MiniMax Code is a terminal coding agent that reads a repo, edits files, and runs tests. The first-party CLI is mcode. The repo MiniMax-AI/minimax-code is TypeScript, created 2026-06-01. The root license is MIT; third_party/sandbox-runtime stays Apache-2.0. On 2026-09-19 GitHub listed 754 stars and 82 forks. 754 stars is a heat signal, not traffic. r/LocalLLaMA posted the open-source drop on 2026-09-19.
It sits next to Claude Code and OpenCode. Pair it with MiniMax M3 if you stay on MiniMax models.
Key Features
- Install paths: macOS/Linux/WSL
curl -fsSL https://filecdn.minimax.chat/public/install.sh | bash. Windows PowerShellirm https://filecdn.minimax.chat/public/install.ps1 | iex. npm@minimax-ai/codeneeds Node.js 22.19+, 24.2+, 25, or 26. - Sign-in or BYOK:
mcode login(China) ormcode login --region global. BYOK setsMCODE_PROVIDER_API_KEYandmcode provider addwithopenai-completions,openai-responses, oranthropic-messages. - Three entry points: interactive TUI
mcode [prompt], headlessmcode exec [prompt], ACPmcode acpfor editors. - Project memory:
mcode init .writesAGENTS.md. Resume withmcode --continueormcode --session. - Local state: Token Plan data lives in
~/.minimax-codeby default.
Limitation: the one-command installer does not support Alpine / musl Linux. Token Plan needs an account with credits. The MIT root license does not relicense bundled third-party code.
Use Cases
- Terminal agents that should use MiniMax or a local OpenAI-compatible server.
- CI / scripts via
mcode exec. - Skip if you wanted a GUI IDE. Use Cursor.
Pricing
| Piece | Price | Notes from first-party pages 2026-09-19 |
|---|---|---|
| Source / CLI | $0 to install | MIT default. About 754 stars. |
| Token Plan | MiniMax credits | Needs a signed-in account with available credits. |
| BYOK | Your provider bill | No MiniMax login. |
Getting Started
- Run the installer, reopen the terminal, then
mcode --version. mcode loginor add a BYOK provider.cdinto a repo andmcode "Find a failing test, fix it, and run the tests."mcode init .if you wantAGENTS.md.
First-party start: the quick start.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does open source mean every file is MIT?
No. First-party default is MIT. Sandbox Runtime stays Apache-2.0. See LICENSE-STATUS.md.
Can I point it at a local model?
Yes. mcode provider add with your base URL and --context-limit / --output-limit for local servers.
Why did the installer fail on Alpine?
The README says Alpine / musl is not supported by the one-command installer.
Alternatives
- Claude Code: Anthropic's terminal agent.
- OpenCode: open-source coding agent with multiple providers.
- Codex CLI: OpenAI's terminal agent.
Tips
/statusand/providerinside the TUI before a long run.- Keep secrets out of
~/.minimax-code. - Use
mcode execin CI so the TUI is not required.
Conclusion
MiniMax Code is a MIT-licensed mcode agent for people who want MiniMax or BYOK models in the terminal. Install it, log in or add a provider, then start in a real repo. It is not a GUI IDE, and the installer will not save Alpine boxes.
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