A Fresh Coat of Code: Continue's New VS Code Interface
Your AI coding assistant just got easier to use. The latest Continue update brings a comprehensive UI refresh that reduces visual clutter, improves navigation, and makes every interaction more intuitive—whether you're switching between AI models, configuring settings, or managing context. This update touches every corner of the extension, from the assistant selector to the settings panel, bringing a modern, streamlined experience to your development workflow.
What's New at a Glance
The refresh focuses on three core improvements: cleaner visual hierarchy, smarter space utilization, and enhanced usability across all screen sizes. Every element has been thoughtfully refined to reduce visual clutter while maintaining the powerful functionality you rely on.
Refined Assistant & Organization Selector
The assistant selector has been completely reimagined with a cleaner dropdown interface. Organization badges are now more prominent, making it easier to switch between different AI providers and configurations. The new design intelligently handles assistants with configuration errors, sorting them for better visibility while still allowing selection when appropriate.
Streamlined Settings Experience
No more overwhelming configuration screens. The new settings panel introduces a card-based layout that groups related options logically. From model configurations to tool policies, every setting is now more discoverable and easier to modify. The responsive design ensures the interface remains usable whether you're on a ultrawide monitor or a laptop screen.
Polished Input Toolbar
The input toolbar has received special attention with better icon spacing, clearer tooltips, and improved visual feedback. Context indicators are now more subtle yet informative, helping you understand what information Continue has access to without overwhelming the interface.
Smart Responsive Design
The entire extension now responds intelligently to different window sizes. Text truncation, padding adjustments, and layout reflows ensure that whether you're coding on a single monitor or have Continue docked to a small side panel, the interface remains functional and beautiful.
Small Details, Big Impact
Beyond the major visual changes, we've addressed dozens of smaller pain points:
- Improved error handling for MCP (Model Context Protocol) tools with proper loading states
- Better visual separation between different configuration sections
- Consistent spacing throughout the interface
- Enhanced keyboard navigation support
- Clearer visual indicators for active states and selections
Available Now
This UI refresh is rolling out in Continue version 1.13.0. Simply update your extension in VS Code to experience the new interface. As always, we're eager to hear your feedback as we continue refining the developer experience.
Continue is the open-source AI code assistant that brings the power of LLMs directly into your IDE. Learn more or contribute on GitHub.