI, Anthropic).
- RAG and agents: If you're building RAG or agents, consider LangChain, LlamaIndex, or the Vercel AI SDK plus a vector store.
Next steps
Browse the AI directory and use filters for category and pricing. Use Compare to see tools side by side.
