Continue capabilities
10 mapped capabilities, each graded and dated. The map shows what Continue can do; the audit shows whether it’s worth consolidating — and a guide shows how to move.
Capabilities
Autonomous agent mode
canonicalverified ~4 months agoAn autonomous coding assistant that reads files, makes multi-file changes, runs terminal commands, and handles complex multi-step tasks from a single natural-language instruction. Before each tool use the agent requests approval by default; users click Continue to approve or Cancel to reject.
CLI and headless/background agents (cn)
canonicalverified ~3 months agoThe Continue CLI (cn) runs the AI agent from the terminal in interactive TUI mode or non-interactive headless mode, enabling scripted automation, CI/CD integration, and background coding tasks without an IDE.
Context providers (@-mentions for chat context)
canonicalverified ~3 months agoIn chat and agent mode, users type @ to attach specific context sources — files, code symbols, terminal output, git diffs, and more — so the model has precise, relevant information without pasting manually.
Full model choice and BYOK (bring your own key)
canonicalverified ~3 months agoUsers supply their own API keys for any supported model provider, or run models locally. There is no locked-in model — every provider and model is user-configurable via config.yaml.
IDE extension surfaces (VS Code and JetBrains)
canonicalverified ~3 months agoContinue ships as a native extension for Visual Studio Code and as a plugin for JetBrains IDEs. Both surfaces provide autocomplete, chat, inline edit, and agent mode within the editor.
In-editor AI chat
canonicalverified ~4 months agoAn interactive AI assistant panel embedded in the IDE for asking questions, analyzing code, and getting guidance without leaving the editor. Supports three sub-modes: Chat (no tools), Plan Mode (read-only tools), and Agent Mode (full tool access).
Inline edit (targeted code modification)
canonicalverified ~3 months agoSelect a code region, press Cmd/Ctrl+I, describe the change in natural language, and a diff is streamed inline. Designed for focused, single-function changes such as refactoring, adding comments, generating tests, or converting between languages.
Inline tab autocomplete
canonicalverified ~3 months agoProvides AI-powered inline code suggestions as you type, which you accept with Tab. Supports single-line and multi-line completions triggered automatically or manually.
MCP (Model Context Protocol) tool extension
canonicalverified ~3 months agoContinue supports the Model Context Protocol standard, allowing any MCP server to be added as a tool extension for the AI agent. This enables integration with external data sources, APIs, databases, and custom tooling.
Rules and custom prompts (slash commands)
canonicalverified ~3 months agoRules are persistent instructions injected into the system message for every Agent, Chat, and Edit request. Prompts are reusable slash-command templates invoked with a / prefix for specific tasks.