Qwen Code

Open-source AI coding agent that runs inside your terminal

Advanced
Screenshot of Qwen Code, Open-source AI coding agent that runs inside your terminal

What is Qwen Code?

Qwen Code is an open-source AI coding agent from the QwenLM organization that runs in the terminal. It suits developers who want an inspectable, forkable agent with active development, extensive docs and an integrations folder.

Qwen Code is an open-source AI coding agent built for the command line. The project is maintained by the QwenLM organization on GitHub, and its repository describes it simply as an agent that lives in your terminal. Instead of a web dashboard or a hosted editor, the work happens in the same shell where developers already run builds, tests and version control. The repository gives a fair picture of what is under the hood. The code is organized into packages, with a command-line layer built on a separate core package, and the test suite exercises real tool calls such as writing files with a chosen encoding. Other visible pieces include a sandbox configuration area, a memory system that feeds an index of saved notes into prompts, and a mobile-related effort that handles encrypted connection profiles. A dedicated docs folder and a docs-site folder hold the documentation, and an integrations folder collects connectors to other environments. The project also carries a VS Code settings folder, which suggests editor workflows are part of the development setup. Qwen Code is aimed at developers who are comfortable in a terminal and want an agent they can inspect, fork and run themselves. Its history shows it was synced with the upstream Gemini CLI codebase at one point, so people who know that tool will find a familiar lineage. The pace of development is high: the page shows more than ten thousand commits, hundreds of tags, a v0.25.0 release and changes landing within the same day. Among alternatives, it sits with other terminal-based coding agents, and its open repository is the main differentiator against closed, subscription-gated assistants. Buyers who want a polished graphical interface or a managed service should weigh that, since the project presents itself as source code to be installed and configured rather than a packaged product with a pricing page. Teams that value transparency, community contributions and the ability to read exactly how an agent handles files and prompts will find the most to like here.

How do you use Qwen Code?

  1. 1Review the project overview
    Open the repository to confirm what the agent does, check the latest release and see how active the project is before installing anything.
    Qwen Code — Review the project overview
  2. 2Read the documentation
    Browse the docs folder for installation, configuration and usage guidance, since the homepage itself carries no setup instructions.
    Qwen Code — Read the documentation
  3. 3Check the available integrations
    Look through the integrations folder to see which environments and connectors the project ships, and pick any that match your workflow.
    Qwen Code — Check the available integrations
  4. 4Pick a release
    Use the tags page to choose a stable or preview version, then follow the documented installation steps for that release.
    Qwen Code — Pick a release
  5. 5Run it in a project terminal
    Start the agent from a project directory in your shell and give it a small coding task to see how it handles files and tools.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Fully open-source repository, so developers can read, fork and modify how the agent worksAI
  • Terminal-native design fits existing shell, build and git workflows without a separate appAI
  • Very active development, with over 10,000 commits and frequent tagged releasesAI
  • Large community footprint on GitHub, with roughly 28k stars and 3.2k forksAI
  • Dedicated docs and integrations folders give a place to learn setup and connectorsAI

Cons

  • Distributed as a GitHub repository, so setup is less guided than a packaged commercial productAI
  • No graphical interface is described, which may put off developers who prefer editor-first toolsAI
  • Rapid release cadence and version numbers below 1.0 suggest behavior may change between updatesAI
  • The page states no pricing, model costs or support terms, leaving total cost unclearAI
  • Documentation lives in repository folders, which is harder to browse than a dedicated help centerAI

How much does Qwen Code cost?

Pricing

The page lists no pricing. It is an open-source repository, and any costs for the underlying models are not described on the homepage.

Learn more

Support

Support runs through the public GitHub repository, with issues, pull requests and documentation folders. No dedicated support channel is described.

Integrations

The repository includes an integrations folder and VS Code settings, and its history shows an upstream sync with Gemini CLI. Specific supported integrations are not listed on the homepage.

Learn more

Features

Terminal-based AI coding agent with a CLI and core package split, file-writing tools, a sandbox configuration, a memory index used in prompts, configurable default file encoding, and an extensive test suite.

Learn more

Frequently asked questions about Qwen Code

  • How much does Qwen Code cost?
    The page lists no pricing. It is an open-source repository, and any costs for the underlying models are not described on the homepage.
  • How do you use Qwen Code?
    The walkthrough on this page covers 5 steps: 1. Review the project overview 2. Read the documentation 3. Check the available integrations 4. Pick a release 5. Run it in a project terminal.
  • What platforms does Qwen Code support?
    Qwen Code is available on MacOS, Windows and Linux.
  • What does Qwen Code integrate with?
    The repository includes an integrations folder and VS Code settings, and its history shows an upstream sync with Gemini CLI. Specific supported integrations are not listed on the homepage.
  • What are the limitations of Qwen Code?
    Distributed as a GitHub repository, so setup is less guided than a packaged commercial product. No graphical interface is described, which may put off developers who prefer editor-first tools. Rapid release cadence and version numbers below 1.0 suggest behavior may change between updates.

Status

StatusActive
Views0
Outbound clicks0
Added10/6/2026

Platforms

MacOSWindowsLinux

Pricing

Free

Categories