The reference guide · 25 chapters · asset pack included · free updates for life
Your code copilot,
100% local
Copilot Pro is $120/year. Cursor Pro is $240/year. This is $24 — once.
The Local Copilot Kit is THE reference guide for building your own AI copilot on your own machine — from the first install to an agent that codes inside your editor. Your code and your data never leave your disk.
Get the kit — $24$24 · one-time payment · free updates for life
What is The Local Copilot Kit?
The Local Copilot Kit is a 25-chapter reference guide and 21-file asset pack for replacing GitHub Copilot or Cursor with a local AI coding assistant in VS Code. It's built for developers, freelancers, and students with a GPU or an Apple Silicon Mac who want their code to stay on their own machine. You get Ollama, Cline, and Aider configured end to end, plus a lifetime members area with updates for life.
- 25 chapters and 176 pages covering Ollama, Cline, Aider, and FIM autocomplete in VS Code.
- 21-file asset pack: Modelfiles, setup scripts, a prompt library, and an IT decision memo.
- Covers Qwen2.5-Coder, Qwen3-Coder, Devstral, and DeepSeek-Coder, matched to your VRAM tier.
- VRAM tiers run from 8GB (7B model) to 24GB (32B model).
- 8 advanced modules include benchmarking your machine, local RAG, and a pre-commit hook.
- $24 one-time payment, updates for life included, 30-day money-back guarantee.
✓ This is for you if…
you want your own AI copilot on your own machine — professional developer, freelancer, student, or simply comfortable with a computer. Privacy, cost, or cloud dependence bother you, and you've got a GPU with a few GB of VRAM or an Apple Silicon Mac.
✗ This isn't for you if…
you want an agent that autonomously codes entire multi-repo projects on its own, or every millisecond of latency costs you real money. The cloud keeps the edge there — and the guide tells you so.
Not sure your machine is enough? Check in 30 seconds with the free configurator →
Why you can trust this
This guide is written and maintained by BestLLMfor — an independent, maintained model catalog tracking 239 locally-runnable models and 73 guides, run in the open on a published methodology. No VC, no content farm behind it. Every config in this kit is tested end to end the same way, on real consumer hardware — not templated from a vendor lab, not a random compilation of tutorials found online. What you read here is what we actually run. Who's behind BestLLMfor →
The problem
As of April 2026, GitHub Copilot trains on your code by default across its Free, Pro, and Pro+ tiers. Cursor keeps getting more expensive and bills you by usage. And on every prompt, your proprietary code travels to a third party.
You already know a local LLM fixes all of that. But between "which model fits my card", quantization, Ollama crashing, and a dozen contradictory tutorials, you still don't have a setup that actually works. The kit is THE reference method: the complete path, tested end to end, configs included — nothing left to hunt down elsewhere.
Local copilot vs GitHub Copilot vs Cursor
Same work in VS Code — without a subscription and without sending your code anywhere. The honest comparison:
| Local copilot | GitHub Copilot | Cursor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your code stays on your machine | Yes | No | No |
| Trained on your code | Never | Yes, by default | Depends on settings |
| Cost | $0/month | ~$10/month | ~$20/month |
| Works offline | Yes | No | No |
| Chat + agent on your repo | Yes (Cline) | Yes | Yes |
| Autocomplete | Yes (with a GPU) | Yes | Yes |
| Heavy multi-repo reasoning | Limited | Strong | Strong |
The guide shows you how to cover ~90% of your Copilot/Cursor usage locally — and tells you plainly where the cloud still wins.
What you get
- Your members area, for life — all 25 chapters, always the current edition, every command copy-pasteable in one click (exotic FIM tokens survive copy-paste, which a PDF alone can't guarantee).
- The full guide as a PDF (175 pages) — the same content, yours forever, offline.
- The 21-file asset pack — Modelfiles, setup scripts, a prompt library, and an IT decision memo, ready to paste or hand to your team.
- Ready-to-paste editor configs — Cline (VS Code), Aider (terminal), Tabby (autocomplete), tiered by VRAM.
- 8 advanced modules — benchmarking your own machine, multi-project workflows, local RAG on your docs, a local pre-commit hook, hardening your setup, the prompt library — plus two new ones: your private ChatGPT (Open WebUI / AnythingLLM) and local AI at work (privacy, SOC2, HIPAA, a ready-to-send IT memo).
- The "when it breaks" chapter — OOM, GPU not used, slow output: the diagnosis and the fix for each failure mode.
- The cheat-sheet — your VRAM, the right model, the exact command, on one page.
- Free updates — every monthly edition (new models, retuned configs) at no extra cost.
Stack: Ollama + Cline + Aider + Tabby. Models: Qwen2.5-Coder, Qwen3-Coder, Devstral, DeepSeek-Coder. 100% local, $0/month.
The 25 chapters of the kit
175 pages, from the 30-minute quick win to advanced modules you won't find anywhere else on the site. Nothing to skip: every chapter links to the next.
- Why go local in 2026
- Your first local copilot in 30 minutes
- What local gives you — and where it loses
- Installing Ollama the right way
- The right model for your VRAM
- Is your machine enough, and when to upgrade
- Cline + Ollama inside VS Code
- Aider in the terminal, your git-aware pair programmer
- FIM autocomplete: inline Copilot, running locally
@codebase: RAG on your own repo- Modelfiles by model × role
- The settings that actually matter
- When it breaks: diagnose and fix
- The real cost model
- A concrete threat model: what actually leaves your machine
- Reading a dated edition over time
- Update log + Appendix A: going further
- Benchmark YOUR machine in 10 minutes (real VRAM + real tok/s, not the spec sheet)
- Multi-project workflow: one Ollama, many repos
- Local RAG on your docs (not your code — your PDFs, your specs)
- A 100% local pre-commit hook: a reviewer before every push
- Hardening your setup: from “nothing leaves” proven to a standing guarantee
- A disciplined prompt library, ready to copy-paste
- Your private ChatGPT: a local assistant for everything, not just code (Open WebUI / AnythingLLM)
- Local AI at work: making the case to your company (privacy, SOC2, HIPAA, a ready-to-send IT memo)
Every monthly edition enriches this list (dated update log, ch.16–17) — you never repurchase to get the next version.
What you'll build in 30 minutes
No expertise required. The guide walks you from the first command to a copilot answering inside your editor:
1 · Install Ollama
One command. The guide tells you which model to pull for your card (VRAM table above).
2 · Pull the right model
ollama run qwen2.5-coder:7b — and confirm your GPU is actually doing the work.
3 · Wire up Cline
Chat + agent inside VS Code, reading and refactoring your repo — fully local.
4 · Turn on FIM autocomplete
The inline Copilot experience, running on your machine, with the correct fill-in-the-middle tokens.
5 · Local RAG on your repo (optional)
@codebase-style retrieval over your own code, still 100% offline.
- Your members area, for life: all 25 chapters always current, commands copyable in one click (full list above)
- The PDF guide + the 21-file asset pack (Modelfiles, scripts, prompt library, IT memo) to download
- The cheat-sheet + the full troubleshooting chapter
- Every monthly edition, for life — they show up inside your members area automatically
- Instant access after payment, access key emailed to you
Secure payment via Stripe. You're out the door with the PDF and the asset pack in under a minute. Receipt emailed instantly · invoice available on request.
The honest truth
Local replaces ~90% of your Copilot/Cursor usage — not 100%. We'll tell you plainly where it wins, and where the cloud keeps the edge. A reference guide owes you that honest map:
By the end, you'll know how to
- Pick the right model for YOUR machine (and know which ones to avoid) in 10 seconds.
- Run a chat + agent inside VS Code (Cline) that reads your repo, refactors, and explains — locally.
- Get autocomplete that actually works (right FIM tokens, right model), not one that hallucinates.
- Diagnose and fix it yourself when it breaks (OOM, GPU, slow output).
- Code offline, without a subscription, without a single line of your code leaving your machine.
Living edition
"Free updates for life" isn't a slogan — the kit tracks the ecosystem (new models, deprecated tools, retuned configs) for you, and every update ships inside your members area at no extra cost.
v2026.09 — the launch edition. New editions ship as the stack moves (new models, tool changes, retuned Modelfiles) — you'll see them the moment you log back into your members area. Nothing to re-download by hand, nothing to repurchase.
Frequently asked questions
How do I replace GitHub Copilot with a local AI?
Install Ollama, pull a coding model (e.g. Qwen2.5-Coder), then connect Cline inside VS Code (or Aider in the terminal) to Ollama. The kit gives you the exact path plus ready-to-paste configs -- budget 30 minutes.
Which local AI should I pick for coding?
Depends on your VRAM: Qwen2.5-Coder 7B (8GB), 14B (12GB), Devstral 24B (16GB), 32B (24GB). The kit's cheat-sheet gives you the right model and the exact command for your machine.
Can you really use Ollama inside VS Code?
Yes: the Cline extension (chat + agent) for reasoning and refactors, and Tabby or Twinny for autocomplete. The exact configs -- and the correct FIM tokens -- are included in the pack.
Does it work offline?
Yes. Once the model is downloaded, everything runs without a connection: chat, refactors, generation, autocomplete -- 100% local.
Do I need to be a developer to follow the kit?
No. The kit starts from zero: installing Ollama, picking the model that fits your machine, wiring up your editor -- every step is guided, with copy-paste commands. If you can install software and open a terminal, you can follow it. The advanced modules are waiting for when you're ready.
What if my machine isn't enough?
The “is your machine enough” chapter tells you in 5 minutes (tiers starting at 8GB of VRAM, Apple Silicon included). If it isn't enough, you find out before buying, not after.
Is this suitable for business use and compliance-conscious teams?
That's exactly the point: your code never leaves your machine, and nothing is sent to a third party or used to train a model. The kit also sorts which licenses are safe to use at work (Apache 2.0 / MIT) from the ones to avoid, and includes a ready-to-send IT decision memo for privacy, SOC2, and HIPAA-conscious teams.
Is it free?
The LLM itself runs locally: $0/month, no subscription, no usage cap. The kit (guide + asset pack + lifetime members area) is a one-time $24 purchase.
What if it doesn't work on my machine, after I buy?
30-day money-back guarantee -- one email, no questions asked.
How is it delivered?
Instant access after payment: your lifetime members area (always the current edition, personal link emailed to you) plus the PDF and the asset-pack zip to download. Access and downloads are permanent -- and if you lose the email, you can request your link again in seconds.
Can I get a receipt or invoice for expensing?
Yes. Payment runs through Stripe: you get an emailed receipt immediately, and a formal invoice on request -- just reply to the confirmation email.
What if BestLLMfor shuts down one day?
The PDF and the asset-pack zip are yours, downloaded to your machine -- they don't depend on the site staying up. The members area is a reading convenience, not a condition of access.
How is this different from the free guides on the site?
The site's guides explain each piece separately. The kit is THE reference method: all 25 chapters in the right order, tested and maintained configs (Cline, Aider, Tabby, Modelfiles), full troubleshooting, and advanced modules you won't find anywhere else on the site -- kept current every month. It's the complete system for building your local copilot, not a collection of articles.
What's the best Cursor alternative that runs locally?
For local, offline coding, Cline paired with Ollama is the closest match to Cursor's chat-and-agent workflow inside VS Code, at no monthly cost. The right model depends on your VRAM -- Qwen2.5-Coder or Devstral cover most cards -- and The Local Copilot Kit maps the exact model to your card and walks through the Cline configuration step by step.
Is Cline as good as GitHub Copilot for coding?
For chat and multi-file refactors, Cline running a strong local model gets close to Copilot's agent mode, since both read your repo and propose edits you review before applying. Copilot still edges ahead on very heavy, multi-repo reasoning and instant autocomplete without a GPU -- the honest comparison most marketing pages skip.
Does Aider work with Ollama instead of a paid API?
Yes -- Aider connects directly to an Ollama endpoint, so you get its git-aware, terminal-based pair programming with zero API key and zero per-token billing. It's a different workflow than Cline's in-editor chat: Aider stays in the terminal and commits its own changes, which suits developers who prefer working from the command line.
Build your local copilot.
THE reference guide, from your first download to a copilot answering inside your editor — private, no subscription, on your machine. Today, not "someday."
Get the kit — $24