OpenCode

OpenCode is a powerful open-source AI coding agent designed to work seamlessly in your terminal. Unlike traditional code editors, OpenCode brings AI assistance directly to the command line, making it an ideal choice for developers who prefer terminal-based workflows.

Key Features

Terminal-First Design: OpenCode is built from the ground up for terminal users, featuring an interactive TUI (Text User Interface) that provides a smooth coding experience without leaving the command line.

Multi-Provider Support: Works with multiple AI providers including OpenAI GPT-4, Anthropic Claude, Google Gemini, AWS Bedrock, Groq, Azure OpenAI, and OpenRouter. You can even use local models for complete privacy.

Intelligent Code Understanding: OpenCode can analyze entire codebases to understand context, making its suggestions more accurate and relevant. It helps you navigate complex projects and understand unfamiliar code quickly.

Feature Planning & Implementation: Beyond simple code completion, OpenCode assists with planning new features, refactoring existing code, and implementing complex changes across multiple files.

Session Management: Keep track of your coding sessions with persistent storage. OpenCode remembers your context and can resume where you left off.

Tool Integration: Execute commands, modify files, and interact with your development environment directly through OpenCode's intuitive interface.

LSP Integration: Leverages Language Server Protocol for advanced code intelligence, including go-to-definition, find references, and intelligent autocomplete.

Use Cases

Codebase Exploration: Quickly understand new or unfamiliar codebases by asking OpenCode questions about the code structure, dependencies, and functionality.

Rapid Development: Speed up feature development with AI-assisted code generation and refactoring suggestions that understand your entire project context.

Code Refactoring: Safely refactor code with AI-powered suggestions that consider the impact across your entire codebase.

Bug Fixing: Identify and fix bugs faster by leveraging OpenCode's ability to understand code relationships and potential issues.

Learning Tool: Learn new programming patterns, languages, and frameworks by asking OpenCode to explain code and suggest best practices.

Pricing

OpenCode is completely free and open source. You only pay for the AI provider API costs (OpenAI, Anthropic, etc.) if you choose to use cloud-based models. Alternatively, you can use local models at no cost.

Installation

OpenCode can be installed in multiple ways:

Desktop App: Download from opencode.ai/download for a standalone application.

VS Code Extension: Available in the Extension Marketplace for VS Code, Cursor, Windsurf, and VSCodium.

Terminal CLI: Install via npm or download the binary for direct terminal usage.

Advantages

Open Source: Full transparency and control over your coding assistant. Contribute to development or customize it for your needs.

Privacy-Focused: Use local models to keep your code completely private, or choose your preferred cloud provider.

Terminal Native: No need to switch between your terminal and IDE. Everything happens in one place.

Multi-Model Support: Not locked into a single AI provider. Switch between OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, or local models based on your needs.

Lightweight: Runs efficiently in the terminal without the overhead of a full IDE.

Comparison with Alternatives

vs. GitHub Copilot: While Copilot requires VS Code or JetBrains IDEs, OpenCode works directly in your terminal with any text editor.

vs. Cursor: Cursor is a full IDE fork, while OpenCode is a lightweight terminal tool that integrates with your existing setup.

vs. Claude Code CLI: Similar terminal-based approach, but OpenCode is open source and supports multiple AI providers, not just Anthropic.

Getting Started

1. Download OpenCode from the official website or install via package manager
2. Configure your preferred AI provider (API key required for cloud models)
3. Navigate to your project directory in the terminal
4. Run opencode to start an interactive session
5. Ask questions, request code changes, or explore your codebase

OpenCode is perfect for developers who love the terminal and want AI assistance without leaving their command-line workflow. Its open-source nature and multi-provider support make it a flexible, powerful alternative to proprietary coding assistants.