AI tools compared – Coding: Web- and cloud-based coding environments

Welcome back to our AI article series!

Following our AI comparisons on text generation, image design, video generation, and speech processing, we now present the next part of our extensive AI article series: tools for programmers. In four concise articles, we focus on the various areas of application for AI in coding – from writing individual functions to collaborating with intelligent assistants. The four articles on AI & coding at a glance:

• Auto-complete & IDE integration
• Web- und Cloud-basierte Coding-Umgebungen (damit beschäftigen wir uns in diesem Artikel)
• Dialogue-based AI assistants
• Pair Programming & Explanatory AI

In this article, we focus on coding environments that run entirely in the browser or in the cloud, often including terminal, editor, version control, and deployment functions. The advantage: they are ready to use immediately, regardless of the local setup, and typically offer a combination of text completion, code generation, and debugging in a single interface. We present the following AI tools:

• Replit Ghostwriter: a versatile platform with an integrated development environment and AI support for many programming languages.
• Gemini Code Assist: Google's new solution, deeply integrated into the cloud environment, ideal for projects with GCP connectivity.

We demonstrate what the tools can do, where their strengths lie, and for whom they are suitable. In addition, we list other cloud-based development tools that offer relevant AI functions.

Who is Ghostwriter suitable for?

Ghostwriter is ideal for developers who want to get started immediately without any local setup – such as learners, students, hackathon participants, or small teams. It is particularly strong when it comes to prototypes or collaborative browser coding. It is also well suited for web development and interactive projects with real-time collaboration.

Terms of use & tips

Ghostwriter can be used directly in the Replit editor – via comments (‘generate function that...’) or chat commands. The suggestions adapt to the existing project context. Particularly helpful: live collaboration à la Google Docs, one-click deployment, and Git integration. The Pro plan offers significantly better performance and AI capabilities, including deployable repls and SSH access.

Legal aspects & data protection

All data is processed via Replit servers. According to the provider, open source or private repls are not included in training data. Projects in the Hacker or Pro plan can be kept private. For confidential working environments, we recommend using the paid plan with private repls and a clear separation from public code.

Advantages and disadvantages of ghostwriters summarized
 

Who is Gemini Code Assist suitable for?

Gemini Code Assist is particularly suitable for developers who use AI directly in projects developed in Google Cloud or who use BigQuery, Firebase, or Colab. It is also ideal for individuals, as the free version is similarly powerful to the enterprise offering.

Terms of use & tips

Gemini Code Assist works via IDE plugins for VS Code, JetBrains, and Cloud Shell. Users can improve code with /fix, Smart Actions, or Chat. The free version allows high usage, while Enterprise offers advanced integration with GCP and agent functions. Alternatively, Gemini CLI, an open-source agent for terminal interaction, is also available free of charge.

Legal aspects & data protection

Gemini processes submitted project data on the server side via Google Cloud, with business applications offering better data protection and IP clarity through enterprise licenses. The tool relies on license verification through source citations and provides liability protection for generated code.

Advantages and disadvantages of Gemini Code Assist summarized
 

Cloud-based development environments such as Replit Ghostwriter and Gemini Code Assist impressively demonstrate how flexible programming with AI in the cloud has become. While Replit stands out for its immediate user-friendliness, creative possibilities, and social features, Gemini offers deeper integration with Google services—ideal for productivity-oriented workflows and AI-assisted code creation in the context of documentation, web development, and data analysis.

Replit is the first choice for creative, collaborative projects or quickly sharing prototypes. However, those who work within the Google ecosystem and use more complex workflows, APIs, or data processing should try Gemini Code Assist.

In addition to these two pioneers, there are other tools that may be of interest depending on the scenario:

• GitHub Codespaces for seamless GitHub integration and Copilot support,
• AWS Cloud9 for working with EC2 and other AWS services,
• Google Colab for Python, AI, or data projects with GPU access.
   

The choice of the right tool depends heavily on individual requirements, the programming language, and the preferred ecosystem. Cloud IDE + AI will play a central role in distributed and agile coding in the future – especially for teams that work remotely or want to initiate projects quickly.

Outlook

The next article in our AI series will focus on dialogue-based programming assistants, including ChatGPT, Cursor, and Grok. We will show how interactive systems can help with writing, understanding, and explaining code.