Boost Your Python Coding with DeepSeek‑V3 in PyCharm: A Step‑by‑Step Guide

DeepSeek-V3

DeepSeek‑V3 is a 671 B‑parameter Mixture‑of‑Experts model that can process up to 60 tokens per second, three times faster than its predecessor V2, and its math‑code performance rivals the foreign model Claude 3.5 Sonnet.

Next, we connect DeepSeek to PyCharm and use its capabilities to assist code development.

Demo

First, we show the effect: selecting a code snippet and asking the model to explain it, then selecting code and requesting modifications.

We can also modify code directly after selection.

Create API Key

First, go to the DeepSeek official website:

https://www.deepseek.com/

Click “API Open Platform” and then “API Keys”. Create a new key, naming it “AI Code Prompt” (or any custom name).

After clicking “Create”, copy the generated API key and keep it safe.

Install Continue Plugin in PyCharm

Open PyCharm → Settings → Plugins, search for “Continue”, and click Install.

After installation, click “Apply” to finish.

Configure Continue

In the Continue tab, open Settings. The configuration file will appear; replace its content with the following JSON:

{
  "completionOptions": {
    "BaseCompletionOptions": {
      "temperature": 0.0,
      "maxTokens": 256
    }
  },
  "models": [
    {
      "title": "DeepSeek",
      "model": "deepseek-chat",
      "contextLength": 128000,
      "apiKey": "REDACTED",
      "provider": "deepseek",
      "apiBase": "https://api.deepseek.com/beta"
    }
  ],
  "tabAutocompleteModel": {
    "title": "DeepSeek Coder",
    "model": "deepseek-coder",
    "apiKey": "REDACTED",
    "provider": "deepseek",
    "apiBase": "https://api.deepseek.com/beta"
  },
  "customCommands": [
    {
      "name": "test",
      "prompt": "{ input }}}

Write a comprehensive set of unit tests for the selected code. It should setup, run tests that check for correctness including important edge cases, and teardown. Ensure that the tests are complete and sophisticated. Give the tests just as chat output, don't edit any file.",
      "description": "Write unit tests for highlighted code"
    }
  ],
  "contextProviders": [
    { "name": "diff", "params": {} },
    { "name": "folder", "params": {} },
    { "name": "codebase", "params": {} }
  ],
  "slashCommands": [
    { "name": "share", "description": "Export the current chat session to markdown" },
    { "name": "commit", "description": "Generate a git commit message" }
  ]
}

Confirm the modification when prompted.

Replace API Keys

Replace the two placeholder "REDACTED" values with the API key you saved earlier.

Save the file; the plugin is now ready to use.

Congratulations, you have completed the tutorial.