Frequently Asked Questions

Get quick answers to common questions about Codentium. Can't find what you're looking for? Contact our support team.

Getting Started

Codentium is an AI-powered code editor built with a cross-platform framework, designed for modern developers who want fast, intelligent coding assistance while maintaining complete privacy control. It combines the speed of native desktop applications with cutting-edge AI capabilities.

Key features include:

  • One-gesture productivity with keyboard-first design
  • Explainable AI that shows exactly what context is sent
  • Diff-first safety for reviewing all AI changes
  • Privacy-by-design architecture with local processing options
  • Zero UI jank with async AI operations

Yes, Codentium is completely free and open source. There are no subscription fees, license costs, or premium tiers. You can use all features without any limitations.

The open source model ensures transparency, security, and community-driven development. You can even build your own version from the source code available on GitHub.

Codentium supports a wide range of programming languages through Language Server Protocol (LSP) integration:

Systems Programming
C++ C Rust Go
Web Development
JavaScript TypeScript HTML CSS
General Purpose
Python Java C# PHP
And More
JSON YAML Markdown SQL
  1. Download: Get Codentium for your platform from our download page
  2. Install: Run the installer and follow the setup wizard
  3. First Launch: Open Codentium and complete the initial configuration
  4. AI Setup: Choose between local AI (Ollama) or cloud providers (OpenAI, Grok)
  5. Start Coding: Open your first project and experience AI-powered development

The entire process takes less than 5 minutes, and our setup wizard will guide you through each step.

Installation & Setup

Windows
  • Windows 10 version 1903 or later
  • Windows 11 (recommended)
  • 4GB RAM (8GB recommended)
  • 2GB free disk space
  • x64 processor
macOS
  • macOS 11 Big Sur or later
  • Intel or Apple Silicon Mac
  • 4GB RAM (8GB recommended)
  • 2GB free disk space
Linux
  • Ubuntu 20.04+ / Debian 11+
  • Fedora 35+ / CentOS 8+
  • 4GB RAM (8GB recommended)
  • 2GB free disk space
  • x64 processor
  • Wayland or X11 display server
For AI Features: Local AI processing with Ollama requires additional 4-8GB RAM and 2-10GB storage depending on the model size.
  1. Download the Windows installer (.msi or .exe) from our download page
  2. Right-click the installer and select "Run as administrator" (if required)
  3. Follow the installation wizard:
    • Accept the license agreement
    • Choose installation directory (default recommended)
    • Select additional components (desktop shortcut, file associations)
  4. Wait for installation to complete
  5. Launch Codentium from Start Menu or desktop shortcut
Alternative Installation Methods:
  • Microsoft Store: Search for "Codentium" (coming soon)
  • Chocolatey: choco install codentium
  • Winget: winget install Codentium.Codentium
  • Portable: Download zip file, extract, and run
  1. Download the macOS installer (.dmg file) from our download page
  2. Double-click the .dmg file to mount it
  3. Drag Codentium.app to your Applications folder
  4. Eject the installer disk image
  5. Launch Codentium from Applications or Spotlight
  6. If you see a security warning:
    • Go to System Preferences → Security & Privacy
    • Click "Open Anyway" for Codentium
    • Or use: sudo xattr -rd com.apple.quarantine /Applications/Codentium.app
Alternative Installation Methods:
  • Homebrew: brew install --cask codentium
  • Mac App Store: Search for "Codentium" (coming soon)
Ubuntu/Debian (.deb package)
# Download and install
wget https://releases.codentium.io/codentium_1.0.0_amd64.deb
sudo dpkg -i codentium_1.0.0_amd64.deb
sudo apt-get install -f # Fix dependencies if needed
Fedora/CentOS (.rpm package)
# Download and install
wget https://releases.codentium.io/codentium-1.0.0.x86_64.rpm
sudo rpm -i codentium-1.0.0.x86_64.rpm
# Or with dnf:
sudo dnf install codentium-1.0.0.x86_64.rpm
AppImage (Universal)
# Download and run
wget https://releases.codentium.io/Codentium-1.0.0.AppImage
chmod +x Codentium-1.0.0.AppImage
./Codentium-1.0.0.AppImage
Flatpak
# Install from Flathub
flatpak install flathub io.codentium.Codentium
flatpak run io.codentium.Codentium

Currently, Codentium officially supports Windows, macOS, and Linux. However, there are additional options:

Web Version

Status: Planned for future release

A web-based version using WebAssembly is in development for universal access.

Docker Container

Status: Available

docker run -it --rm -v $(pwd):/workspace codentium/codentium
Build from Source

Status: Available for all platforms

Codentium can be built from source on any platform that supports a cross-platform framework and C++17.

AI Features & Capabilities

Codentium supports multiple AI providers to give you flexibility and choice:

Local Processing (Recommended)
  • Ollama: Run models locally (Llama 2, Code Llama, Mistral, etc.)
  • Benefits: Complete privacy, no internet required, no usage costs
  • Requirements: 8-16GB RAM depending on model
Cloud Providers
  • OpenAI: GPT-4, GPT-3.5 Turbo with latest capabilities
  • Grok: X.AI's powerful reasoning models
  • Custom API: Bring your own API endpoints
  • Benefits: Latest models, no local resources needed
  • Requirements: API keys and internet connection

Codentium's AI context system is designed for transparency and control:

  • Context Preview: Always see exactly what data will be sent to AI
  • Smart Selection: Automatically includes relevant code, imports, and definitions
  • Manual Control: Add or remove context manually before sending
  • Cost Estimation: See estimated token usage and costs before requests
  • Provider Transparency: Know which AI model is being used
Privacy First: You can review and modify all context before it leaves your machine. Nothing is sent without your explicit approval.

Codentium's AI can help with many development tasks:

Code Generation
  • Write functions and classes
  • Generate boilerplate code
  • Create test cases
  • Add error handling
Code Analysis
  • Explain complex algorithms
  • Review code quality
  • Identify potential bugs
  • Suggest optimizations
Refactoring
  • Improve code structure
  • Extract functions/classes
  • Rename variables meaningfully
  • Apply design patterns
Documentation
  • Write clear comments
  • Generate API documentation
  • Create README files
  • Explain code purpose

The diff-first safety system ensures you never lose control of your code:

  1. AI Generates Changes: AI creates proposed modifications to your code
  2. Preview as Diff: Changes are displayed as a unified diff showing additions and deletions
  3. Review Process: You can examine each change line by line
  4. Selective Application: Accept or reject individual changes or entire sections
  5. Safe Integration: Only approved changes are applied to your code
No Surprises: AI never modifies your code directly. All changes go through the diff review process first.

Setting up local AI provides complete privacy and no usage costs:

  1. Install Ollama: Download from ollama.ai for your platform
  2. Download Models: Run ollama pull codellama or your preferred model
  3. Configure Codentium: Go to Settings → AI Providers
  4. Select Local: Choose Ollama as your provider
  5. Test Connection: Verify the setup with a simple AI request
Recommended Models for Code:
  • Code Llama 7B: Fast, good for completion and simple tasks
  • Code Llama 13B: Better quality, requires more RAM
  • Deepseek Coder: Excellent for code generation
  • Mistral: Good general-purpose coding assistant

Privacy & Security

Codentium is built with privacy as a core principle:

  • Local Processing Option: Use Ollama for 100% local AI that never sends data online
  • Context Preview: Always see exactly what data will be sent to external services
  • No Telemetry: We don't collect usage data, crash reports, or analytics without permission
  • No Account Required: Use all features without creating accounts or logging in
  • Open Source: Code is auditable and transparent
  • Data Minimization: Only send the minimum context needed for AI requests
Your Code Stays Yours: Whether using local or cloud AI, you maintain complete control over what data is shared and when.

When using cloud AI providers, only the context you approve is sent:

  • Selected Code: Only code you've selected or is relevant to your request
  • Your Question: The specific question or task you're asking about
  • Minimal Context: Just enough surrounding code for the AI to understand
  • No Personal Data: No usernames, file paths, or identifying information
  • No Full Projects: Never your entire codebase or unrelated files
Important: Different AI providers have different data retention policies. Review their terms before use.

Yes! Codentium can work completely offline:

  • Core Editor: All editing features work without internet
  • Local AI: Use Ollama for offline AI assistance
  • Language Servers: LSP features work locally
  • No License Check: No online activation or license validation
  • Local Documentation: Built-in help and documentation

Internet is only required for:

  • Cloud AI providers (OpenAI, Grok)
  • Software updates (optional)
  • Extension marketplace (optional)

Codentium implements multiple security measures:

  • Local Storage: Your code stays on your machine
  • No Cloud Sync: We don't automatically sync your projects
  • Encrypted Connections: All network requests use TLS/SSL
  • API Key Security: Keys stored securely in system keychain
  • Process Isolation: AI operations run in separate processes
  • Regular Updates: Security patches delivered promptly
Enterprise Ready: Codentium meets the security standards required for professional development environments.

Technical Questions

Codentium is designed for keyboard-first productivity:

Ctrl + I AI Assistance
Ctrl + Tab Next Tab
Ctrl + Shift + S Save All
F1 Command Palette
Ctrl + / Toggle Comment
Ctrl + D Duplicate Line

For a full list, check the Settings → Keyboard Shortcuts menu.

Yes, Codentium offers extensive customization options:

  • Themes: Choose from light, dark, or custom themes
  • Font Settings: Adjust font family, size, and line height
  • Layout: Rearrange panels (editor, terminal, explorer)
  • Keybindings: Create custom shortcuts
  • Plugins: Add UI enhancements via the plugin system

Go to Settings → Appearance to start customizing.

Yes, Codentium integrates with popular version control systems:

  • Git: Built-in Git support with commit, push, pull, and branch management
  • SVN: Basic Subversion support via plugins
  • Mercurial: Experimental support available

Access version control features from the sidebar or right-click context menu.

Troubleshooting

  1. Check for updates in Settings → About
  2. Restart your computer
  3. Review the crash log (Help → Show Logs)
  4. Reinstall Codentium using the latest installer
  5. Contact support with log details if issue persists

Possible reasons and fixes:

  • No Internet: Ensure connection if using cloud AI
  • Local AI Down: Check if Ollama is running
  • API Issues: Verify your API key in Settings
  • Resource Limits: Free up RAM or switch to a smaller model

Test with a simple request or restart the AI service.

Still Need Help?

Our support team is here to assist you. Reach out via your preferred channel.

Email Support Join Discord Report on GitHub