I replaced my VS Code workflow with Google Antigravity, and cut my coding time in half

Parth, a seasoned tech writer, wields the keyboard (or pen) with finesse to unravel the intricacies of both Windows and Mac operating systems. He has covered evergreen content on mobile devices and computers for multiple publications over the last six years. You can find his work on AndroidPolice, GuidingTech and TechWiser. Whether it’s demystifying system updates, deciphering error codes, or exploring hidden features, Parth’s prose guides readers through the binary maze. When not immersed in tech jargon, you’ll find him sipping chai, pondering the next software review, and occasionally indulging in a friendly debate about mechanical keyboards.

While VS Code has served me well, I recently started wondering whether there was a faster way to handle complex coding projects. Instead of comparing features on paper, I decided to put Google’s Antigravity to the test.

I picked up a complex website project, started from scratch, and attempted to build the same thing using both tools.

I was amazed at just how capable Antigravity was and how quickly everything came together. By the time I finished, I had cut my development time nearly in half.

I stopped micromanaging every coding task

Antigravity understands what I am trying to build

Before I go any further, I want to clarify that I am comparing the default AI coding agents in VS Code and Google Antigravity. I’m not talking about using third-party solutions like Claude Code or Codex. For Antigravity, I am using Google’s Gemini 3.8 Flash model (Gemini 4 Argon wasn’t available at the time of writing).

Now, VS Code has come a long way with the Agents Manager view. However, I noticed a difference in how much attention the default agents required during my website project.

In VS Code, I often broke larger tasks into smaller instructions, checked the output, and sent follow-up prompts to get exactly what I wanted. The agent was capable, but I still felt like I was directing much of the process.

Antigravity felt more independent in my experience. For example, I could describe an entire dashboard with a sidebar, interactive charts, responsive layouts, and multiple pages.

I still reviewed the code and made corrections when needed, but the constant back-and-forth was reduced. That was the first major productivity improvement I noticed after switching.

Project setup stopped eating my time

Getting started became effortless

One thing I have always disliked about starting a new coding project is the initial setup. Before I can work on anything exciting, I need to decide on the framework, create the folder structure, install dependencies, configure the development environment, and make sure everything runs properly.

VS Code’s built-in agent can handle these tasks too, but I often find myself providing additional instructions. Antigravity made this process feel much more effortless.

It planned the project structure, created the necessary files, and configured the development server. I could review its progress and intervene when necessary, but I didn’t have to constantly jump between the terminal, file explorer, and AI chat.

My website came together in half the time

The little savings quickly added up

The biggest surprise came when I looked at the overall quality of the finished website. Compared to GitHub Copilot in VS Code, Gemini 3.8 Flash is a major improvement. I gave it one giant prompt describing the website’s structure, design language, features, navigation, and overall appearance.

To my surprise, it got nearly 80% of the work right on the first attempt. The initial output looked much closer to what I had envisioned, and I only needed to spend time polishing smaller details.

Copilot also did a decent job in VS Code, but the final output needed more tweaks and manual work than I had imagined. That extra work quickly added up.

That was where Antigravity made the biggest difference for me. I wasn’t necessarily saving time because Gemini wrote code faster. I was saving time because I had less work to redo. By the time I finished refining the website, my overall development time had dropped by nearly half compared with my usual VS Code workflow.

Browser testing no longer felt tedious

Parallel agents kept my projects moving

Browser testing is another area where Antigravity impressed me. Now, VS Code already has a built-in browser, and its GitHub Copilot agent can interact with websites, run tests, and identify issues.

I am not suggesting that Antigravity introduced something completely new here. But I found Google’s implementation more convenient for my workflow.

For example, I could ask Gemini to open my website in Chrome, navigate between pages, confirm if the checkout workflow is working properly, and test interactive elements. I appreciated how Antigravity presented the results. It could generate screenshots and browser recordings as artifacts and gave me a visual record of what the agent had done.

Another area where Antigravity saved me time was handling multiple tasks simultaneously. VS Code’s Agents Manager also supports parallel sessions. However, I found Antigravity’s agent-first interface more intuitive for delegating work and reviewing progress.

However, this is one area where I want Antigravity to steal Devin Desktop’s Kanban board feature, where I can see all the agents' tasks in columns and take actions accordingly.

The productivity boost I never expected

I didn’t expect a single IDE switch to make such a noticeable difference in my coding workflow. After building the same website in VS Code and Google Antigravity, the biggest takeaway wasn’t just the time I saved, but how much less effort the entire process required.

Of course, VS Code isn’t going anywhere. It remains a reliable choice with a mature ecosystem and plenty of customization options. However, for complex projects where I want to move from an idea to a working prototype as quickly as possible, Antigravity has become my preferred choice.