Brief Summary
This video introduces Open Code, an open-source AI coding CLI tool, and compares it to competitors like Gemini CLI and Claude Code. It covers installation, features, and a practical demo, highlighting its flexibility with different LLMs and customization options. The video also touches on a controversy surrounding Open Code's development and provides resources for further exploration.
- Open Code is presented as a competitive alternative to Gemini CLI and Claude Code.
- The video includes a practical demonstration of Open Code's capabilities, such as creating an image AI editor.
- The video touches on a controversy surrounding Open Code's development.
Introduction: Gemini CLI vs Open Code AI Tools
The video introduces Open Code as a noteworthy AI coding CLI tool, especially with the release of Gemini CLI. While acknowledging other good tools like Claude Code, Open Code stands out for specific reasons that will be discussed. The video references a showdown where Open Code outperformed other AI coding agents in a task to eliminate competing processes.
Why Open Code Stands Out
Open Code distinguishes itself from other AI coding tools. In a competition among AI coding agents, Open Code was able to eliminate all other competitors which included Claude Code, Anon Code, Codeex from OpenAI, AMP Code, and Gemini CLI.
Open Code vs Charm Controversy Explained
The video addresses the existence of two Open Code repositories on GitHub due to a dispute involving Charm, a company that initially sought to acquire Open Code. The original creator claims Charm attempted to take control of the project improperly. Charm's CEO disputes these claims, leading to confusion about the official Open Code project. The video clarifies that it will focus on the SST version of Open Code.
Installing Open Code CLI
To install Open Code, users can use package managers like pnpm with the command pnpm i -g open-code@latest or use the YOLO command. The new Open Code project is primarily in TypeScript, unlike the older version, which was mainly in Go. Windows users may encounter issues with automatic installation and might need to use WSL or download the binary from the releases page.
Exploring Open Code Features and Models
Open Code's interface includes options like help, editor, models, init compact, and sessions. The help command displays available options, while the themes command allows users to change the visual theme. The models command lists available language models from providers like Anthropic, Open Router, Grock, OpenAI, and DeepSeek. Users can select their preferred model. It is recommended to open Open Code within the repository you are working on.
Setting Up API Keys and Environment Variables
Open Code requires users to export their API keys as environment variables, unlike Gemini CLI. On Windows, this can be done using the setx command or through system properties. On Mac or Linux, the export command is used. Setting up API keys is essential for Open Code to access and utilize language models effectively.
Building and Testing Projects with Open Code
Open Code starts by analyzing the codebase and creating an agents.md file with build, lint, and test commands, along with code style guidelines. The tool plans out the project, specifying the steps it will take. The interface displays the working directory, context usage, and cost.
Image AI Editor Demo
The video demonstrates building a modern Next.js image AI editing tool using Open Code. The process involves initializing a Next.js project with TypeScript and Tailwind CSS, setting up the project structure, creating an image upload component, and implementing AI editing features. The demo shows the tool's ability to apply filters, adjust brightness and contrast, and perform other image manipulations, although it notes that actual AI features would require additional API keys and customization.
Open Code vs Competitors: Final Thoughts
Open Code is highlighted as an open-source alternative that offers flexibility by working with various LLMs. Users can even sign in with their Claude Pro or Claude Max plan, treating Open Code as if it were Claude Code. The project is rapidly growing and the video encourages viewers to share their thoughts on Open Code compared to Claude Code, Google Gemini CLI, and Aider, and to mention their favorite AI coding CLI tools.
