The 9 best ChatGPT plugins for developers in 2024

Imagine a world in which coding becomes a collaborative effort, not only between programmers but also between assistants and artificial intelligence. That's the potential of ChatGPT, a powerful language model that is revolutionizing software development workflows. But what if you could extend the power of ChatGPT even further?

Enter the ChatGPT plugins. These innovative artificial intelligence tools act as extensions, opening up a treasure trove of functionality beyond basic language generation. Studies show that developersusing ChatGPT with plugins significantly improve productivity, with some reporting time savings of up to 30%.

We'll take a look at how these plugins can optimize your workflow, improve code quality, and make you a development superhero. So, buckle your seatbelts and get ready to unleash the full potential of ChatGPT with these plugins!

What are ChatGPT plugins?

ChatGPT plugins are essentially additional tools designed to extend the capabilities of the large ChatGPT language model for developers. Just as smartphone plugins extend the functionality of your phone with new features, ChatGPT plugins extend the core capabilities of ChatGPT specifically for development tasks.

These plugins address a key limitation of large language models: their dependence on pre-trained data. By integrating with ChatGPT, the plugins allow the model to access real-time information, perform computations, and even interact with external services. This allows developers to use ChatGPT for a wider range of tasks, increasing their productivity and optimizing their workflows.

How to install ChatGPT plugins

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to install ChatGPT plugins:

Step 1: Enable the plugin features:

• Log in to your ChatGPT Plus account.
• Click on your account name in the bottom right corner and select "Settings".
• Go to the Beta Features section.
• Find the "Plugins" option and make sure it is enabled (green color).

Step 2: Go to the plugin store:

• In the ChatGPT interface, click on the drop-down menu next to the "GPT-4" mode switch.
• Select "Plugins" from the drop-down menu.

Step 3: Explore and install plugins:

• The ChatGPT plugin store will open in front of you.
• Browse the available plugins or use the search bar to find specific tools.
• Click the "Install" button next to the plugins you want to add to your arsenal.

Note: ChatGPT Plus account (free accounts do not currently support plugins)

9 best plugins for ChatGPT

1. Prompt Perfect (free):

Trying to create the perfect prompt for ChatGPT? Prompt Perfect analyzes your code and offers customized prompts, maximizing the quality and relevance of your ChatGPT responses.

Example: You are debugging a complex function in Python. Prompt Perfect offers hints such as "Explain the logic of this code fragment" or "Identify potential errors in this function".

2. Wolfram Alpha (for a fee - a separate subscription to Wolfram Alpha is required):

If you need to recalculate numbers or perform scientific calculations in ChatGPT, Wolfram Alpha integrates seamlessly with ChatGPT, allowing you to utilize its powerful computational engine.

Example: When developing a physics simulator, you can use ChatGPT along with Wolfram Alpha to compute complex forces and trajectories.

3. Zapier (free and paid plans):

Break down data power structures and automate tasks! Zapier connects ChatGPT with various applications such as GitHub, Jira, and Slack. This allows you to trigger actions based on ChatGPT output, optimizing your development processes.

Example: Use Zapier to automatically create an issue on GitHub whenever ChatGPT detects a potential bug in your code.

4. Codex (paid - ChatGPT Plus or Enterprise required):

Take code generation to the next level! Codex is an advanced plugin designed specifically for programmers. It translates natural language descriptions into real code, allowing you to write code faster and focus on core functions.

Example: Describe the functionality of a new feature in plain English and Codex will generate the corresponding Python code for you.

5.Docstring Generator (free):

Tired of writing long documentation for your code? This free plugin uses ChatGPT features to automatically generate comprehensive documentation explaining the purpose and functionality of your code.

Example: Just provide a brief comment about the purpose of your function and the plugin will generate a detailed documented string with parameters, return values and usage examples.

6. AI Test Case Generator (Free & Paid Plans):

Writing detailed test cases can be time-consuming. This plugin uses ChatGPT to suggest potential test cases based on the functionality of your code. The free plan offers basic suggestions, while the paid version provides more advanced test case generation.

Example: After writing a new login function, the plugin generates test cases with different username and password combinations to make sure it works correctly.

7. Integration with GitLab/GitHub (free of charge):

Optimize your workflow with Git! These plugins allow you to interact with Git repositories directly in ChatGPT. You can search for code snippets, commit changes, and even create access requests using natural language prompts.

Example: Ask ChatGPT to "find all instances of the 'formatDate' function in the 'main.py' file on my GitHub repository".

8. Stack Overflow Search (free):

Stuck on a coding problem? This plugin integrates Stack Overflow directly into ChatGPT, allowing you to search for relevant solutions and discussions without leaving the ChatGPT interface.

Example: While writing an algorithm, you can use the plugin to search Stack Overflow for solutions related to specific sorting methods.

9. Technical Question and Answer Assistant (free and paid plans):

Need prompt technical assistance? This plugin acts as your personal artificial intelligence coding buddy who answers your technical questions in a clear and concise manner. The free plan offers basic Q&A functionality, while the paid version provides more complex explanations and code suggestions.

Example: Ask a plugin to explain the difference between asynchronous and synchronous JavaScript programming.

How to create your own ChatGPT plugin

1- Determine the purpose of your plugin:

• What specific functionality does your plugin offer to developers?
• How will this address a limitation or enhance existing ChatGPT capabilities?

2. Select your technology stack:

• A popular option is Python with frameworks like FastAPI to build the server and libraries like Pytest to write tests.
• You will also need to decide on the user interaction technology (optional) if your plugin requires a visual interface.

3. Develop your plugin:

• API Development: Create an API endpoint that will handle user input and interact with ChatGPT or external services as needed.
• Manifest file (ai-plugin.json): This file defines your plugin's metadata, including its name, description, and features.
• OpenAPI specification (openapi.yaml): This document describes the API of your ChatGPT plugin to understand how to interact with it.

4. testing and deployment:

• Implement unit tests to make sure your plugin works as expected.
• Choose a deployment method: local server, cloud platform (e.g. AWS, Google Cloud), or a service like Gadget.dev that simplifies deployment for beginners.