Opencode

Configuration

Choose your provider. To configure your provider, create a config file:
```
## Global config
~/.config/opencode/opencode.json
```

or:

    ## Project-specific
    ./opencode.json

Set your API Key

export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY="your-key-here"
## or
export OPENAI_API_KEY="your-key-here"

Launch opencode: $ opencode

Create an AGENTS.md file:

## Project: My SaaS App

## Tech Stack
- Next.js 14 with App Router
- TypeScript
- Tailwind CSS
- PostgreSQL with Prisma

## Conventions
- Use functional components
- Prefer server components when possible
- Follow REST API naming conventions
- Write tests for all new features

## Structure
- /app - Next.js app router pages
- /components - Reusable UI components
- /lib - Utility functions and helpers
- /prisma - Database schema and migrations

Practical Uses

Example 1: Understanding a Codebase

"Explain the authentication flow in this project": OpenCode will analyze your files and provide a detailed explanation of how authentication works.

Example 2: Adding a Feature

"Add a dark mode toggle to the settings page": OpenCode will:

Find the settings page
Identify the theme system
Implement the toggle
Update necessary styles

Example 3: Debugging

"The login form is not submitting. Here's the error: [paste error]": OpenCode will trace the issue and suggest fixes.

Example 4: Refactoring

"Refactor the UserService class to use dependency injection": OpenCode will modernize your code while maintaining functionality.

GitHub Integration

OpenCode can work directly in your GitHub workflow:

Mention /opencode or /oc in an issue or PR comment
OpenCode runs in your GitHub Actions runner
It creates a new branch and submits a PR with changes

Example comment:

/opencode Fix the bug described in this issue

Free Models Available

OpenCode offers several free models:

Grok Code Fast 1 - Free for limited time (feedback collection)
GLM 4.7 - Free for limited time
Big Pickle - Stealth model, free for limited time

These are great for trying OpenCode without any cost!

Tips for Beginners

1. Be Specific

❌ "Make it better" ✅ "Refactor the handleSubmit function to use async/await and add error handling"

2. Provide Context

❌ "Fix the bug" ✅ "The login form throws 'undefined is not a function' when clicking submit. The error occurs in auth.ts line 45"

3. Use Plan Mode First

For complex features, ask OpenCode to create a plan before implementation.

4. Leverage Image Support

Drag and drop screenshots or mockups into the terminal—OpenCode can understand images!

5. Create Project-Specific Configs

Different projects may need different settings. Use local opencode.json files.

OpenCode vs Other Tools

Feature	OpenCode	Claude Code	Cursor
Open Source	✅	❌	❌
Free Tier	✅	Limited	Limited
Terminal-first	✅	✅	❌
Provider Agnostic	✅	❌ (Claude only)	❌
Local Models	✅	❌	✅
IDE Integration	✅	✅	Native

Summary

OpenCode is a powerful, open-source AI coding assistant that brings intelligent help directly to your terminal. With its provider-agnostic design, free models, and deep IDE integration, it's an excellent choice for developers looking to boost their productivity.

Key Takeaways:

Install with a single command
Configure your preferred AI provider
Use Plan mode for analysis, Build mode for changes
Create AGENTS.md for better context
Leverage GitHub integration for automated workflows

Resources

Articles, Blogs, Essays

OpenCode Tutorial 2026
OpenCode vs Claude Code vs Cursor: Complete Comparison 2026 - Head-to-head comparison of the top AI coding tools
AI Coding Tools Comparison - Interactive tool to compare features across AI coding assistants
AI Model Comparison - Compare Claude, GPT-4, Gemini, and other AI models
Cursor Review 2026: Honest Pros & Cons - In-depth review of Cursor IDE
AI Token Calculator - Calculate token usage and costs for 150+ AI models
Best AI App Builders 2026 - Complete guide to no-code AI app builders

Tags: ai agent coding tool specification driven development

Last modified 06 April 2026