What is OpenCode?

OpenCode is a free, open-source AI coding agent that you install on your personal computer. The primary interface is a chat window, much like ChatGPT or Claude, where you have a back and forth dialogue with an AI model. But instead of just chatting, OpenCode can read and write files on your computer, write code, run commands, and interact with other applications.

Despite the name, OpenCode is not just a tool for writing software. You can use it to automate any task on your computer, from managing files to controlling other applications. It's like having an assistant that can understand your intentions, help you brainstorm, do deep research, and build creative things.

Unlike proprietary tools like Claude Code and OpenAI Codex, OpenCode works with 75+ AI model providers, including Anthropic (Claude), OpenAI (GPT), and Google (Gemini). You can also run open-source models locally on your own machine using tools like Ollama, LM Studio, or llama.cpp — no cloud account needed.

Who is this for?

This course is for anyone who wants to expand their creative potential with AI. Whether you're a student, a hobbyist, a professional developer, or just curious about AI, OpenCode can help you do more with less effort.

This course is for beginners who are new to AI coding agents. You don't need to be a programmer, and you don't need any experience with the terminal. We'll be using the OpenCode Desktop app, which provides a familiar graphical interface.

This course is also for experienced developers. It'll get you set up with a good foundation for using OpenCode effectively, and you'll learn some tips and tricks for getting the most out of it.

What you'll learn

By the end of this course, you'll know how to:

• Install and configure OpenCode
• Use AI models to help you write and edit code
• Control what OpenCode can and can't do on your machine
• Connect external tools and services
• Run multiple sessions in parallel
• Build websites, games, and other creative projects!

How it works

The first lesson — Installation — is done here in the browser. Once you have OpenCode up and running, the rest of the course happens interactively inside OpenCode itself. Each lesson page has a prompt you copy and paste into OpenCode. The agent reads the lesson, works through the material with you, and marks it complete — which syncs back to this page in real time.