As AI-powered developer tools and code generation assistants continue to reshape how we write code, Sourcegraph Cody and Devin stand out as two prominent AI coding solutions in the market. Both offer comprehensive AI programming assistance for developers, but Devin distinguishes itself with autonomous capabilities while Cody focuses on enhanced context-aware code completion and assistance.
This comparison will help you understand the key differences and make an informed decision for your development needs.
Feature Comparison
Code Completion and Generation
Cody
Cody provides intelligent code completion and AI code generation with context-aware suggestions based on your codebase. It excels at maintaining consistent coding patterns and reducing common errors through its IDE integration and understanding of the entire repository context. The system offers both single-line and multi-line completions, working seamlessly across multiple programming languages.
Devin
Devin takes a more autonomous approach to code completion. Capable of writing entire functions and applications independently, it can not only complete code, but can also run and test it automatically. The system can also handle complex tasks like building web applications and fixing CI failures, making it more of an autonomous developer than just a code completion tool.
AI Chat Capabilities
Cody
Cody's chat functionality is deeply integrated with codebase context, allowing developers to reference specific files and symbols using @-mentions. The chat interface provides context-aware responses and supports custom prompts for common tasks. The system maintains conversation context while providing code-specific suggestions and explanations.
Devin
Devin offers chat capabilities through multiple channels, including Slack integration and its web interface. The chat system is action-oriented, allowing Devin to not just discuss code but actually execute tasks, review pull requests, and respond to on-call issues. It can maintain continuous dialogue while actively working on development tasks.
Context Awareness
Cody
Cody implements multiple context retrieval methods, including Keyword Search, Sourcegraph Search API, and Code Graph analysis. It maintains configurable context window sizes and offers enterprise-level features for accessing multiple repositories. The system excels at understanding code relationships and providing relevant suggestions based on the entire codebase.
Devin
Devin's context awareness extends beyond code to include development environment states through its Machine Snapshots feature. It can maintain knowledge of entire codebases, previous interactions, and development patterns. Thanks to its MultiDevin feature, the system can work with multiple contexts simultaneously, and is capable of storing relevant development context for future use.
Privacy and Security
Cody
While specific privacy details aren't extensively documented, Cody offers enhanced security measures for enterprise environments, including repository-level permissions and customizable settings. Enterprise features suggest robust security controls for business environments.
Devin
Devin provides comprehensive security features including SOC 2 Type II certification, data encryption in transit and at rest, and optional VPC deployment. It offers granular access controls, multi-factor authentication, and secure credential sharing via Secrets Manager. Enterprise customers can also implement custom data retention policies and training opt-out options.
Pricing
Cody
- Free/Pro Tier
- Pro $9 per month
- Single repository access
- Basic IDE integration
- Standard chat functionality
- Enterprise Tier
- $19 per user/month
- Multi-repository support
- Enhanced features across all IDEs
- Team collaboration capabilities
- Custom deployment options
Devin
- Teams Plan
- $500 per month
- Unlimited seats
- Full Slack integration
- ACU allocation
- Shared workspace features
- Enterprise
- Custom pricing
- Custom VPC deployment
- SSO with Okta
- Advanced analytics
- Custom data retention policies
Conclusion
Sourcegraph Cody and Devin represent two different approaches to AI-powered development and code generation. Cody excels as a context-aware coding assistant, focusing on intelligent code completion and codebase understanding, making it ideal for developers who want enhanced productivity while maintaining control over their development process. Its strong IDE integration and multi-repository support in the enterprise tier make it particularly suitable for large development teams looking for AI programming assistance.
Devin positions itself as an autonomous AI development assistant capable of handling complete development tasks independently. With features like terminal access, browser integration, and the ability to execute complex development workflows, it's better suited for teams looking to automate significant portions of their development process with AI code generation. While potentially more powerful in terms of automation, it may require more oversight and clear success criteria for complex tasks.
The choice between these AI coding tools will largely depend on whether you need an intelligent assistant (Cody) or an autonomous developer (Devin) in your workflow.