AI Coding Guides for Developers
Written while shipping Cortex. Short, dated field notes for developers who want an AI coding agent they can verify, pay for at provider prices, and run without sending keys through someone else's cloud.
Latest articles
Newest first. Each card shows the published date and reading time. Open a post for the updated date, sources, and FAQ.
Guides
Jev AI by TypeSafe: System One Models
What is Jev AI by TypeSafe? System One Models explained: how Jev differs from LLMs, why it's 193× faster and 444× cheaper, and where to use it for automation.
Published September 26, 2026 · Updated October 22, 2026 · 9 min read
Guides
Best Free AI Coding IDEs in 2026
Free in 2026 usually means a limited plan, a short trial or BYOK. Learn the difference, what to check and which free AI coding IDEs are worth trying.
Published August 21, 2026 · Updated October 22, 2026 · 6 min read
Explainers
Full Codebase Context for AI Agents, Explained
Full codebase context separates real AI coding agents from autocomplete. What it means, why it matters, and 4 simple tests to check any AI IDE.
Published August 21, 2026 · Updated October 22, 2026 · 6 min read
Story
Story Behind Cortex, a Privacy-First AI IDE
Cortex is a privacy-first cross-platform AI IDE from Pasons Group. Prompts and code go to your provider, never through our servers. Free with your own keys.
Published August 2, 2026 · Updated October 22, 2026 · 7 min read
Guides
25 MCP Servers Worth Connecting in 2026
Pick five MCP servers from these 25, including GitHub, Context7, Playwright, Sentry and Postgres. Real URLs, install commands and security rules for developers.
Published July 20, 2026 · Updated October 22, 2026 · 12 min read
Guides
MCP in 2026: Which Servers Should You Connect?
MCP has about 10,000 servers and is governed by the Linux Foundation. Learn what MCP is, which servers are worth connecting and the security rules to follow.
Published July 19, 2026 · Updated October 22, 2026 · 8 min read
News
Kimi K3 and the Open-Model Wave
Kimi K3 is a 2.8T open-weight model ranked fourth at the frontier. BYOK developers: when to pick it in Cortex vs GLM 5.2 or DeepSeek.
Published July 19, 2026 · Updated October 22, 2026 · 9 min read
Product
Why Cortex Never Hides Your Code
Chat-only AI IDEs hide the file tree. Cortex keeps Explorer, search, and Monaco one click away. For developers who still want to read the code.
Published July 19, 2026 · Updated October 22, 2026 · 8 min read
News
SpaceX Bought Cursor for $60 Billion
SpaceX agreed to buy Cursor for $60 billion. What the deal changes for developers, and how BYOK keeps your models independent of whoever owns the IDE.
Published July 19, 2026 · Updated October 22, 2026 · 9 min read
News
Windsurf Is Now Devin Desktop
Windsurf became Devin Desktop on June 2, 2026. Cascade died July 1. What developers should do next if a closed AI IDE can disappear overnight.
Published July 19, 2026 · Updated October 22, 2026 · 8 min read
Guides
What Is Vibe Coding? The 2026 Guide
Vibe coding is describing what you want and letting AI write the code. For developers: the 2026 definition, risks, and how to verify before you ship.
Published July 19, 2026 · Updated October 22, 2026 · 11 min read
Research
Why Only 29% of Developers Trust AI Code
Only about 29% of developers trust AI code, and 2026 data says they are right. See what real verification fixes and how to spot an agent that proves it.
Published July 19, 2026 · Updated October 22, 2026 · 7 min read
Guides
Cheapest Coding Agent Models: Real BYOK Prices
Developers: real per-token BYOK prices, what one agentic task actually costs, and how to route cheap and frontier models to cut the bill.
Published July 19, 2026 · Updated October 22, 2026 · 8 min read
Guides
How to Choose an AI IDE in 2026
Native vs Electron, agentic loop vs autocomplete, BYOK vs bundled inference, and where your keys really live. How to pick an AI IDE in 2026.
Published July 18, 2026 · Updated October 22, 2026 · 7 min read
Explainers
What Is BYOK in AI Coding?
BYOK (bring your own key) means you add your own API keys to an AI coding tool and pay the provider directly. See when it saves money and how to keep keys safe.
Published July 18, 2026 · Updated October 22, 2026 · 7 min read
Explainers
What Is Agentic Coding?
Agentic coding lets an agent plan, edit files, run commands, and verify its work against real tests. How a trusted agentic loop works.
Published July 18, 2026 · Updated October 22, 2026 · 9 min read