Amazon Q Developer
AWS AI coding assistant.
01 What is Amazon Q Developer?
Amazon Q Developer (formerly CodeWhisperer) is AWS's free AI coding assistant, optimized for AWS services and cloud development. It integrates with VS Code and JetBrains and provides real-time code suggestions with security scanning for vulnerabilities.
02 Best For
- ▸AWS and cloud development
- ▸Security vulnerability scanning
- ▸Python, Java, and TypeScript
- ▸AWS SDK usage
03 How to Get Started
- 01
Install the AWS Toolkit extension in VS Code or JetBrains.
- 02
Sign in with a free AWS Builder ID, no AWS account required.
- 03
Code with AI suggestions and run the built-in security scans.
Pro Tips
- ◆Comment your intent in plain English right above the cursor — Q Developer completes best from clear comments, not just code context.
- ◆It's tuned for AWS SDK calls; lean on it hardest when writing Lambda, S3, or DynamoDB integration code.
- ◆Run the built-in security scan on generated code before merging — it flags common vulnerabilities automatically.
- ◆Free for individual use — worth trying before paying for a different assistant if you're deep in the AWS ecosystem.
04 At a Glance
Strengths
- +AWS and cloud development
- +Security vulnerability scanning
- +Python, Java, and TypeScript
- +AWS SDK usage
- +Free tier you can start with today
Things to consider
- !Pricing and features change often — confirm current details on the official site.
- !AI output should be reviewed before you rely on it.
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06 Frequently Asked Questions
Is Amazon Q Developer free?
Yes — free for individual developers with no seat limit; a paid Professional tier adds admin controls and enterprise policy management.
How is it different from GitHub Copilot?
Q Developer has stronger built-in security scanning and deeper AWS SDK awareness; Copilot has broader general-purpose completion quality across more ecosystems.
What languages does it support?
Python, Java, JavaScript, TypeScript, C#, and several more, with the strongest completions for AWS-related code.