DIY Programmer

Use Ollama in your editor

Set up Ollama as your local coding assistant

Install a local coding model, connect it to your editor and confirm the setup with one small programming task.

Start with the practical steps Choose suitable hardware

In plain language

Ollama runs the model; your editor makes it useful

Ollama downloads and runs language models on your computer. To ask about code and receive file edits, connect an editor extension such as Continue or a terminal client such as Aider. Select Ollama as the model provider and enter the exact coding model you installed.

What you can build

Good first tests for your setup

Begin with simple requests before giving the assistant a large project.

Explain a function

Select unfamiliar code and ask for an explanation without specialist language.

Narrow down an error

Provide the error message and affected file and ask for likely causes.

Make a small change

Request one additional form field and inspect the proposed files.

How to start

Connect Ollama in four simple steps

Exact buttons vary by editor, but the underlying connection is the same.

  1. Pick one small goal

    Install Ollama from its official project site and start one suitable coding model.

  2. Describe what you want

    Install Continue, Aider or another client that explicitly supports Ollama.

  3. Build one useful feature

    Choose Ollama as the provider and use the standard local endpoint as the address.

  4. Try the result yourself

    Open a small test project, ask one question and then inspect a first proposed change.

Before you share it

If replies are slow or unhelpful

A few simple checks solve the most common setup problems.

  • The selected model fits into the available RAM or VRAM.
  • The model name in the editor exactly matches the name loaded in Ollama.
  • Only the files needed for the question are included at first.
  • The chosen model supports the file-editing method used by the client.

Continue

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Official documentation and further reading

Technical references are linked to the original project or manufacturer documentation.