What Is OpenCode?

OpenCode is a free, open-source AI assistant that runs on your computer and helps you write code, fix bugs, and understand what your files are doing. Think of it like a command-line buddy that reads your project, answers questions, and even runs commands for you. You type normal English, it handles the technical part. It works with pretty much any coding language, and because everything runs through your own system and/or your own API keys, it’s safe to use on work projects.

OpenCode isn't a toy. It’s built for people who write and fix code, crank out HTML, Python, PowerShell scripts and anything else they can throw at a text editor. It has the ability to read your existing files and understand your current projects, making it a really nice dev assistant that doesn't need to reload everything for every new project. OpenCode is also designed to be very slim, with no real GUI, which lets it load fast and work fast. This can be a negative for people that like a ice GUI to work in, but if you live in terminals, IDEs, or script folders, it’s built for you.

Even though it’s built for developers, OpenCode isn’t “code only.” It will answer general questions, explain concepts, help with research, or even give you a decent banana bread recipe. It realize mainly on a web search function for that , but so do I.

Why Use OpenCode?

OpenCode’s biggest selling point is that it gives you an AI coding assistant without all the usual baggage. Most AI tools want accounts, cloud syncing, telemetry, forced IDEs, or “smart features” that mostly get in the way but give the company a reason to charge big bucks. You can download Opencode, unzip it, click on the EXE and you are working.

OpenCode Main Features

● Efficient and easy to use,
● Open Source
● You can choose nearly any model to work with
● You can choose nearly any IDE to work with
● Works locally with your files (No big brother sharing your stuff)

How It Answers Questions

OpenCode does not include its own LLM or built-in knowledge base. The EXE is tiny because it’s just the interface. There is literally ZERO fluff in this program. Instead, it connects itself to its own online repository. This is nice because you donl;t have to keep updating your model every few days, but it does limit you t the extent that you must have an intenet connection. That said, you are going to want to go old school and familiarize yourself with the manual and docs if you want to get the most out of it.

Under the hood, OpenCode sends your question to the model you choose, or its own. The model thinks, creates the answer, and sends it back. OpenCode then displays it in the terminal or editor. Easy-peasy.

Using Different LLMs With OpenCode

If you want more than what Opencode offers from a “brain” perspective. It is very flexible, allowing you to use over 75 different LLMs like OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, and other models through LM Studio or Ollama. Pretty much anything with an OpenAI-compatible API

You can set them up with opencode auth login or by editing your opencode.json config manually.

1. Open Command Prompt or PowerShell
2. Navigate to your project directory
3. Run the auth login command
- Type: opencode auth login
- Press Enter

4. This will bring up a window that allows you to select your provider from the menu
- Use arrow keys (↑/↓) to navigate through the list
- Highlight your desired provider
- Press Enter to confirm selection

5. Enter your credentials
- Type or paste your API key when prompted and press enter
- Wait for confirmation

Pro Tips for Using OpenCode

1- Treat your API keys like your bank PIN. Keep them secure and don’t share them with anyone.
2- When you set up providers, remember you can add several and switch between them depending on the job — handy when you want a cheap model for quick questions and a heavyweight one for real work.
3- OpenCode stand-alone will not save your sessions. If you want a copy for later, tell it to export the session to a text file before you close it.
4 -And a heads-up: regular copy-and-paste can be hit or miss. If you need to grab content quickly, use the built-in Ctrl-Y export function instead.

Using Local Models (LM Studio, Ollama, etc.) with OpenCode

OpenCode works great with local models. LM Studio runs its own API server at something like:

127.0.0.1:1234/v1

Point OpenCode at it in your config, and boom, now everything stays local. Whether the model is cloud-based or running on your GPU is entirely up to you.

Geek Verdict

OpenCode is a clean, open-source coding assistant that keeps the power in your hands. We love that it’s fast, it’s flexible, and it doesn’t force you into a locked model ecosystem. However, some users will want more polished UI features, and you may need to supply your own LLM if you need more horsepower. You are also reliant on an internet connection to run.

But if you are comfortable with the command line and want something simple, private, and actually pleasant to use, it’s tough to beat.

If something acts weird, drop by the MajorGeeks forums. Someone there will be happy to help.