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OpenClaude — Universal Terminal AI Coding Agent

One CLI for cloud and local model providers, with a full coding-agent workflow.

View on GitHub ↗ Quick start ↓
Source repo
Twigpine/openclaude
Stars
★ 34k
Last updated
today
License
NOASSERTION
Primary language
TypeScript
FA score
42/100 · Major gaps

At a glance

How it runs
CLIIDE extensionSelf-hosted service
Works with
Universal · cross-platformClaude Code · OpenAI API · Claude API
Cost
Free software; you pay for model usage
Setup effort
Low · running in minutes
You'll need
Node.js >=22.0.0ripgrepShell / CLINetwork accessLocal filesystemMCP Server
Typical use
Developers who switch between model providers and want a consistent CLI workflow.
Not a fit if
  • Environments still on Node.js below 22.0.0
  • Teams needing Anthropic-specific features or official Anthropic support
Source review
42/100 · Major gaps 1 safety controls not found

What does this agent do, and when should you use it?

OpenClaude is an open-source coding-agent CLI designed to unify cloud and local model providers. It supports OpenAI-compatible APIs, Gemini, GitHub Models, Codex OAuth, Codex, Ollama, Atomic Chat, and more, while maintaining a single terminal-first workflow: prompts, tools, agents, MCP, slash commands, and streaming output. Key features include guided provider setup (/provider), saved profiles, multi-agent routing and step limits, and a bundled VS Code extension. OpenClaude also offers a headless gRPC server for integration into other applications. It originated from the Claude Code codebase but has been substantially modified for multi-provider support, with modifications under the MIT license.

OpenClaude runs as a command-line tool (openclaude) with configurable provider backends. It executes tool-driven coding workflows: bash, file read/write/edit, grep, glob, agents, tasks, MCP, and slash commands. The /provider command guides setup and saves profiles; it can call local services like Ollama or cloud APIs like OpenAI. It supports streaming responses, multi-step tool loops, image inputs (URL or base64), and repo map generation (REPO_MAP flag). Advanced features include background sessions (--bg), resume (--resume), and forking (--fork-session). A pixel-art buddy (/buddy) provides visual feedback. The repo also includes a VS Code extension and a headless gRPC server (src/proto/openclaude.proto).

  1. Developers who switch between model providers and want a consistent CLI workflow.
  2. Users running local models with Ollama who need the same tooling as cloud APIs.
  3. Teams integrating agentic capabilities into CI/CD pipelines or custom UIs via gRPC.
  4. VS Code users seeking launch integration and theme support through the bundled extension.
  5. Users who want to leverage GitHub Models or Codex authentication but need a unified entry point.
  6. Operators running long non-interactive prompts in the background and monitoring logs.

How do you install or deploy this agent?

Requires Node.js >=22.0.0. Install globally: npm install -g @gitlawb/openclaude@latest. Arch Linux: paru -S openclaude. If ripgrep is missing, install it system-wide and verify with rg --version.

How do you use this agent?

Start with: openclaude. On first run, use /provider for guided provider setup, saving profiles to .openclaude-profile.json. Example (OpenAI): export CLAUDE_CODE_USE_OPENAI=1; export OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-...; export OPENAI_MODEL=gpt-4o; openclaude. Resume or continue: openclaude --continue or openclaude --resume <session-id>. Background: openclaude --bg "fix tests"; view logs with openclaude logs <name>.

What are this agent's strengths and limitations?

Pros
  • Unified workflow across many providers, avoiding per-provider tooling.
  • Local model support via Ollama without an API key.
  • Advanced features like repo map and background sessions.
  • Includes VS Code extension and headless gRPC server for integration.
  • Active community with Discord and X channels.
Limitations
  • Provider behavior varies; tool quality depends on the chosen model.
  • Requires Node.js >=22.0.0, which may be a hurdle for some environments.
  • Some providers have limitations (e.g., AI/ML API only surfaces chat-capable models).
  • Background sessions lack full terminal reattach.
  • Derived from Claude Code; license covers modifications only, with original code under Anthropic's copyright.

How does this agent compare with similar options?

Compared to Claude Code, OpenClaude is designed for multi-provider support, whereas Claude Code is primarily for Anthropic models.

Key facts side by side with the most closely related agents.

Agent Source review Form / cost Stars Updated Language Full support on
OpenClaude — Universal Terminal AI Coding Agent This agent 42 · Major gaps CLIFree + model costs ★ 34k today TypeScript Claude Code · OpenAI API · Claude API
agentty 44 · Major gaps CLIFree + model costs ★ 625 today C++ OpenAI API · Claude API
senpi 74 · Some gaps CLIFree + model costs ★ 484 today TypeScript OpenAI API · Claude API
FuXi Terminal AI Coding Agent 37 · Major gaps CLIFreemium ★ 3.3k 20d ago Python OpenAI API · Claude API

How does FollowAgents rate this agent?

FollowAgents source review · FARS-2.1
Major gaps
42/ 100 5-point scale 2.1 / 5
This review covers the source as of Aug 09, 2026. The project has shipped 7 stable release(s) since, which have not been re-reviewed. The score and verdict describe the reviewed version only. Recent releases ↓
Trust 8/29
Reliability 6/14
Adaptability 10/18
Convention 8/18
Effectiveness 7/13
Verifiability 3/8
Why each dimension lost points
Trust8 / 29 · 1.4/5

Evidence shows permission control mechanisms (canUseTool callback, permission modes), but no detailed explanation of default least privilege; user confirmation exists (permission prompts), but default behavior not explicit; data flow transparency: README mentions config storage location, but not detailed data flow; sensitive data handling: security policy and privacy verification script exist, but no encryption details; dependency security: pinned dependencies and overrides, but no vulnerability scan evidence; external effects: WebSearch and WebFetch tools exist, but default network behavior not specified; rollback: no rollback mechanism mentioned; source attribution: README declares derivation from Claude Code, but no specific code provenance.

Reliability6 / 14 · 2.1/5

Self-consistency: README and package.json descriptions align, but some inconsistencies (version number, license declaration); dependency availability: pinned versions, but no availability guarantee; failure messages: error handling code exists, but no user-friendly failure message examples.

Adaptability10 / 18 · 2.8/5

Audience and scenarios: README targets developers and non-technical users, provides multiple installation and setup guides; capability boundaries: clearly lists supported features and limitations; trigger precision: commands and tools defined clearly, but no detailed trigger conditions; environment fit: supports multiple OS and Node.js versions, but no test evidence for all environments.

Convention8 / 18 · 2.2/5

Information architecture: README well-structured with TOC and sections; install notes: multiple installation methods, but no detailed troubleshooting; naming stability: version exists, but no naming convention; examples and FAQ: multiple examples, but no FAQ; known limitations: partially mentioned, not comprehensive; license: license file exists, but declaration unclear (NOASSERTION); versioning changelog: not provided; maintenance responsibility: security policy and community channels, but maintainer not explicit.

Effectiveness7 / 13 · 2.7/5

Output usability: CLI and SDK provided, output format not detailed; marginal value: multi-provider support, but no comparison with other tools; cost benefit: no performance or cost data.

Verifiability3 / 8 · 1.9/5

Claim traceability: README claims lack specific evidence; cross-source corroboration: CI and tests exist, but no independent verification; fact/inference separation: not explicitly distinguished.

Risks and how to mitigate them
  • Not found in source: rollback or recovery pathBack up first, or work on a git branch or snapshot, so its changes can be undone.
  • License declared as NOASSERTION, and LICENSE file indicates code derived from Anthropic's proprietary software, posing legal risk.
  • No rollback mechanism provided, users cannot revert to previous state on issues.
  • Dependency security lacks vulnerability scan evidence, potential risk.
  • No changelog provided, users cannot track updates.
Evidence confidence: Low Reviewed Aug 09, 2026 Reviewed revision 41d2f3b831c7 New commits since this review; the score may not cover them
Review evidence README.mdLICENSESECURITY.mdpackage.jsonworkflows/install-hygiene.ymlworkflows/pr-checks.ymlfixtures/queryEngineGoalStatus.fixture.tsfixtures/queryEngineManualCompactCooldown.fixture.tstest/mockMacro.ts
See the full review method →

Recent releases

Latest entries from the project's GitHub Releases. Notes are quoted from upstream as written, not rewritten or tested by FollowAgents.

  1. v0.33.0
    Release notes excerpt
    [0.33.0](https://github.com/Twigpine/openclaude/compare/v0.32.0...v0.33.0) (2026-10-14) Features * provider: add GMI Cloud as a provider and official partner ([#2279](https://github.com/Twigpine/openclaude/issues/2279)) ([e736c28](https://github.com/Twigpine/openclaude/commit/e736c28257d614558e22219e138d3f984b3e658d)) * sessions: add /sessions to resume or delete saved conversations ([#2262](https://github.com/Twigpine/openclaude/issues/2262)) ([fc3be25](https://github.com/Twigpine/openclaude/commit/fc3be25e2549698a21571f4f773d8b32a643bece)) Bug Fixes …
    View on GitHub ↗
  2. v0.32.0
    Release notes excerpt
    [0.32.0](https://github.com/Twigpine/openclaude/compare/v0.31.0...v0.32.0) (2026-10-12) Features * add AnySearch as an explicit web search backend ([#2261](https://github.com/Twigpine/openclaude/issues/2261)) ([5bc160f](https://github.com/Twigpine/openclaude/commit/5bc160fb8bd89d18a7f75da0eef3eae5a72fbb73)) * gateway: add API Route hybrid gateway ([#2225](https://github.com/Twigpine/openclaude/issues/2225)) ([9a2910d](https://github.com/Twigpine/openclaude/commit/9a2910da236395d259c72c3b4ddf92278625a6c1)) …
    View on GitHub ↗
  3. v0.31.0
    Release notes excerpt
    [0.31.0](https://github.com/Gitlawb/openclaude/compare/v0.30.0...v0.31.0) (2026-09-22) Features * launcher: support --max-old-space-size-percentage ([#2219](https://github.com/Gitlawb/openclaude/issues/2219)) ([055e5d5](https://github.com/Gitlawb/openclaude/commit/055e5d551a615c732597a497c2a176c1fe2a8692)) * providers: add Command Code hybrid gateway ([#2196](https://github.com/Gitlawb/openclaude/issues/2196)) ([5b9daef](https://github.com/Gitlawb/openclaude/commit/5b9daef6052128c6236e02f9ba45e382491e78f7)) …
    View on GitHub ↗

FAQ

Does OpenClaude depend on Anthropic?
No, it's an independent community project, not affiliated with Anthropic, and supports multiple providers.
Do I need extra setup for GitHub Models?
Run /onboard-github for interactive onboarding that saves credentials.
Can I run tasks in the background and check logs?
Yes, use --bg to start, openclaude logs to view, and kill to stop.
Does it support MCP servers?
Yes, MCP is listed as one of the built-in tools.
How can I route different models to different agents?
Configure agentModels and agentRouting in ~/.openclaude.json; see docs/agent-routing.md.
View on GitHub ↗ Install ↓

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