OpenCode: Terminal AI Coding Agent With Multi-Provider LLM Support

What OpenCode Does and Who It Targets

OpenCode is a coding agent that runs in the terminal. It can inspect repository files, edit code, run shell commands, and connect to multiple LLM providers. The repository description identifies the four core capabilities: inspect repositories, edit files, run commands, and connect to multiple model providers.

The project is aimed at developers who want an AI coding agent they can run locally, control through a CLI, and connect to whichever LLM they prefer rather than being locked into a single provider. The README describes it as the open source AI coding agent.

The project is actively developed. Version 1.18.33 shipped on 2026-09-28, v1.18.32 on 2026-09-21, and v1.18.31 on 2026-09-14, showing a consistent weekly release cadence.

Installation: CLI and Desktop App

The README documents multiple installation methods:

curl -fsSL https://opencode.ai/install | bash

Via package managers:

npm i -g opencode-ai@latest
brew install anomalyco/tap/opencode
sudo pacman -S opencode

On Windows via Scoop or Chocolatey:

scoop install opencode
choco install opencode

The README recommends the Homebrew tap (anomalyco/tap/opencode) over the official formula (brew install opencode) for macOS and Linux, stating the tap is always up to date. The README warns to remove versions older than 0.1.x before installing.

A beta desktop application is also available. Downloads are available from the GitHub releases page and at opencode.ai/download. Package manager installation for the desktop app:

brew install --cask opencode-desktop

The desktop app is available for macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel), Windows (x64), and Linux (as .deb, .rpm, or .AppImage).

Custom Installation Paths

The install script respects an environment variable hierarchy for the installation path. The README documents this order:

1. $OPENCODE_INSTALL_DIR for a custom installation directory 2. $XDG_BIN_DIR for XDG Base Directory Specification compliance 3. $HOME/bin if it exists or can be created 4. $HOME/.opencode/bin as the default fallback

The README shows examples for custom paths:

OPENCODE_INSTALL_DIR=/usr/local/bin curl -fsSL https://opencode.ai/install | bash
XDG_BIN_DIR=$HOME/.local/bin curl -fsSL https://opencode.ai/install | bash

This flexibility matters for users on systems with strict directory permissions, shared machines, or environments where $HOME/bin is not in the PATH by default.

Built-in Agents: build, plan, and general

OpenCode ships with two agents selectable by pressing Tab:

The build agent is the default. It has full access for development work: reading files, editing them, and running commands.

The plan agent is read-only. The README states it denies file edits by default and asks permission before running bash commands. The stated use case is exploring unfamiliar codebases or planning changes before committing to edits.

There is also a general subagent for complex searches and multistep tasks. The README notes this is used internally and can be invoked by typing @general in a message.

The agent model means you can use OpenCode for reconnaissance without accidentally modifying files, then switch to the build agent when you are ready to make changes. This is a concrete workflow difference from single-mode coding agents. The three-agent model is documented at opencode.ai/docs/agents according to the README, where the full list of per-agent permissions is described.

OpenCode vs Claude Code: Open Source Versus Managed Product

The related searches data shows opencode vs claude code as a search term. Both are terminal coding agents, but their operating model differs.

Claude Code is Anthropic's managed CLI that handles authentication and connects specifically to Anthropic's models. It is closed source. OpenCode is open source under MIT and connects to multiple LLM providers, which is the central differentiation.

For teams that want to route requests to DeepSeek, a local model, or another provider alongside or instead of Anthropic's models, OpenCode's multi-provider architecture is a practical advantage. For teams with Anthropic API access who want the officially supported path, Claude Code is the more direct option.

The package.json shows OpenCode uses bun 1.3.14 as its package manager and is built on TypeScript. The monorepo structure includes packages for the console, desktop app, SDK, Slack integration, and statistics.

Building on OpenCode and the Plugin Name Requirement

The README includes a specific note for developers building on top of OpenCode. Projects using opencode as part of their name (for example opencode-dashboard or opencode-mobile) must add a note to their README clarifying they are not affiliated with the OpenCode team.

The repository itself includes an AGENTS.md file and a .opencode/ folder, which suggests the project uses agent configurations in the repository. The repository also has an sdks/ directory and a specs/ folder with likely formal specification files for the OpenCode protocol.

The opencode.ai/docs URL is referenced in the README for configuration documentation. API key configuration and provider setup are documented there rather than in the repository README.

Licence and Maintenance State

OpenCode is published under the MIT licence, which allows commercial use, modification, and distribution with no copyleft requirements.

The last push was on 2026-09-28 and releases ship at approximately weekly intervals. The repository is not archived. The desktop app is labelled as beta in the README, so teams deploying it in workflows that cannot tolerate instability should test it before relying on it. The repository also includes a STATS.md file at the top level and a packages/stats/ workspace, indicating the project tracks and publishes usage or performance statistics, though the README does not document the contents of that file.

Editorial conclusion

OpenCode is a practical choice for developers who want an open source terminal coding agent that is not tied to a single LLM provider, and who want the option of a desktop application alongside the CLI. Teams already invested in Claude Code or a closed-source equivalent should evaluate whether the multi-provider flexibility justifies switching. Before installing, remove any version older than 0.1.x as the README specifically warns about conflicts. The opencode-ai npm package name (not opencode) is the install target for npm, bun, pnpm, and yarn.

Frequently asked questions

Official sources

1. Official documentation
2. Official README
3. Project repository
4. Release notes