Continue is an open-source AI coding extension for VS Code and JetBrains IDEs that lets you connect to any LLM — whether that's Claude, GPT-4, a local Ollama model, or your company's self-hosted deployment. It's the fully configurable alternative to locked-in tools like GitHub Copilot. Beyond standard autocomplete, Continue supports inline editing (highlight code, describe the change), a chat sidebar with codebase context, and custom slash commands for recurring workflows. The model flexibility is the core value: switch between models per task, run locally for privacy, or connect to cloud APIs. For teams with specific model preferences, privacy requirements, or enterprise compliance needs, Continue offers a level of control that proprietary tools simply don't.