OpenClaude — Open-Source Multi-Provider Coding Agent

Introduction

OpenClaude is an open-source terminal-based coding agent that brings agentic coding workflows to any LLM provider. It lets developers use a single CLI to interact with multiple model backends while retaining full tool-use and file-editing capabilities.

What OpenClaude Does

• Provides an interactive coding agent in the terminal with file editing and shell execution
• Supports multiple LLM providers including OpenAI, Anthropic, DeepSeek, and Ollama
• Implements agentic tool use for reading, writing, and searching code
• Maintains conversation context across coding sessions
• Runs entirely locally with your own API keys

Architecture Overview

OpenClaude is a TypeScript-based CLI application that abstracts LLM provider APIs behind a unified interface. It implements a tool-use loop where the agent can read files, edit code, run shell commands, and search the codebase. Provider adapters translate between the unified tool schema and each backend's native API format.

Self-Hosting & Configuration

• Install via npm or clone the repository and build from source
• Configure providers via environment variables or a local config file
• Set your preferred model and provider with CLI flags or defaults
• Supports proxy configurations for corporate environments
• Works offline with local models via Ollama integration

Key Features

• Provider-agnostic design: swap models without changing workflow
• Full agentic tool use: file read/write, shell execution, search
• Streaming responses with real-time token display
• Conversation history and session persistence
• Extensible provider adapter system for adding new backends

Comparison with Similar Tools

• Claude Code — proprietary, Anthropic-only; OpenClaude is open-source and multi-provider
• Aider — focuses on git integration; OpenClaude emphasizes provider flexibility
• OpenCode — similar goals but different architecture and plugin model
• Cursor — IDE-based; OpenClaude is terminal-native

FAQ

Q: Which LLM providers are supported? A: OpenAI, Anthropic, DeepSeek, Ollama, and several others via adapter plugins.

Q: Can I use local models? A: Yes, through Ollama or any OpenAI-compatible local server.

Q: Is it free to use? A: The tool itself is free and open-source under MIT. You pay only for API usage to your chosen provider.

Q: How does it differ from Claude Code? A: OpenClaude is fully open-source and supports multiple LLM providers, while Claude Code is a proprietary Anthropic product.

Sources

• https://github.com/Gitlawb/openclaude