Welcome to OpenCode School! This is a free, self-paced course that teaches you how to use OpenCode from scratch. No terminal experience required.
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 in English (or any other natural language!) with an LLM (large language 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.
OpenCode works with multiple AI model providers, including:
- Anthropic (Claude)
- OpenAI (GPT)
- Google (Gemini)
- And 75+ more
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
Work through the lessons in order. Each one builds on the previous. Some lessons involve pasting prompts into OpenCode and letting it do the work for you. Progress is tracked through the website and synced with your OpenCode app.