BlackBox AI is a revolutionary code completion tool that uses the power of artificial intelligence to write code for you. It was created by Anthropic, an AI safety startup, and is designed to be helpful, harmless, and honest.
BlackBox AI works inside your existing development environment to suggest entire lines or blocks of code as you type. It is exceptionally intelligent, often knowing what you intend to write before you finish typing it yourself. This allows developers to code faster and spend more time focused on the big picture instead of routine coding tasks.
In this comprehensive guide, we will cover everything you need to know to use BlackBox AI Coding effectively, including:
Enabling BlackBox AI Coding
Enabling BlackBox AI Coding inside your editor is simple and takes just a few clicks:
Visual Studio Code
- Install the BlackBox extension from the Visual Studio Code marketplace
- Open the command palette (Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + P)
- Select “Enable Blackbox Autocomplete”
Once enabled, you will see BlackBox suggestions appear as you type.
Other Editors
BlackBox AI Coding is currently only available as an extension for Visual Studio Code. Support for more editors like IntelliJ is coming soon.
Using Code Completions
Once enabled, using BlackBox AI Coding is seamless. As you type, you will see code completions pop up in your editor.
To accept a suggestion, simply press Tab or Enter. BlackBox will then insert the full code completion into your file.
Here are some tips for using completions effectively:
- Pay attention to the grey descriptor text below each completion to better understand what code will be inserted
- Scroll through completions with arrow keys before accepting
- Delete backwards if you ever need to “reset” the suggestions
Over time, BlackBox will learn your coding style and provide better tailored recommendations.
Code Chat
In addition to editor integration, BlackBox AI Coding offers a “Code Chat” feature on their website.
Code Chat allows you to have a conversational dialogue asking questions and getting code responses. It feels like chatting with a skilled programming friend!
Here is how to use Code Chat:
- Go to useblackbox.io and login
- Click on “Code Chat” in the navigation bar
- Type out your question or coding goal in natural language
- Hit enter and BlackBox will provide a code response!
Code Chat understands complex questions and coding goals spanning many lines. It is the perfect companion when trying to figure out how to accomplish coding tasks.
Advanced BlackBox AI Coding Features
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s dig deeper into some of the advanced features that enable you to level up your productivity with BlackBox AI Coding:
Multi-Line Editing
Tapping tab accepts a single line completion, but BlackBox can actually suggest entire functions, classes, or code blocks with just a few keystrokes.
To leverage this and insert multiple lines at once:
- Hover over a completion with arrow keys
- Hold shift + enter
This will insert all of the suggested code at once, saving you even more typing.
Descriptions
Each code completion has a descriptive comment above it explaining what the suggested code will do when inserted.
Paying attention to these descriptions allows you to quickly scan and understand the purpose of each suggestion.
Over time, reading these descriptions also helps you learn by explaining code you may not fully understand yet.
Snippets
In addition to AI suggestions, BlackBox also has a database of commonly used code snippets.
Start typing “snippet” and you can search through reusable code building blocks for many languages and frameworks.
Using snippets allows you to insert best practice code templates optimized for productivity.
Integrated Search
The magic of BlackBox goes beyond completions. With Integrated Search, you can ask coding questions and get tailored answers inline.
To use Integrated Search:
- Type “/” to bring up the search bar
- Ask a coding question like “How to read files in Java”
- BlackBox will provide concise explanations and code examples
Integrated search allows you to leverage BlackBox’s knowledge without leaving your editor.
Customizing BlackBox AI Coding
Half of mastering any coding tool is customizing it to match your style. BlackBox AI Coding offers several ways to tailor the suggestions to what works for you:
Tab Preferences
You can configure whether tab inserts single lines or entire multi-line suggestions using the Command Palette.
Common configurations include:
- Tab = Single Line, Shift+Enter = Multi-line
- Tab = Multi-line, Enter = Single-line
Choose whichever flows best for your coding style.
Disabling Filetypes or Languages
If you work with many languages, you may wish to disable BlackBox suggestions on some filetypes where you don’t want assistance.
To disable languages:
- Open Command Palette
- Choose “Blackbox: Disable language”
- Select the language or file extension
This will stop suggestions from appearing, while keeping BlackBox enabled for files where you do want help.
Code Blocks
You can also disable BlackBox code suggestions within specific file regions using code block comments:
#blackbox: disable
#blackbox: enableAdd the disable comment above the region you want to block suggestions within.
Privacy Settings
BlackBox ships with strong privacy defaults, ensuring the code you write is never associated with your identity or used to train models.
You can audit and adjust privacy settings like opting out of anonymized telemetry by going to:
File > Preferences > Settings > Blackbox AI Coding Review available options and choose the settings that meets your privacy preferences.
Getting the Most from BlackBox AI Coding
With an understanding of the basics now in place, let’s discuss some pro tips for getting the most productivity and effectiveness from this revolutionary AI coding tool:
Let BlackBox Inspire You
Instead of only using BlackBox to autogenerate code, also pay attention when it suggests something you wouldn’t have thought to write yourself.
These moments are opportunities to learn something new and expand your coding skills.
Use Descriptions to Explain Code
Read the descriptions on hover to understand what code will do before inserting it. This trains you by essentially getting a code explanation integrated into the writing process.
Compare Variations
When BlackBox suggests multiple completions, compare their descriptive differences to better grasp the distinction.
Seeing subtle code variations side-by-side lets you more deeply comprehend the concepts.
Ask “Why” in Integrated Search
When you search for coding help within the editor, don’t just copy the examples. Also ask follow-up questions like “why does this work?” to strengthen your conceptual knowledge.
Embrace Highlight Gaps
BlackBox sometimes highlights gaps in your understanding via muted gray code. Rather than skipping past these gaps, embrace them as lessons to be learned.
The gaps illuminated by BlackBox chart a path to elevated coding skill.
Simulate Code Reviews
Practice explaining the code you write with BlackBox to an imaginary colleague. Verbalizing concepts out loud helps reinforce and connect the dots in your understanding.
Conclusion
BlackBox AI Coding represents an entirely new paradigm, augmenting programmers with code writing superpowers. This guide has only scratched the surface of the tool’s amazing capabilities.
As you explore BlackBox further, constantly practice these skills in parallel:
- Productivity: Use BlackBox completions to conserve keystrokes and maximize hours of flow.
- Knowledge: Read hover descriptions and explanations to cement coding concepts.
- Quality: Leverage BlackBox’s best practices suggestions to level up code quality.
- Originality: Ask novel questions and don’t just copy/paste to exercise creativity.
With deliberate, focused practice in these areas, BlackBox AI Coding can radically accelerate your coding skills in months instead of years.
The future of coding is collaborative intelligence – and that future is here. Start reimagining what you can create today with the power of AI coding side-by-side.
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