NCode

A VS Code-inspired desktop code editor built with Tauri, React, and Rust — with a built-in AI assistant powered by local and cloud LLMs.

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Overview

NCode is a cross-platform desktop IDE that combines a familiar editor experience with a deeply integrated AI coding assistant. It supports local models via Ollama, cloud providers (OpenAI, Anthropic, Groq), and an optional Python gRPC AI service for advanced features like RAG, agent mode, and multi-provider routing.

Stack:

• Frontend: React 18 + TypeScript + Monaco Editor
• Desktop shell: Tauri 2 (Rust)
• AI backend: Python gRPC service (optional)
• State: Zustand
• Styling: Tailwind CSS

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Features

Editor

• Monaco Editor (same engine as VS Code)
• Multi-tab editing with unsaved change indicators
• File explorer with recursive directory tree
• Breadcrumb navigation
• Command palette (Ctrl+Shift+P)
• Quick open (Ctrl+P)
• Symbol search (Ctrl+T)
• Search & replace panel (Ctrl+H)
• Integrated terminal (xterm.js)
• Git panel
• Extensions panel
• Resizable panels (sidebar, editor, terminal, AI panel)

AI Assistant

• Chat mode — direct Q&A with your codebase
• Think mode — step-by-step reasoning before answering
• Agent mode — multi-step planning with file-level actions
• Bug Hunt mode — systematic bug, vulnerability, and edge-case detection
• Architect mode — architecture review and refactoring suggestions
• @file context injection — attach the active file to any message
• File suggestion apply/reject with diff preview
• Shell command suggestions with one-click terminal execution
• AI change history with rollback support
• Multi-session chat history
• RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) over your codebase
• Streaming responses with live token display

AI Providers

Provider	Type	Notes
Ollama	Local	Runs models on your machine
OpenAI	Cloud API	GPT-4, GPT-4o, etc.
Anthropic	Cloud API	Claude 3 family
Groq	Cloud API	Ultra-fast inference
AirLLM	Local	Split-model for low RAM
vLLM	Local/Cloud	High-throughput batched inference

Service Routing

• Direct mode — React → Rust → provider APIs (default, no extra setup)
• gRPC mode — React → Rust → Python gRPC service → provider APIs (enables advanced features)

Appearance

• 7 built-in color themes: One Dark Pro, One Light, High Contrast, Solarized Dark, Monokai, GitHub Dark, Dracula
• 3 icon themes
• Configurable editor and UI fonts
• Adjustable font size, tab size, word wrap, minimap, format-on-save, auto-save

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Architecture

┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│           NCode (React + Tauri)          │
│                                          │
│  ┌──────────┐  ┌──────────┐  ┌────────┐ │
│  │  Editor  │  │ Sidebar  │  │AI Panel│ │
│  │ (Monaco) │  │ (Files,  │  │(Chat,  │ │
│  │          │  │  Git,    │  │ Agent, │ │
│  │          │  │  Search) │  │ RAG)   │ │
│  └──────────┘  └──────────┘  └────────┘ │
│                                          │
│  ┌──────────────────────────────────┐    │
│  │         Rust (Tauri) Backend     │    │
│  │  fs_commands · process_commands  │    │
│  │  terminal_commands · grpc_client │    │
│  └──────────────────────────────────┘    │
└─────────────────────────────────────────┘
              │              │
    ┌─────────┘              └──────────────┐
    ▼                                       ▼
Direct HTTP                         gRPC (optional)
(Ollama / OpenAI /              Python AI Service
 Anthropic / Groq)              (localhost:50051)
                                       │
                              ┌────────┴────────┐
                              ▼                 ▼
                           Ollama          OpenAI /
                         (local)        Anthropic / Groq

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Requirements

Core

• Node.js 18+
• Rust (stable)
• Tauri CLI prerequisites for your OS

For local AI (Ollama)

• Ollama installed and running

For gRPC AI service (optional)

• Python 3.8+
• pip or uv

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Installation

1. Clone the repo

git clone https://github.com/your-username/ncode.git
cd ncode

2. Install frontend dependencies

npm install

3. (Optional) Set up the Python AI service

cd python-ai-service
python3 -m pip install -r requirements.txt
cp .env.example .env
# Edit .env with your API keys

4. (Optional) Generate protobuf stubs

cd python-ai-service
python3 -m grpc_tools.protoc -I. --python_out=. --grpc_python_out=. ai_service.proto

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Running

Development

npm run tauri:dev

This starts the Vite dev server and the Tauri app together.

Python AI service (if using gRPC mode)

cd python-ai-service
python3 main.py

Server starts on localhost:50051.

Production build

npm run tauri:build

Output bundles (.deb, .rpm) are in src-tauri/target/release/bundle/.

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Configuration

AI providers

Open Settings (Ctrl+,) → AI / LLM tab.

• Ollama: Set the base URL (default http://localhost:11434), click Fetch to load installed models, then check the ones you want to use.
• Cloud APIs: Select a provider, enter your API key and model name, click Add Key, then check it to activate.
• Service route: Switch between Direct and gRPC mode. gRPC mode requires the Python service to be running.

Environment variables (Python service)

Copy python-ai-service/.env.example to python-ai-service/.env:

# Server
GRPC_PORT=50051
GRPC_HOST=127.0.0.1
LOG_LEVEL=INFO

# Ollama
OLLAMA_BASE_URL=http://localhost:11434

# Cloud providers (optional)
OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-...
ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-ant-...
GROQ_API_KEY=gsk_...

# Features
ENABLE_CACHING=true
ENABLE_STREAMING=true

# RAG
RAG_CHUNK_SIZE=50
RAG_OVERLAP=10
RAG_MAX_CHUNKS=20

# Agent
AGENT_MAX_ITERATIONS=10
AGENT_REASONING_DEPTH=detailed

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Keyboard Shortcuts

Shortcut	Action
Ctrl+P	Quick open file
Ctrl+Shift+P	Command palette
Ctrl+S	Save file
Ctrl+Shift+S	Save all files
Ctrl+W	Close tab
Ctrl+B	Toggle sidebar
Ctrl+`` ``	Toggle terminal
Ctrl+,	Settings
Ctrl+Shift+A	Toggle AI panel
Ctrl+Shift+E	Explorer view
Ctrl+Shift+F	Search view
Ctrl+Shift+G	Git view
Ctrl+Shift+X	Extensions view
Ctrl+T	Symbol search
Ctrl+H	Search & replace

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Project Structure

ncode/
├── src/                        # React frontend
│   ├── components/
│   │   ├── ai/                 # AI panel, diff modal
│   │   ├── editor/             # Monaco editor, tabs, breadcrumbs, command palette
│   │   ├── sidebar/            # File explorer, git, search, symbols, tasks
│   │   ├── terminal/           # Integrated terminal
│   │   ├── settings/           # Settings panel
│   │   ├── statusbar/          # Status bar
│   │   └── titlebar/           # Title bar, menu bar
│   ├── store/                  # Zustand stores (editor, AI, UI, terminal)
│   └── utils/                  # Error parser, language runner, project scanner
├── src-tauri/                  # Rust/Tauri backend
│   ├── src/
│   │   ├── commands/           # fs, process, terminal Tauri commands
│   │   ├── ai/                 # AI Rust module
│   │   ├── lsp/                # LSP module
│   │   └── grpc_client.rs      # gRPC client for Python AI service
│   └── tauri.conf.json
└── python-ai-service/          # Optional Python gRPC AI backend
    ├── server.py               # gRPC server
    ├── main.py                 # Entry point
    ├── config.py               # Settings (pydantic)
    ├── prompts.py              # Prompt templates
    ├── rag_advanced.py         # RAG implementation
    ├── reasoning.py            # Reasoning/agent logic
    └── ai_service.proto        # Protobuf service definition

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Recommended Ollama Models

Model	RAM	Notes
qwen2.5-coder	4 GB	Lightweight, fast
deepseek-coder	4 GB	Balanced quality
codellama	4 GB	Best code quality
mistral	4 GB	General purpose
starcoder2	2 GB	Good for completions

Install a model:

ollama pull qwen2.5-coder

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Troubleshooting

Ollama not detected

• Make sure ollama serve is running
• Check the base URL in Settings matches your Ollama instance
• Click "Start Ollama" in the AI panel warning banner

gRPC service unreachable

• Start the Python service: cd python-ai-service && python3 main.py
• Check port 50051 is not in use: lsof -i :50051
• Switch back to Direct mode in Settings if you don't need gRPC features

Build fails (Rust)

• Ensure Rust stable toolchain is installed: rustup update stable
• On Linux, install Tauri system dependencies: see LINUX_SETUP.md
• On macOS: see MACOS_SETUP.md
• On Windows: see WINDOWS_SETUP.md

Protobuf build errors

• Install protoc: apt install protobuf-compiler (Linux) or brew install protobuf (macOS)
• Or set the skip-protobuf-build feature flag in Cargo.toml

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Platform Setup Guides

• Linux
• macOS
• Windows
• gRPC setup

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License

MIT