DeepSeekHubs

VS Code + Continue + DeepSeek Best Practices

Jan 7, 2026

Continue is the leading open-source AI coding assistant for VS Code. It works with any LLM and is completely free. By pairing it with DeepSeek V3, you get a GitHub Copilot-like experience at a fraction of the cost.

Prerequisites

  1. Install VS Code.
  2. Get an API Key: Sign up at DeepSeek Platform.
  3. Install Config: Search for "Continue" in the VS Code Marketplace and install it.

Core Configuration: config.json

Continue relies on config.json for all settings.

  1. Open Config: Press Cmd + Shift + P (Mac) or Ctrl + Shift + P (Win) in VS Code, type Continue: Open config.json, and press Enter.
  2. Update 'models': Add the following configuration block to the models array.
{
  "models": [
    {
      "title": "DeepSeek V3",
      "provider": "deepseek",
      "model": "deepseek-chat",
      "apiKey": "sk-your-deepseek-key"
    },
    {
      "title": "DeepSeek R1 (Reasoning)",
      "provider": "deepseek",
      "model": "deepseek-reasoner",
      "apiKey": "sk-your-deepseek-key"
    }
  ],
  "tabAutocompleteModel": {
    "title": "DeepSeek V3",
    "provider": "deepseek",
    "model": "deepseek-chat",
    "apiKey": "sk-your-deepseek-key"
  }
}

Note: If provider: "deepseek" causes errors, your Continue version might be outdated. Update the extension, or use provider: "openai" with "apiBase": "https://api.deepseek.com".

Using SiliconFlow

For faster speeds in specific regions or to use free tiers:

{
  "title": "DeepSeek V3 (SiliconFlow)",
  "provider": "openai",
  "model": "deepseek-ai/DeepSeek-V3",
  "apiKey": "sk-your-siliconflow-key",
  "apiBase": "https://api.siliconflow.cn/v1"
}

Verify Setup

  1. Chat: Select "DeepSeek V3" in the Continue sidebar (left) and ask "Hello DeepSeek".
  2. Autocomplete: Type code in the editor and wait for grey text suggestions. Press Tab to accept.
  3. Edit: Highlight code, press Cmd + I, and type instructions (e.g., "Add comments").

FAQ

Q: Autocomplete isn't working? A: Check the Continue status icon in the bottom right. If it's red, there's an error. Ensure tabAutocompleteModel is configured correctly.

Q: Error with provider: "deepseek"? A: Recent versions of Continue support DeepSeek natively. If you face issues, fallback to the "openai" provider method.

DeepSeekHubs

DeepSeekHubs