ECA - Editor Code Assistant

What it does

ECA - Editor Code Assistant is an open-source coding assistant that connects language models to editor clients through a shared protocol and configuration. Developers can ask it to read, write, or refactor code in chat, select code for a requested rewrite and review the proposed diff, or receive inline, multi-line suggestions while typing. Prompts can include files, directories, cursor position, or other supported context.

The product is aimed at people who want AI assistance within an editor, and it also offers a standalone desktop app and a keyboard-driven CLI for using ECA without an editor. Official editor plugins are available for Emacs, VS Code, Neovim, and IntelliJ; desktop downloads are documented for Linux and macOS. ECA supports named model providers and OpenAI-compatible APIs, which users configure themselves. The tool is free and open source, but the source does not establish that model-provider usage is free.

To start, install an official editor plugin, download the desktop release, or install the CLI; then configure a model provider and choose an editor or terminal interface. ECA can also use built-in file, shell, and editor tools, with approval controls, and connect to MCP servers. Its native Windows desktop installers are not shipping yet; the documented Windows routes are the VS Code or IntelliJ plugin or building from source.

What it can do

• Chat with an AI agent that can read, write, and refactor code
• Rewrite selected code and review or reject the proposed diff
• Inline, context-aware code completion
• Built-in code and plan agents, including subagents
• Use file, shell, and editor tools with approval controls
• Attach files, directories, cursor position, and MCP resources to prompts

Works with

• OpenAI
• Anthropic
• GitHub Copilot
• Google Gemini
• Ollama
• OpenAI-compatible APIs
• Model Context Protocol (MCP)
• OpenTelemetry

Before you choose

• Configure a model provider; external subscription, usage or compute charges may apply.
• Native Windows desktop installers are not shipping; the documented Windows options are the VS Code or IntelliJ plugin or building from source.
• The desktop app is distinct from the browser-accessible remote session feature; the site describes remote access through an embedded web server.

Listed under

• Coding
• AI coding
• Code completion
• Code editing
• Code editor
• Developers

Get started

Install an official editor plugin, download the desktop app, or install the CLI; configure a model provider to use it.

1. Install an official ECA plugin for Emacs, VS Code, Neovim, or IntelliJ; alternatively download the desktop app or install the CLI.
2. Configure a supported model provider or an OpenAI-compatible API.
3. Use ECA in the editor, desktop app, or terminal; configure tools and approval controls as needed.

ECA software is free and open source. Users supply model access; provider or compute charges are separate.

Source: eca.dev, checked 2 Nov 2026. Prices can change; check before you buy.

Sources for this overview

Product pages, documentation, and pricing checked 2 Nov 2026. Each source supports part of the overview; availability and prices can change.

• ECA - Free Open Source AI Pair Programming in Any Editor - ECA - Editor Code Assistant ↗eca.dev
• Install ECA - ECA - Editor Code Assistant ↗eca.dev
• ECA - Free Open Source AI Pair Programming in Any Editor - ECA - Editor Code Assistant ↗eca.dev
• Install ECA - ECA - Editor Code Assistant ↗eca.dev

Company website

eca.dev: product, pricing and policy pages

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Last checked 2 Nov 2026. Every field keeps its source and date; unknown means we couldn’t confirm it.