StarCoder2 from BigCode is one of the most capable open-source code generation models available, trained on 600+ programming languages from the Stack v2 dataset. It brings serious code AI capabilities to developers who want to keep their code private.
Askimo App gives StarCoder2 a complete developer workspace: persistent chat history, local RAG over your codebase, code block execution, AI Plans for automated coding workflows, and seamless switching between StarCoder2 and cloud coding models, all in one native app.
StarCoder2 is an open-source code generation model family developed by BigCode (a collaboration between Hugging Face and ServiceNow). Trained on The Stack v2 — a massive dataset of permissively licensed code from 600+ programming languages — StarCoder2 is available in 3B, 7B, and 15B sizes. It runs locally via Ollama, making it ideal for private code generation without API costs.
Developer
BigCode (Hugging Face + ServiceNow)
License
BigCode Open RAIL-M
Best For
Multi-language code generation
Askimo is not just a chat interface. It's a full coding workspace with StarCoder2 as a first-class provider — RAG over your codebase, code block execution, and multi-step coding Plans.
Built as a true desktop app for macOS, Windows, and Linux. Fast, responsive, and works fully offline with no browser or server required.
Seamless model selection, endpoint configuration, and switching. See the Ollama provider setup guide for full details.
Index your project files, PDFs, and documents with Apache Lucene + jvector. The model answers questions grounded in your own knowledge base.
Use the visual interface for daily work and the Askimo CLI for scripting and automation. Same provider config, seamless switching.
Chain multiple prompts into automated workflows (research, summarise, write) all in one click. No copy-pasting between windows.
All conversations and files stay on your device. No telemetry, no cloud sync, no data collection. Learn more about Askimo security.
Running StarCoder2 through Askimo takes under 5 minutes.
Run ollama pull starcoder2 (or starcoder2:15b for best quality) in your terminal.
Launch Askimo App and choose Ollama as your provider. Set the endpoint to http://localhost:11434.
Select StarCoder2 from the model list. Index your project with RAG to get context-aware code suggestions, or use code block execution to run generated code instantly.
CLI example:
askimo --provider ollama --model starcoder2:15b -p "Generate a REST API handler in Go" A fair feature comparison of the three most common ways to run StarCoder2 locally in 2026.
| Feature | Askimo App | Ollama CLI | Open WebUI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visual chat interface | |||
| RAG (chat with your own files) | |||
| Multi-provider support (Ollama + cloud) | |||
| Conversation history and search | |||
| Open source (OSI-approved license) | |||
| Run models fully locally (100% private) | |||
| Native desktop app (no server or browser) | |||
| Works fully offline (no server process) | |||
| CLI interface for scripting | |||
| Local code block execution (Python, Bash) | |||
| MCP tools (file, git, web, APIs) | Partial | ||
| AI Plans (chained multi-step prompts) | |||
| Server-side pipelines / automation | Team edition (coming soon) | ||
| Multi-user / team features | Team edition (coming soon) | ||
| Web browser access (no app install) |
checkmark = included · x = not available · text = partial support. Based on publicly documented features as of 2026. Open WebUI uses a proprietary license (not OSI open source). Ollama CLI is open source (MIT).
Real coding workflows that benefit from a private local AI coding assistant.
StarCoder2's training on 600+ languages makes it exceptional for polyglot projects. Generate code in Go, Rust, TypeScript, Python, SQL and more — all locally.
Index your entire project with Askimo RAG. Ask StarCoder2 questions about your codebase, get explanations for unfamiliar code, and generate consistent additions.
Build AI Plans that chain StarCoder2 prompts: read requirements, generate implementation, write tests, create documentation — fully automated in one run.
Common questions about running StarCoder2 locally with a desktop GUI.
Askimo App is the most full-featured desktop client for StarCoder2 in 2026. It provides a native app for macOS, Windows, and Linux with local RAG over your codebase, code block execution, AI Plans for coding workflows, and multi-provider switching — all keeping your source code completely private.
StarCoder2 excels at breadth — its 600+ language training makes it uniquely strong for multi-language and niche language tasks. Code Llama benefits from the Llama ecosystem, and DeepSeek-Coder tends to lead on pure benchmark scores. With Askimo you can run all three and choose the best model for each task.
StarCoder2 is trained on 600+ programming languages from The Stack v2, including Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, Java, C, C++, C#, Go, Rust, PHP, Ruby, Swift, Kotlin, SQL, Shell, and hundreds more.
StarCoder2 3B is very fast and works on any modern machine. StarCoder2 7B provides a good quality/speed balance. StarCoder2 15B delivers the best code generation quality but requires 12GB+ RAM. All sizes appear in Askimo once pulled with Ollama.
Yes. StarCoder2 runs 100% locally via Ollama. Your source code is never sent to any server. Askimo adds no telemetry or cloud sync. This makes StarCoder2 + Askimo an excellent choice for companies with strict IP and data security requirements.
Step-by-step instructions for connecting Ollama to Askimo App.
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Free • Open Source • Privacy-First • Works Offline