Claude Code alternatives, by what you need instead

1. Aider

   Coding agent Standard

   Pair programs with an LLM in your terminal, editing files in your git repo and committing each change

   Pick it if you want local models or any cloud provider, with every change as a git commit you can undo.

   • 49.6k stars
   • 39.5 stars/day since creation
   • pushed May 22
   • v0.86.0 on Aug 9, 2025
   • Apache-2.0

   Install with pip and aider-install

   python -m pip install aider-install
   aider-install

   Copy install command for Aider
   Use it when, skip it if, stats for Aider

   Why you'd want it

   Aider builds a map of your whole codebase so it can work in larger projects, and it commits its changes to git with descriptive messages so you can diff and undo them with normal git tools. It connects to most cloud LLMs and to local models, can lint and test after every edit and fix what fails, and also takes requests from comments you add in your editor. Images, web pages and voice input can be added to the chat.

   Best for

   • Git-centric terminal workflows
   • Bring-your-own-model setups, including local models
   • Editing existing codebases

   Use it when

   You want an agent that records every change as a git commit and lets you choose the model provider, including local models.

   Skip it if

   You want an IDE-native agent with visual diffs, or you do not want to manage your own model API keys.

   Stats

   Stars

   49,554

   Last push

   May 22

   Release

   v0.86.0, Aug 9, 2025

   License

   Apache-2.0

   Pricing

   Open source

   Works with

   macOS, Linux, Windows

   Stars per day, since repo creation

   39.5

   Tier

   Standard, not ranked

   Full stat block for Aider

2. goose

   Coding agent Standard

   Runs a general-purpose AI agent on your machine as a desktop app, CLI or embeddable API

   Pick it if you want an Apache-2.0 agent as a desktop app or CLI that works with 15+ providers, including Ollama.

   • 55.3k stars
   • 70.7 stars/day since creation
   • pushed Oct 15
   • v1.54.0 on Oct 8
   • Apache-2.0

   Install the CLI with the install script

   curl -fsSL https://github.com/aaif-goose/goose/releases/download/stable/download_cli.sh | bash

   Copy install command for goose
   Use it when, skip it if, stats for goose

   Why you'd want it

   goose is a local agent for code as well as research, writing, automation and data analysis, available as a desktop app for macOS, Linux and Windows, a CLI and an API. It works with 15+ providers including Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, Ollama, OpenRouter, Azure and Bedrock, and can use existing Claude, ChatGPT or Gemini subscriptions through ACP. It connects to 70+ extensions over MCP, and you can build custom distributions with preconfigured providers, extensions and branding.

   Best for

   • Agents for tasks beyond coding
   • Desktop app users who also want a CLI
   • Teams building an internal agent distribution

   Use it when

   You want an open-source local agent that is not tied to one model vendor and that you extend with MCP servers.

   Skip it if

   You want a coding agent built into your IDE; goose runs as its own desktop app or CLI.

   Stats

   Stars

   55,293

   Last push

   Oct 15

   Release

   v1.54.0, Oct 8

   License

   Apache-2.0

   Pricing

   Open source

   Works with

   macOS, Linux, Windows

   Stars per day, since repo creation

   70.7

   Tier

   Standard, not ranked

   Full stat block for goose

3. OpenCode

   Coding agent Standard

   Runs an open-source coding agent in your terminal, desktop app or browser with the LLM provider you choose

   Pick it if the proprietary license is the problem: OpenCode is MIT and works with many model providers.

   • 214k stars
   • 401 stars/day since creation
   • pushed Oct 15
   • v1.19.0 on Oct 11
   • MIT

   Install OpenCode 2 with npm

   npm install -g @opencode/cli

   Copy install command for OpenCode
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   Why you'd want it

   OpenCode has two built-in agents you switch between with Tab: build, with full access for development work, and plan, which is read-only, denies file edits by default and asks before running bash commands. It supports many LLM providers out of the box, connected from the TUI with /connect, and extends through MCP servers, plugins, agent skills and custom commands. The team also sells OpenCode Go, a subscription for open-source models, but you can use your own provider keys instead.

   Best for

   • Terminal users who want provider choice
   • Separating read-only planning from editing
   • Using the same agent from a TUI, desktop app or web UI

   Use it when

   You want an MIT-licensed coding agent that works with many model providers and offers a TUI, a desktop app and a local web interface.

   Skip it if

   You install CLI tools through Windows package managers, which OpenCode 2 does not support; also note OpenCode 1 and 2 cannot be installed side by side under the default command.

   Stats

   Stars

   213,573

   Last push

   Oct 15

   Release

   v1.19.0, Oct 11

   License

   MIT

   Pricing

   Open source

   Works with

   macOS, Linux, Windows, Web, Docker

   Stars per day, since repo creation

   401

   Tier

   Standard, not ranked

   Full stat block for OpenCode

1. Gemini CLI

   Coding agent Standard

   Brings Gemini models into the terminal to query and edit codebases, run shell commands and search the web

   Pick it if your organization has a Gemini Code Assist Standard or Enterprise license, or Gemini API or Vertex AI access.

   • 107k stars
   • 197 stars/day since creation
   • pushed Oct 14
   • v0.64.0 on Oct 13
   • Apache-2.0

   Install globally with npm

   npm install -g @google/gemini-cli

   Copy install command for Gemini CLI
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   Why you'd want it

   Gemini CLI is a terminal agent with built-in file, shell, web fetch and Google Search grounding tools, and it adds MCP servers configured in ~/.gemini/settings.json. It reads project context from GEMINI.md, can checkpoint and resume sessions, and has a headless mode with JSON and streaming JSON output for scripts. A separate GitHub Action uses it for PR reviews and issue triage.

   Best for

   • Teams with a Gemini Code Assist Standard or Enterprise license
   • Google Cloud and Vertex AI users
   • Scripted runs that need JSON output

   Use it when

   Your organization has a Gemini Code Assist Standard or Enterprise license, or you pay for Gemini API or Vertex AI access, and you want a terminal agent on Gemini models.

   Skip it if

   You planned to use it for free with a personal Google account or through Google AI Pro or Ultra: Gemini CLI stopped serving those users on June 18, 2026 and Google points them to Antigravity CLI.

   Stats

   Stars

   107,372

   Last push

   Oct 14

   Release

   v0.64.0, Oct 13

   License

   Apache-2.0

   Pricing

   Open source

   Works with

   macOS, Linux, Windows, VS Code

   Stars per day, since repo creation

   197

   Tier

   Standard, not ranked

   Full stat block for Gemini CLI

2. OpenAI Codex CLI

   Coding agent Standard

   Runs OpenAI's coding agent locally to inspect your repo, edit files and run commands from the terminal

   Pick it if you already have a ChatGPT plan or an OpenAI API key.

   • 129k stars
   • 235 stars/day since creation
   • pushed Oct 15
   • rust-v0.162.1 on Oct 9
   • Apache-2.0

   Install with the standalone installer (macOS, Linux)

   curl -fsSL https://chatgpt.com/codex/install.sh | sh

   Copy install command for OpenAI Codex CLI
   Use it when, skip it if, stats for OpenAI Codex CLI

   Why you'd want it

   Codex CLI works against your local repository with the tools already installed on your machine, and you choose the model, reasoning effort, permissions and sandbox for each run. You can use it interactively or call codex exec from scripts and CI, run a review against uncommitted changes, a commit or a base branch, add MCP servers with codex mcp, and hand work off to Codex cloud. You sign in with a ChatGPT plan or use an API key.

   Best for

   • ChatGPT Plus, Pro, Business, Edu or Enterprise users
   • Scripted runs in CI with codex exec
   • Reviewing changes before a commit

   Use it when

   You want a terminal coding agent on OpenAI models with control over sandboxing and approvals, and you have a ChatGPT plan or OpenAI API key.

   Skip it if

   You have neither a ChatGPT plan nor an OpenAI API key, or you would rather work in an editor, where OpenAI points you to its IDE extension or the Codex app.

   Stats

   Stars

   129,272

   Last push

   Oct 15

   Release

   rust-v0.162.1, Oct 9

   License

   Apache-2.0

   Pricing

   Open source

   Works with

   macOS, Linux, Windows, VS Code, Cursor, Windsurf

   Stars per day, since repo creation

   235

   Tier

   Standard, not ranked

   Full stat block for OpenAI Codex CLI

3. Qwen Code

   Coding agent Standard

   Runs a coding agent in your terminal that works with Qwen, OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini or local models

   Pick it if you want Qwen models, or to switch between Qwen, OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini and local models at runtime.

   • 28.5k stars
   • 59.8 stars/day since creation
   • pushed Oct 15
   • sdk-typescript-v0.1.19 on Oct 11
   • Apache-2.0

   Install with npm (Node.js 22+)

   npm install -g @qwen-code/qwen-code@latest

   Copy install command for Qwen Code
   Use it when, skip it if, stats for Qwen Code

   Why you'd want it

   Qwen Code was originally based on Gemini CLI v0.8.2 and has been developed independently since v0.1. It supports OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini and Qwen APIs, other third-party providers and local models through Ollama or vLLM, and you can switch provider at runtime. Beyond the terminal it has VS Code, Zed and JetBrains integrations, a desktop app, an experimental web UI, a headless qwen -p mode and TypeScript, Python and Java SDKs.

   Best for

   • Running Qwen models in an agent
   • Mixing hosted and local models
   • Scripted runs in headless mode

   Use it when

   You want a terminal coding agent that is not tied to one model vendor, or you specifically want to use Qwen models.

   Skip it if

   You were counting on the free Qwen OAuth tier, which the docs say was discontinued on 2026-04-15; you now need an API key, an Alibaba Cloud plan or a local model. Its docs say optional usage statistics can be collected, so check the setting.

   Stats

   Stars

   28,487

   Last push

   Oct 15

   Release

   sdk-typescript-v0.1.19, Oct 11

   License

   Apache-2.0

   Pricing

   Open source

   Works with

   macOS, Linux, Windows, VS Code, JetBrains, Zed, Web

   Stars per day, since repo creation

   59.8

   Tier

   Standard, not ranked

   Full stat block for Qwen Code

1. Rank 15

   Kilo Code

   Coding agent

   Writes and edits code from natural language in VS Code, JetBrains or the terminal, using a model you pick

   Pick it if your team is split across VS Code and JetBrains and wants to choose the model per task.

   • score 46
   • 27.6k stars
   • 47.3 stars/day since creation
   • pushed Oct 15
   • jetbrains/v7.1.9 on Oct 8
   • MIT

   Install the CLI with npm

   npm install -g @kilocode/cli

   Copy install command for Kilo Code
   Use it when, skip it if, stats for Kilo Code

   Why you'd want it

   Kilo Code ships Code, Plan, Ask and Debug agents, supports custom agents, and lets you switch between 500+ models mid-task at the provider's rate, per its README. It also offers inline autocomplete, terminal and browser control, and a marketplace for agents, skills, MCP servers and plugins. The CLI is a fork of OpenCode and has a kilo run --auto mode for CI pipelines.

   Best for

   • Teams split across VS Code and JetBrains
   • Switching models mid-task
   • Unattended agent runs in CI

   Use it when

   You want the same coding agent in VS Code, JetBrains and the terminal, and want to choose or switch the model per task.

   Skip it if

   The README's VS Code setup has you create a Kilo account to reach its model catalog, so skip it if you want no vendor account in the loop. If you already run OpenCode, the Kilo CLI adds little since it is a fork of it.

   Stats

   Stars

   27,607

   Last push

   Oct 15

   Release

   jetbrains/v7.1.9, Oct 8

   License

   MIT

   Pricing

   Open source

   Works with

   VS Code, JetBrains, macOS, Linux, Windows, Web

   Stars per day, since repo creation

   47.3

   New and rising score

   46 of 100

   Full stat block for Kilo Code

2. Cline

   Coding agent Standard

   Runs an approval-based coding agent in VS Code, JetBrains, the terminal or a desktop app with any model

   Pick it if you want an open-source agent in VS Code or JetBrains that shows each edit as a diff and asks first.

   • 70.3k stars
   • 84.7 stars/day since creation
   • pushed Oct 15
   • desktop-v0.0.46 on Oct 13
   • Apache-2.0

   Install the CLI with npm

   npm i -g cline

   Copy install command for Cline
   Use it when, skip it if, stats for Cline

   Why you'd want it

   Cline edits files across a project, runs terminal commands and reacts to their output, and in VS Code and JetBrains each edit appears as a diff with checkpoints so you can undo its work. Plan mode explores the codebase and proposes a strategy before Act mode carries it out, and every edit and command needs your approval unless you turn on auto-approve. It works with Anthropic, OpenAI, Gemini, OpenRouter, Bedrock, Ollama, LM Studio and any OpenAI-compatible API, and extends through MCP servers, SDK plugins and .clinerules files.

   Best for

   • VS Code and JetBrains users
   • Developers who want to approve each action
   • Bring-your-own-model or local-model setups

   Use it when

   You want an agent inside your editor that asks before each change, and you want to pick the model provider yourself.

   Skip it if

   You need every client to be open source (the JetBrains plugin is not), or you want an agent that runs without per-step approvals by default.

   Stats

   Stars

   70,339

   Last push

   Oct 15

   Release

   desktop-v0.0.46, Oct 13

   License

   Apache-2.0

   Pricing

   Open source

   Works with

   VS Code, JetBrains, macOS, Windows

   Stars per day, since repo creation

   84.7

   Tier

   Standard, not ranked

   Full stat block for Cline

3. Cursor

   Coding agent Standard

   Gives you a code editor and CLI with a built-in agent that plans, edits and reviews changes across your repo

   Pick it if you want an editor with the agent built in, plus a CLI and cloud agents on the same subscription.

   • No public repo
   • Proprietary

   Download, no command

   Download from cursor.com/downloads
   Use it when, skip it if, stats for Cursor

   Why you'd want it

   Cursor is a desktop editor with an agent that searches and reads your repo, makes multi-file changes and shows them as diffs to review. Plan Mode researches the codebase, asks clarifying questions and waits for your approval before building, and the same Agent, Plan and Ask modes are available in the Cursor CLI. Premium and higher plans add Cloud Agents that keep running while you are away, Automations and Bugbot code review.

   Best for

   • Developers who want the agent built into the editor
   • Moving work between editor, terminal and cloud agents
   • Teams that want Bugbot code review

   Use it when

   You want one editor with the agent built in, plus a CLI and cloud agents that share the same modes and subscription.

   Skip it if

   You want Claude, GPT or Gemini models on a low tier: third-party models need Premium or higher and are billed at API list price from prepaid credit, and the Free plan has limited usage.

   Stats

   GitHub

   no public repo

   License

   Proprietary

   Pricing

   Free tier + paid

   Works with

   macOS, Windows, Linux

   Tier

   Standard, not ranked

   Full stat block for Cursor

4. GitHub Copilot

   Coding agent Standard

   Suggests code, answers questions and works on assigned tasks across your IDE, terminal and GitHub

   Pick it if your code, issues and pull requests are on GitHub and agent work should come back there as pull requests.

   • No public repo
   • Proprietary

   Install Copilot CLI with npm

   npm install -g @github/copilot

   Copy install command for GitHub Copilot
   Use it when, skip it if, stats for GitHub Copilot

   Why you'd want it

   Copilot is built into GitHub, so an issue can be picked up by an agent, come back as a pull request, get reviewed and be merged in one place. It runs in VS Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains IDEs, Eclipse and Xcode, in a terminal CLI, in the GitHub Copilot app, on github.com and in GitHub Mobile, and it accepts custom instructions, agent skills, custom agents and MCP servers. Organization admins control access, feature policies, file exclusions and audit logs.

   Best for

   • Teams whose work already lives on GitHub
   • Organizations that need admin policies and audit logs
   • Developers spread across many IDEs

   Use it when

   Your code, issues and pull requests are on GitHub and you want agent work and code review tied into that workflow.

   Skip it if

   Your code is not on GitHub; the CLI also requires an active Copilot subscription, and premium features and larger AI credit allowances need a paid plan.

   Stats

   GitHub

   no public repo

   License

   Proprietary

   Pricing

   Free tier + paid

   Works with

   VS Code, JetBrains, Web, macOS, Linux, Windows

   Tier

   Standard, not ranked

   Full stat block for GitHub Copilot

1. Hermes Agent

   Coding agent Standard

   Runs a self-hosted agent you reach from the terminal or chat apps, with memory and skills it writes itself

   Pick it if you want one self-hosted agent with memory and scheduled jobs that you reach from the terminal or a chat app.

   • 254k stars
   • 565 stars/day since creation
   • pushed Oct 15
   • v0.22.1 on Oct 14
   • MIT

   Install script (Linux, macOS, WSL2)

   curl -fsSL https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/install.sh | bash

   Copy install command for Hermes Agent
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   Why you'd want it

   Hermes Agent from Nous Research is a terminal UI plus a gateway that lets you talk to the same agent from Telegram, Discord, Slack, WhatsApp or Signal. It keeps agent-curated memory, writes skills after complex tasks, searches past sessions and runs jobs from a built-in cron scheduler. Commands can run locally or on Docker, SSH, Singularity, Modal, Daytona or Vercel Sandbox backends, and it works with OpenRouter, OpenAI, Nous Portal or your own endpoint, plus MCP servers.

   Best for

   • Always-on agents on a server or VPS
   • Reaching an agent from chat apps
   • Long-lived memory and reusable skills

   Use it when

   You want one self-hosted agent that keeps memory across sessions, runs scheduled tasks and answers you from the terminal or a messaging app.

   Skip it if

   You want a coding agent inside your IDE, or you prefer not to run a curl-to-bash installer. Approval prompts for dangerous commands can be turned off entirely, so set the approval mode with care.

   Stats

   Stars

   253,859

   Last push

   Oct 15

   Release

   v0.22.1, Oct 14

   License

   MIT

   Pricing

   Open source

   Works with

   macOS, Linux, Windows, Docker

   Stars per day, since repo creation

   565

   Tier

   Standard, not ranked

   Full stat block for Hermes Agent

2. OpenHands

   Coding agent Standard

   Runs OpenHands, Claude Code, Codex and other ACP agents from a self-hosted control center

   Pick it if agents should keep working on a server or in Docker when your laptop is closed. It can also drive Claude Code itself.

   • 90.9k stars
   • 96.1 stars/day since creation
   • pushed Oct 15
   • v1.27.1 on Oct 12
   • MIT

   Install Agent Canvas with npm

   npm install -g @openhands/agent-canvas
   agent-canvas

   Copy install command for OpenHands
   Use it when, skip it if, stats for OpenHands

   Why you'd want it

   The OpenHands repo now ships Agent Canvas, a self-hosted UI that runs the open-source OpenHands agent and can also drive Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI, OpenCode or any ACP-compatible agent. Agents run on Agent Server backends on your laptop, in Docker containers, on VMs or in OpenHands Cloud, and you switch between backends from one frontend. Automations run on a schedule or on webhook events and connect to Slack, GitHub, Linear and Notion.

   Best for

   • Teams running always-on agents on their own servers
   • Running several agents in isolated Docker containers
   • Scheduled and webhook-driven agent automations

   Use it when

   You want coding agents on a server or in Docker sandboxes so they keep working when your laptop is closed, and you want to trigger them from Slack or GitHub.

   Skip it if

   You just want one agent in your terminal or editor; the npm install runs the agent server directly on your machine with full filesystem access unless you use the Docker option, and it needs Node.js 24 and uv.

   Stats

   Stars

   90,928

   Last push

   Oct 15

   Release

   v1.27.1, Oct 12

   License

   MIT

   Pricing

   Open source

   Works with

   macOS, Linux, Windows, Docker

   Stars per day, since repo creation

   96.1

   Tier

   Standard, not ranked

   Full stat block for OpenHands

1. Claude Agent SDK

   Framework Standard

   Embeds Claude Code's agent loop, built-in tools and context management in Python or TypeScript apps

   Pick it if Claude Code's tools are right but you need them inside a process you operate. It still runs Claude models only.

   • 8.3k stars
   • 16.9 stars/day since creation
   • pushed Oct 14
   • v0.2.167 on Oct 14
   • Python repo MIT

   Install with pip

   pip install claude-agent-sdk

   Copy install command for Claude Agent SDK
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   Why you'd want it

   The Agent SDK is a library that runs the Claude Code binary, so your agent gets the same tools (read, write and edit files, run commands, search the web), agent loop and context management that power Claude Code. You can add custom tools as in-process MCP servers, run hooks at points in the agent lifecycle, spawn subagents, control which tools run automatically through permissions, and resume or fork sessions. It is available for Python (claude-agent-sdk) and TypeScript (@anthropic-ai/claude-agent-sdk).

   Best for

   • Agents that edit files and run commands
   • Teams already using Claude Code
   • Embedding a coding agent in your own app

   Use it when

   You want Claude Code's tool set and permission model inside a process you operate, instead of writing the tool loop yourself.

   Skip it if

   You want to use non-Claude models. It needs an Anthropic API key or Claude through Amazon Bedrock, Google Cloud or Microsoft Foundry, and third-party products may not offer claude.ai login unless approved by Anthropic.

   Stats

   Stars

   8,283

   Last push

   Oct 14

   Release

   v0.2.167, Oct 14

   License

   Python repo MIT

   Pricing

   Paid

   Stars per day, since repo creation

   16.9

   Tier

   Standard, not ranked

   Full stat block for Claude Agent SDK

1. Rank 6

   Orca

   Devtool

   Runs several CLI coding agents side by side, each in its own git worktree, in one desktop app

   • score 61
   • 92.7k stars
   • 437 stars/day since creation
   • pushed Oct 15
   • v1.4.226 on Oct 15
   • MIT

   Download the app, or install with Homebrew on macOS

   brew install --cask stablyai/orca/orca

   Copy install command for Orca
   Use it when, skip it if, stats for Orca

   Why you'd want it

   Orca is a desktop app for running Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, Pi and other terminal agents in parallel, each in an isolated git worktree, so you can fan one prompt across several agents, compare the results and merge the one you want. It combines terminal splits, VS Code's editor, an embedded Chromium with a Design Mode that sends an element's HTML, CSS and a screenshot into a prompt, GitHub and Linear task views, SSH worktrees on remote machines and inline comments on AI diffs. A CLI lets agents drive Orca themselves, and iOS and Android companion apps notify you when an agent finishes and let you send follow-ups.

   Best for

   • Comparing several agents on one task
   • Managing many worktrees in one place
   • Steering agents from a phone

   Use it when

   You run several CLI coding agents at once and want one window for their worktrees, terminals, diffs and reviews instead of juggling terminal tabs.

   Skip it if

   You prefer a terminal-only setup or use one agent at a time. It collects anonymous usage data unless you opt out, its Computer Use feature lets agents operate desktop apps, and it ships releases almost daily with a large open issue and pull request backlog.

   Stats

   Stars

   92,678

   Last push

   Oct 15

   Release

   v1.4.226, Oct 15

   License

   MIT

   Pricing

   Open source

   Works with

   Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, macOS, Windows, Linux

   Stars per day, since repo creation

   437

   New and rising score

   61 of 100

   Full stat block for Orca

2. Rank 7

   herdr

   Devtool

   Keeps coding agent terminals running in a background server and marks each pane as working, blocked or idle

   • score 59
   • 44.1k stars
   • 219 stars/day since creation
   • pushed Oct 14
   • v0.9.5 on Oct 14
   • Apache-2.0

   Install with Homebrew

   brew install herdr

   Copy install command for herdr
   Use it when, skip it if, stats for herdr

   Why you'd want it

   herdr is a terminal workspace for coding agents, a single Rust binary that runs inside the terminal you already use. Terminals keep running in a background server when you close the client or lose an SSH connection, and after a restart it restores the saved layout and can resume supported agent sessions. Every pane is marked working, blocked or idle, local and saved SSH machines share one window, and agents can drive herdr through its CLI and socket API to spawn panes, prompt each other and wait until another agent is blocked. It runs Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, OpenCode and other agents without wrapping them, with tmux-style prefix keys and mouse control.

   Best for

   • Running many terminal agents side by side
   • Detaching from long agent runs
   • Agents on remote machines over SSH

   Use it when

   You run several CLI coding agents at once, often over SSH, and want to detach, come back and see which one needs an answer.

   Skip it if

   You already have a tmux setup you like and run one agent at a time. Agents can use herdr's socket API to spawn panes and prompt other agents, and after a server or machine restart the original processes are gone, only the layout and supported sessions come back.

   Stats

   Stars

   44,074

   Last push

   Oct 14

   Release

   v0.9.5, Oct 14

   License

   Apache-2.0

   Pricing

   Open source

   Works with

   Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, macOS, Linux, Windows

   Stars per day, since repo creation

   219

   New and rising score

   59 of 100

   Full stat block for herdr

3. Rank 14

   nono

   Sandbox

   Runs coding agents in a least-privilege sandbox with per-tool filesystem, network and credential rules

   • score 47
   • 4.5k stars
   • 17.5 stars/day since creation
   • pushed Oct 14
   • v0.80.0 on Oct 13
   • Apache-2.0

   Install with Homebrew

   brew install nono

   Copy install command for nono
   Use it when, skip it if, stats for nono

   Why you'd want it

   nono wraps an agent such as Claude Code, Codex or Pi in a sandbox with no daemon, container or VM, and shows the exact filesystem, network and credential access before applying it. Profiles for common agents are pulled from the nono registry and can be extended into an editable JSON profile. Tools the agent calls, such as git, gh, curl or kubectl, can run in their own command sandboxes with separate filesystem and network policy, and credentials reach them through a proxy that can filter by HTTP method and path.

   Best for

   • Sandboxing Claude Code, Codex or Pi locally
   • Scoping credentials to one tool
   • Sharing reviewed agent profiles with a team

   Use it when

   You want to run a coding agent on your own machine with explicit filesystem, network and credential limits, without setting up containers or VMs.

   Skip it if

   You want VM or container isolation; the README says nono runs with no daemon, container or VM. APIs may still change before 1.0, and Windows is supported through WSL2. It runs agent commands and brokers credentials, so review a profile's grants before pulling it from the registry.

   Stats

   Stars

   4,504

   Last push

   Oct 14

   Release

   v0.80.0, Oct 13

   License

   Apache-2.0

   Pricing

   Open source

   Works with

   Claude Code, Codex, macOS, Linux, Windows

   Stars per day, since repo creation

   17.5

   New and rising score

   47 of 100

   Full stat block for nono

4. Rank 20

   Crush

   Coding agent

   Runs a terminal coding agent from Charm that works with your choice of LLM and uses LSPs for context

   • score 42
   • 28.6k stars
   • 56 stars/day since creation
   • pushed Oct 15
   • v0.98.1 on Oct 9
   • FSL-1.1-MIT

   Install with npm

   npm install -g @charmland/crush

   Copy install command for Crush
   Use it when, skip it if, stats for Crush

   Why you'd want it

   Crush lets you pick from many LLM providers, or add your own through OpenAI- or Anthropic-compatible APIs and local runtimes such as Ollama and LM Studio, and switch models mid-session without losing context. It keeps multiple sessions per project, pulls extra context from language servers, and extends through MCP servers over http, stdio and sse, plus agent skills and hooks. It runs in terminals on macOS, Linux, Windows, Android, FreeBSD, OpenBSD and NetBSD.

   Best for

   • Terminal users on any OS, including the BSDs
   • Switching models mid-session
   • LSP-aware context for the agent

   Use it when

   You want a terminal agent that is not tied to one model vendor and can use the language servers you already run.

   Skip it if

   You need an OSI open-source license: Crush uses FSL-1.1-MIT, which bars competing commercial use until a version converts to MIT after two years.

   Stats

   Stars

   28,644

   Last push

   Oct 15

   Release

   v0.98.1, Oct 9

   License

   FSL-1.1-MIT

   Pricing

   Free

   Works with

   macOS, Linux, Windows

   Stars per day, since repo creation

   56

   New and rising score

   42 of 100

   Full stat block for Crush

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