Before we install anything, let’s make sure your computer is ready.
A new-ish computer
OpenCode Desktop runs on macOS, Windows, and Linux. Any modern computer from the last 5-6 years should work fine. There are no special hardware requirements — the AI models run in the cloud, not on your machine.
You need:
- A reliable internet connection
- At least 500 MB of free disk space
- A reasonably up-to-date operating system
A text editor
You’ll need a text editor for viewing and editing OpenCode’s configuration files. A text editor is a program for writing and editing plain text files. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy — just something that can open .txt or .md files.
Here are few recommendations, all of which are freely avaialble:
- VS Code - the world’s most popular code editor, with a huge ecosystem of extensions and features. Great for both beginners and experienced developers.
- Cursor - A fork of VS Code with built-in AI features and a more streamlined interface.
- Zed - A new editor built for speed and simplicity, with a focus on real-time collaboration.
- Windsurf - A lightweight editor with built-in AI code generation and autocompletion.
If you don’t want to install anything extra, you can use the text editor that comes with your computer:
- macOS: TextEdit (in your Applications folder). Go to TextEdit > Settings and select “Plain Text” as the default format — otherwise it will try to save files as rich text.
- Windows: Notepad (search for it in the Start menu).
- Linux: Varies by distribution — gedit (GNOME), Kate (KDE), mousepad (XFCE), or
nanoin the terminal.
OpenCode itself will handle most file creation and editing. The text editor is mainly for when you want to manually inspect or tweak config files.
That’s it
No special software to install yet, no accounts to create. If you have a computer with an internet connection and a text editor, you’re ready for the next lesson.