Vibe coding tool

OpenCode

The most-starred open-source terminal coding agent.

Terminal (works over SSH)Open-source · bring your own keyTerminal builders who want model freedom

What it is

OpenCode (by SST) is an open-source AI coding agent that lives in your terminal. It works with 75+ model providers, so you are never locked to one vendor.

With 150k+ GitHub stars it is one of the most popular open-source coding agents of 2026.

Install & set up

1. Install

One line with curl (recommended).

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

2. Or via npm

If you prefer Node tooling.

npm install -g opencode-ai

3. Start it

Open your project folder and launch the terminal UI.

cd my-project && opencode

4. Connect a model

Run /connect, choose a provider, and paste a raw API key. Note: the old convenient Claude Pro/Max subscription login was removed — it is API key only now. To run a Claude subscription, use Claude Code.

/connect

5. Teach it your project

Generate an AGENTS.md so it understands your structure and patterns.

/init

From install to your first verified proof

The tool drafts; you stay accountable. Here is the path from a fresh install to a proof you can defend.

1Pick one tiny real feature — say, a school-fees reminder form. State the user, the workflow, and the success condition before you ask for code.

2Let OpenCode draft the smallest useful version. Read every file it writes and ask why before you trust it.

3Run it locally, test it on a phone, and fix one real bug yourself so you can explain it.

4Deploy it (Vercel or Netlify), then log it at /proof — paste the live URL and repo, inject the meta tag, and record your 60-second Explain.

The proof tie: OpenCode drafts fast — your job is Inspect, Test, and Explain. End every session with a deployed proof you can defend.

Strengths & gotchas

Strengths

Terminal-native and fast
75+ model providers — no lock-in
Runs over SSH on a cheap VPS
Huge, active community

Gotchas

Raw API key only now — the Claude Pro/Max subscription login was removed; for a Claude subscription use Claude Code
You pay per-token in USD — watch your spend
No GUI; you must be comfortable in the terminal
BYOK setup is on you

Turn it into a verified proof All tools