OpenCode

What is OpenCode?

OpenCode is an open-source AI coding agent that runs in the terminal, built by the team behind the SST framework. It combines a fast terminal user interface with an agent that can read your codebase, plan changes and execute them, all without leaving the command line.

The project is model-agnostic: it supports a wide range of providers from Claude and GPT to local models, and it uses the Model Context Protocol (MCP) so you can connect the agent to your databases, browsers and other tools.

Because it is fully open source and terminal-based, it appeals to developers who want a scriptable, hackable coding agent that fits into their existing Unix-style workflow.

Key Features

• Terminal UI designed for fast, keyboard-driven use
• Supports many model providers, including local models
• Agent mode that plans and executes multi-step tasks
• MCP support for connecting external tools and services
• Full access to your filesystem and terminal with your approval
• Shareable agent configurations and prompts
• Open-source codebase you can extend and self-host
• Lightweight alternative to GUI-based coding agents

How to get started

Install OpenCode with npm, run it in your project directory, and choose a model provider on first launch. You can then describe tasks in plain language, and the agent will work through them with your approval.

• Install with npm install -g opencode-ai
• Run opencode in your project directory
• Configure a model provider and add your API key
• Ask a question or describe a task in the terminal UI
• Approve the agent's actions and review its edits

Use cases

• Coding without leaving the terminal
• Refactoring and bug fixing across a repository
• Automating repetitive tasks with MCP-connected tools
• Scripting agent workflows in CI environments
• Using local models for fully private development
• Building custom agents with shareable configurations

Pricing and licensing

OpenCode is free and open source under the MIT license, so there is no subscription and no lock-in. Your only cost is the model usage from whatever provider you connect.

Because it is terminal-based and scriptable, teams also use it in automated pipelines where a GUI agent would not fit. The official website has installation and configuration guides.

Pros and cons

OpenCode's strengths are speed, openness and flexibility. The terminal UI is fast, the MIT license means you can modify anything, and MCP support lets you wire the agent into your real toolchain. It is also easy to run in automated environments.

The trade-offs are that it has no graphical interface, so it is not for people who prefer visual editors, and the terminal-first experience has a learning curve. As with all agents, results depend heavily on the model you choose.

Alternatives

• Aider: AI pair programming in the terminal with git integration
• Goose: open-source AI agent from Block that runs in the terminal
• Cline: autonomous coding agent inside VS Code
• Continue: open-source AI assistant for VS Code and JetBrains
• Cursor: AI-native graphical editor