OpenCode is an open-source terminal AI coding agent with 95K+ GitHub stars — the most popular AI coding CLI on GitHub. It connects to any AI model and has deep LSP (Language Server Protocol) integration that gives the AI compiler-level understanding of your code.
What makes it different
- LSP integration — understands types, definitions, and errors like your compiler does
- Parallel agents — run multiple AI agents on your codebase simultaneously
- Session sharing — shareable links for collaborative AI coding
- Any model — works with Claude, GPT, DeepSeek, local models, anything
How LSP integration works
Most AI coding tools send raw text to the model. OpenCode goes further by connecting to your project’s Language Server — the same system your IDE uses for autocomplete, error detection, and go-to-definition.
This means OpenCode’s AI can:
- See type errors before suggesting code
- Understand the full type signature of functions it’s calling
- Navigate to definitions and references across your codebase
- Detect unused imports, missing return types, and other issues
The result is significantly fewer hallucinated function calls and type mismatches compared to tools that only see raw text.
Parallel agents
OpenCode can spawn multiple AI agents that work on different parts of your codebase simultaneously. For example, you might have one agent refactoring your API layer while another updates the corresponding tests. The agents coordinate to avoid conflicting changes.
This is similar to Kimi K2.5’s Agent Swarm but works with any model provider.
Quick start
curl -fsSL https://opencode.ai/install.sh | sh
cd your-project
opencodeOn first run, OpenCode detects your project structure and prompts you to configure a model provider. It supports:
- Anthropic (Claude)
- OpenAI (GPT)
- OpenRouter (300+ models)
- Ollama (local models)
- Any OpenAI-compatible API
Configuration
OpenCode uses a .opencode.json file in your project root:
{
"provider": "openrouter",
"model": "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6",
"lsp": true
}OpenCode vs Aider vs Claude Code
| OpenCode | Aider | Claude Code | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stars | 95K | 30K+ | N/A (closed) |
| LSP | ✅ Deep | ❌ No | Partial |
| Parallel agents | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Models | Any | Any | Claude only |
| Git integration | Yes | Yes (auto-commit) | Yes |
FAQ
Is OpenCode free?
The tool itself is completely free and open source. You only pay for the AI model you connect to it — which could be free if you use local models via Ollama or free-tier models on OpenRouter.
What makes OpenCode better than Aider?
OpenCode’s main advantages are LSP integration (giving the AI compiler-level code understanding) and parallel agents (multiple AI workers on your codebase at once). Aider’s strengths are its mature Git integration with auto-commits and broader community of model-specific configurations.
Can I use OpenCode with local models?
Yes. OpenCode works with any model served through Ollama or any OpenAI-compatible API endpoint. Popular local choices include DeepSeek R1 14B, Qwen 3.5 9B, and Devstral Small 24B.
Learn more
- OpenCode Complete Guide — full setup and features
- Aider vs OpenCode — which open-source CLI to pick
- How to Choose an AI Coding Agent — decision framework