Today, the VS Code OpenAI Agent extension opens up new possibilities for every developer using Visual Studio Code: now you can get cutting-edge AI coding suggestions without overpaying for subscriptions like Copilot or Cursor — simply by providing your own OpenAI API key!

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Key Benefits:

• Save Money:
  Stop paying for expensive monthly subscriptions! Just use your personal OpenAI account and API key — and get high-quality code suggestions and completions at official OpenAI rates, with no hidden markups.

• Flexibility & Control:
  You control your expenses, set your own rate limits, and choose whichever OpenAI model (GPT-4, GPT-3.5, etc.) fits your needs and budget. Your traffic — your rules.

• Privacy First:
  Your API key is securely stored locally in VS Code’s Secret Storage. Nothing is ever sent to third-party servers — only directly to OpenAI, just when you request a suggestion.

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A Note on Official OpenAI Solutions

It’s worth noting that OpenAI did release its own product called Codex, along with official extensions and plugins for integrating their AI models into code editors and other services. However, these solutions have only ever been available to paying users — such as ChatGPT Plus subscribers or enterprise customers. OpenAI does not provide free plugins or extensions for VS Code or other editors. Free, open plugins like this one do not align with their business interests unless they serve to funnel users towards subscriptions.

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🔥 Already in MVP:

• External MCP Server Support
  VS Code OpenAI Agent isn’t just about AI code completion. From the very first release, you can connect your own external MCP servers to extend the extension’s functionality as you need! Add custom tools, integrate project-wide search, run code audits, or automate anything — right from your favorite editor.

• Ready to Evolve
  The architecture is designed for growth — stay tuned for even more features and improvements in future releases!

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Who is this extension for?

• Developers who want premium AI coding help, but without expensive subscriptions.
• Startups and teams who care about privacy, transparent costs, and extensibility.
• Power users and tinkerers who want to integrate their own tools and workflows (using MCP integrations).

Installation

You can easily install this extension directly from the official Microsoft Visual Studio Code Marketplace. Simply visit the following link to get started: https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=esso.vscode-openai-agent. This ensures you're getting the latest and most secure version straight from the trusted source.

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🎉 If you’ve read this far — get involved!

The entire codebase is available on GitHub:
https://github.com/es-ua/vscode-openai-agent

This is an open-source project and welcomes everyone: Join the development, fork the repo, propose features, submit pull requests, report issues, star the repo, or simply share your feedback — every contribution matters and helps us build the best AI-powered open tool for VS Code together!

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Your tools, your AI, your rules — now with the first version of VS Code OpenAI Agent! Pay only for what you use. Expand your possibilities — and save!