Coder quick start

Coder is a coding agent in your terminal. Run coder in a project folder and ask in plain words: explain this code, fix that test, add a feature. It reads, edits, and runs commands in that folder, and shows each step as it goes.

Coder works with the coding agents you already have. It can answer through Claude Code, Codex, or OpenCode on your own login, hand work to other agents on your computer, or use its own coding loop on OpenAgents models. You don't need an API key to start.

1. Install

On macOS or Linux:

curl -fsSL https://openagents.com/cli/install.sh | bash

On Windows, in PowerShell:

irm https://openagents.com/cli/install.ps1 | iex

Open a new terminal and check the version:

coder --version

Updates install themselves. See Download and install for what gets installed, updating, and uninstalling.

2. Log in

coder login

Coder opens openagents.com/device in your browser, or prints that address and a code when it can't (over SSH, for example). Check that the page shows the same code as your terminal, then approve. Coder then asks once where this computer's chats should live:

1. Sync all my chats: they show on openagents.com and in the phone app, earlier ones too.
2. Keep chats on this computer: nothing is sent.

Type 1 or 2, or answer on the website. You can change it later with /sync; see Sync, share, and export.

Logging in is optional. Without it, Coder answers through Claude Code, Codex, or OpenCode if one of them is set up on this computer. Logged in, it can also use OpenAgents models, with a free daily allowance (see Pricing).

3. Open a project

cd my-project
coder

You see the input at the bottom, with Auto at its top right (who answers) and your folder and Git branch at its bottom right. Type a message and press Enter to send. / lists every command.

4. Ask for something

Try a question first:

What does this project do? Name the three files I should read first.

Then a small change:

Add a short "Getting started" section to the README. Show me the diff.

Each step shows as a line: files read, searches, edits with their diff, and commands with their output. Press Ctrl+O to show each step in full. Press Esc to stop a reply.

If you don't like a change, type /rewind, pick the message, and Coder puts the files back as they were before it.

5. Keep going

• Ctrl+N starts a new chat; /resume opens an earlier one.
• Shift+Tab chooses who answers: Auto, Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, or another agent on this computer.
• /models picks the model; /plugins (or Ctrl+P) turns plugins on and off.
• Ctrl+C quits. Your chat is saved.

The Coder guides

Guide	What it covers
How Coder works	Quick decisions in front of the big model, one chat in front of every agent, and the steps that wait for you.
Use Coder in the terminal	The screen, keys, commands, chats, memory, and attachments.
Choose who answers	Auto, Shift+Tab, models, preferences, handing work to other agents, and background agents.
Coder's plugins	What each built-in plugin does, and how to set up keys.
Solve an issue	From a GitHub issue to a pull request.
Safety	What Coder asks you before doing, and how it protects your work.
Sync, share, and export	Your chats on openagents.com and your phone, and saving them to files.
Coder from scripts	openagents coder for scripts and other agents.

New to Coder? Start here walks through a first task, and the tutorials cover everyday tasks step by step.

Found a problem? Report it on GitHub with your system, Coder's version (from the version command above), and what you saw. Leave out keys and private code.

Next: How Coder works.