Getting Started with Autohand Code

What is Autohand Code?

Autohand Code is an AI-powered coding assistant that helps developers write better code faster. It combines advanced AI models with deep understanding of your codebase to provide intelligent suggestions, complete code, and help you solve complex problems.

Key features

• Intelligent code completion - Context-aware suggestions that understand your project
• Multi-language support - Works with 50+ programming languages and frameworks
• IDE integration - Seamless integration with VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, and more
• CLI tools - Powerful command-line interface for automation and scripting
• Team collaboration - Share knowledge and patterns across your development team

Installation

Choose the installation method that works best for your workflow:

Option 1: Install with npm (Recommended)

# Install Autohand Code globally
npm install -g autohand-cli

# Verify installation
autohand --version

Option 2: Install with curl

# Download and install
curl -fsSL https://autohand.ai/install.sh | sh

# Add to PATH (if not automatically added)
export PATH="$HOME/.autohand/bin:$PATH"

Option 3: Download directly

Visit autohand.ai/downloads to download the latest version for your platform:

• Windows (x64)
• macOS (Intel & Apple Silicon)
• Linux (x64, ARM64)

System requirements

• Node.js 16+ (for npm installation)
• 4GB RAM minimum (8GB recommended)
• 2GB disk space
• Internet connection for AI model access

First Configuration

After installation, run the initial setup to configure Autohand Code:

# Initialize Autohand Code
autohand init

# Follow the prompts to configure:
# - AI model preferences
# - Default programming languages
# - IDE integration settings
# - Team workspace (optional)

Authentication

To use Autohand Code's AI features, you'll need to authenticate:

# Login with your Autohand account
autohand auth login

# Or use an API key
autohand auth login --api-key YOUR_API_KEY

IDE Setup

Install the Autohand Code extension for your preferred IDE:

VS Code

# Install from VS Code marketplace
code --install-extension autohand.autohand-code

# Or install from command palette
# Ctrl+Shift+P -> "Extensions: Install Extensions" -> Search "Autohand Code"

JetBrains IDEs

Install the Autohand Code plugin from the JetBrains Marketplace:

1. Open File > Settings > Plugins
2. Search for "Autohand Code"
3. Click Install and restart your IDE

Your First Project

Let's create your first AI-assisted project with Autohand Code:

Step 1: Create a new project

# Create a new project directory
mkdir my-first-ai-project
cd my-first-ai-project

# Initialize with Autohand Code
autohand init --project-type web-app

Step 2: Generate your first code

Open your IDE and create a new file. Type a comment or description and let Autohand Code generate the code:

// Create a simple REST API with Express.js
// Include endpoints for GET, POST, PUT, DELETE users
// Add basic error handling and validation

Autohand Code will generate the complete implementation:

const express = require('express');
const app = express();
const port = 3000;

// Middleware
app.use(express.json());
app.use(express.urlencoded({ extended: true }));

// In-memory user storage (for demo)
let users = [
  { id: 1, name: 'John Doe', email: 'john@example.com' },
  { id: 2, name: 'Jane Smith', email: 'jane@example.com' }
];
let nextId = 3;

// GET all users
app.get('/api/users', (req, res) => {
  res.json(users);
});

// GET user by ID
app.get('/api/users/:id', (req, res) => {
  const user = users.find(u => u.id === parseInt(req.params.id));
  if (!user) {
    return res.status(404).json({ error: 'User not found' });
  }
  res.json(user);
});

// POST new user
app.post('/api/users', (req, res) => {
  const { name, email } = req.body;
  
  // Basic validation
  if (!name || !email) {
    return res.status(400).json({ error: 'Name and email are required' });
  }
  
  const newUser = {
    id: nextId++,
    name,
    email
  };
  
  users.push(newUser);
  res.status(201).json(newUser);
});

// PUT update user
app.put('/api/users/:id', (req, res) => {
  const userIndex = users.findIndex(u => u.id === parseInt(req.params.id));
  
  if (userIndex === -1) {
    return res.status(404).json({ error: 'User not found' });
  }
  
  const { name, email } = req.body;
  if (name) users[userIndex].name = name;
  if (email) users[userIndex].email = email;
  
  res.json(users[userIndex]);
});

// DELETE user
app.delete('/api/users/:id', (req, res) => {
  const userIndex = users.findIndex(u => u.id === parseInt(req.params.id));
  
  if (userIndex === -1) {
    return res.status(404).json({ error: 'User not found' });
  }
  
  users.splice(userIndex, 1);
  res.status(204).send();
});

// Error handling middleware
app.use((err, req, res, next) => {
  console.error(err.stack);
  res.status(500).json({ error: 'Something went wrong!' });
});

// 404 handler
app.use((req, res) => {
  res.status(404).json({ error: 'Route not found' });
});

app.listen(port, () => {
  console.log(`Server running at http://localhost:${port}`);
});

Step 3: Test your code

# Install dependencies
npm init -y
npm install express

# Run your application
node app.js

# Test the API
curl http://localhost:3000/api/users

Best Practices for Success

Start Small

• Begin with simple code generation tasks
• Use Autohand Code for repetitive boilerplate code
• Gradually move to more complex features

Provide Clear Context

• Write descriptive comments and requirements
• Include examples of expected output
• Specify coding standards and patterns

Review and Iterate

• Always review generated code before committing
• Use Autohand Code's suggestions as a starting point
• Iterate on prompts to improve results

Team Integration

• Share successful prompts with your team
• Establish coding standards for AI-generated code
• Use Autohand Code to maintain consistency across projects

Next Steps

Now that you're set up with Autohand Code, explore these resources to maximize your productivity:

Common Issues & Solutions

Installation Problems

# For bash/zsh
echo 'export PATH="$HOME/.autohand/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.zshrc
source ~/.zshrc

Authentication Issues

# Check authentication status
autohand auth status

# Re-authenticate
autohand auth logout
autohand auth login

Performance Issues