claude code:open source alternatives - chunhualiao/public-docs GitHub Wiki

Is Claude Code open source? If not, what are best open source alternatives?

Claude Code, developed by Anthropic, is not open source. It’s a proprietary tool, and its source code is not publicly available, as confirmed by its GitHub page and official documentation, which focus on usage and installation without providing access to the codebase itself.

However, there are several open-source alternatives that provide similar AI-assisted coding capabilities, often with local execution for privacy and customization. Below are some of the best open-source alternatives, based on their features, community activity, and relevance as replacements for Claude Code:

OpenCode
- Description: A fully-featured, open-source alternative to Claude Code that runs locally using Ollama. It offers a CLI interface for AI-assisted coding, code analysis, and project management with a focus on privacy and security.
- Key Features:
  - Runs entirely on your local machine, ensuring no data leaves your device.
  - Supports file operations (read, write, edit), code analysis, and Git integration.
  - Uses Ollama models like llama3.2:3b for fast responses or deepseek-coder:6.7b for advanced code generation.
  - Security features include working directory restrictions and safe command execution.
- Installation: Clone the repository (git clone https://github.com/xichen1997/opencode.git) and run the bootstrap script for automated setup.
- License: MIT
- Why It’s a Good Alternative: Its privacy-first approach and local execution make it ideal for users who want a Claude Code-like experience without relying on cloud services.
olc
- Description: A lightweight, terminal-based AI coding assistant powered by Ollama, designed as a free and open-source software (FLOSS) alternative to Claude Code.
- Key Features:
  - Supports local inference with Ollama models (e.g., codellama).
  - Offers file operations, code search, navigation, and safe shell command execution.
  - Includes Git integration and a permission system for secure operations.
  - Simple CLI and interactive REPL modes.
- Installation: Requires Node.js 18+ and Ollama; install via npm install -g olc.
- License: MIT
- Why It’s a Good Alternative: Its lightweight design and focus on local processing make it a great choice for developers seeking a minimal, privacy-focused coding assistant.
Sidekick
- Description: A CLI-based AI tool inspired by Claude Code, Copilot, and Cursor, offering flexibility to use various LLM providers (e.g., Anthropic, OpenAI, Google Gemini) while maintaining an agentic workflow.
- Key Features:
  - Supports Model Context Protocol (MCP) for integrating external tools and data sources.
  - Allows switching between models in the same session.
  - Customizable via a SIDEKICK.md file for project-specific instructions.
  - Includes cost and token tracking, with optional telemetry (can be disabled).
- Installation: Install via pip install sidekick-cli and configure LLM providers.
- License: MIT
- Why It’s a Good Alternative: Its flexibility with multiple LLM providers and MCP support makes it a versatile option for developers who want a customizable, open-source coding assistant.
LLM Code (Open Claude Code)
- Description: An agentic coding tool that integrates with your terminal, understands your codebase, and supports natural language commands for coding tasks.
- Key Features:
  - Supports file and directory operations, code editing, and codebase context understanding.
  - Configurable settings with a JSON config file (~/.llm_code_config.json).
  - Colored terminal output for better usability.
  - Early-stage project with active development.
- Installation: Clone the repository (git clone https://github.com/futureHQ/LLMCode.git) and install dependencies via pip install -r requirements.txt.
- License: Apache-2.0
- Why It’s a Good Alternative: It closely mirrors Claude Code’s terminal-based, agentic workflow while being fully open source and customizable.
OpenCoder
- Description: A complete replacement for Claude Code, built on the Vercel AI SDK, offering a similar UI/UX with cross-platform support.
- Key Features:
  - Compatible with multiple LLM providers (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, etc.) via the Vercel AI SDK.
  - Supports custom tools and a cross-platform shell (Windows, Linux, macOS).
  - High-performance UI rendering at 60 FPS using React concurrent rendering.
  - Includes tools like file operations, grep, and Playwright for browser automation.
- Installation: Run npx opencoder@latest or bunx opencoder@latest for a quick start.
- License: Apache-2.0
- Why It’s a Good Alternative: Its compatibility with multiple LLMs and high-performance interface make it a robust alternative for users seeking a feature-rich, open-source coding assistant.

Comparison and Recommendation

For Privacy and Local Execution: OpenCode or olc are the best choices due to their focus on local processing with Ollama, ensuring no data is sent to external servers.
For Flexibility with LLM Providers: Sidekick stands out for its support for multiple providers and MCP integration, ideal for users who want to experiment with different models.
For Claude Code-Like Experience: LLM Code and OpenCoder closely replicate Claude Code’s agentic, terminal-based workflow, with OpenCoder offering additional performance optimizations and tool support.
Community Activity: OpenCoder (307 stars) and Sidekick (199 stars) have active communities, while OpenCode and olc are newer but show promise with strong privacy features.

Note on Claude Code’s Status

There’s community interest in making Claude Code open source, as seen in discussions on GitHub, but Anthropic has not indicated plans to release the source code. The proprietary nature limits customization, making these open-source alternatives particularly valuable for developers who prioritize transparency and control.

If you need help setting up any of these tools or want guidance on choosing the best one for your specific use case (e.g., local vs. cloud-based, specific LLM preferences), let me know!