AI Coding Assistant Concepts & Guides
Everything you need to understand AI coding assistants — from the model underneath to the agents on top.
This documentation follows the AICA Onion — a six-layer model that explains how AI coding assistants work from the ground up. Start with the concepts if you’re new, or jump to the GitHub Copilot section if you want Copilot-specific guidance. The glossary is always at the bottom when you need a quick definition.
Concepts
| Page | What it covers |
|---|---|
| What is a Model? | The AI engine underneath every coding assistant |
| What is an AI Coding Assistant? | The product that wraps the model |
| What is an Agent? | Autonomous task executors — and why Copilot has two kinds |
| Models vs Agents | The core comparison — what’s different and why it matters |
| What is MCP? | The protocol that connects agents to tools |
| Skills & Tools | What agents can actually DO |
Guides
Practical walkthroughs for real scenarios. (Coming soon)
Glossary
Full Glossary — Plain-English definitions for every term on this site