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Codewhale
Codewhale is an open-source terminal coding agent that reads repositories, edits files, and runs commands.
Codewhale is a free, MIT-licensed terminal coding agent that reads repositories, edits files, and runs commands for developers. Codewhale supports hosted providers and local models, with receipts and undo for tracking changes. No account is required; users with API keys pay their provider directly.
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At a glance
- Pricing
- FreeCodewhale is free and MIT licensed. Users pay model providers directly when using their own API keys; local models require no key. No account is required.
- Added
- 28 Oct 2026
About Codewhale
Codewhale is an open-source coding agent written in Rust for developers working in the terminal. Codewhale reads repositories, edits files, and runs commands to complete tasks or request further input. The project supports hosted model providers and models running on the user's own machine.
Codewhale includes Plan, Work, and Operate modes for read-only investigation, file editing, and goal-driven work. Codewhale can delegate tasks to sub-agents, run agent fleets, connect MCP servers, and load skills and plugins. Receipts record file changes, commands, web requests, MCP calls, and approvals. Undo reverses the last request and its file changes. Developers can also run tasks without the interactive interface, review GitHub pull requests, or access a local web interface and Runtime API.
Codewhale is free and MIT licensed, with no account required. Users supplying an API key pay their model provider directly; local models require no key. Installation options include release binaries, npm, Cargo, and platform-specific installers for Linux, macOS, and Windows.
Codewhale suits developers who want terminal-based coding assistance with configurable model providers and permission controls. Default Ask permissions apply repository file edits without confirmation but request approval for shell commands that are not read-only. Full Access disables the sandbox, and Windows does not yet have an OS sandbox.
What you can do
- Repository reading, file editing, and command execution
- Hosted providers, OpenAI-compatible endpoints, and local models
- Plan, Work, and Operate modes
- Change receipts and request-level undo
- Sub-agents, agent fleets, and repository workflows
- MCP servers, skills, plugins, and hooks
- Non-interactive execution and GitHub pull request reviews
- Local web interface and Runtime API
Pros and cons
What works
- Free, MIT-licensed source code with no account requirement
- Supports local models without API keys
- Records tool activity and can undo the last request's file changes
- Offers installation options for Linux, macOS, and Windows
What to watch
- Hosted model usage with an API key is billed by the provider
- Windows has no OS sandbox yet
- Full Access disables the sandbox
- Default Ask permissions allow repository file edits without confirmation
Who Codewhale is for
Developers using terminal-based coding workflows
- Fixing failing tests and explaining code changes
- Planning repository changes without editing files
- Running coding tasks in scripts and CI
- Reviewing GitHub pull requests
- Delegating repository work across sub-agents
Codewhale FAQ
What is Codewhale?
Codewhale is an open-source terminal coding agent written in Rust that reads repositories, edits files, and runs commands. Codewhale works on a task until completion or until user input is needed, using hosted providers or local models.
Is Codewhale free?
Codewhale is free and MIT licensed, and no account is required. Users who supply an API key pay their model provider directly. Codewhale also supports local models, which require no API key.
Which models and providers does Codewhale support?
Codewhale supports more than 40 built-in providers, including Anthropic, OpenAI, DeepSeek, Google, Mistral, Moonshot, OpenRouter, and xAI. Codewhale also supports OpenAI-compatible endpoints and local models through Ollama, vLLM, or SGLang.
Does Codewhale support MCP and editor integrations?
Codewhale connects to MCP servers and supports skills, plugins, and hooks. Codewhale provides the Agent Client Protocol for editors such as Zed, while a community-maintained VS Code extension connects through the sidebar. A local Runtime API is also available.
Does Codewhale ask before changing files or running commands?
Codewhale applies repository file edits without confirmation under the default Ask permission and asks before shell commands that are not read-only. Plan mode makes no changes. Full Access never asks and disables the sandbox; Windows has no OS sandbox yet.
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