After 30 years of coding, I found the first AI assistant that actually feels like a teammate. Roo Code thinks in specs first, uses different models for different tasks, runs locally for privacy, and works autonomously like a junior dev who never gets tired.
The story
I’ve spent three decades building software, and I’ve tried every coding assistant that’s come along. Most are glorified autocomplete. A few are useful. But Roo Code is the first one that feels like an actual teammate.
Here’s what sets it apart:
It thinks in specs first. Before writing code, I use Architect mode to map out the system design. Roo Code helps me generate solid specs using top-tier models like Claude Sonnet 4. Then I switch to Code mode for implementation. This isn’t just faster – it’s how good software should be built.
Different models for different jobs. I can assign a lightweight model for quick questions, but use something powerful for complex refactoring. It supports Anthropic, OpenAI, Gemini, AWS Bedrock, and even local models. No vendor lock-in.
True autonomy. Roo Code plans, edits, runs, and debugs in cycles – like a junior dev who never gets tired. It persists context across tasks and asks permission when it needs to shift gears.
Privacy by default. It runs locally in VS Code. Nothing leaves my machine unless I approve it. For NDA work or sensitive projects, this matters.
Customizable and transparent. I can build custom personas, tweak behaviors, and review exactly how it interprets prompts. Every change shows up in a diff view before it touches my codebase.
After 30+ years, this is the first AI assistant I actually recommend to other developers.
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