# Show HN: Frontier model pricing became a rip-off, so I built an open-source CLI > Source: > Published: 2026-07-24 10:33:37+00:00 **Multi-agent coding in the terminal.** Kolega Code is a local-first terminal coding agent built for work that is too wide for one loop: fan out specialized sub-agents with **Gigacode**, route different models to different jobs, search the web, drive a browser, and keep sessions, settings, permissions, and credentials on your machine. Most terminal agents are strongest when one model can reason through one task at a time. Kolega Code keeps that familiar workflow, then adds orchestration for broad work: large audits, sweeping migrations, cross-file checks, adversarial reviews, and implementation plans whose pieces can run independently. With [Gigacode](https://kolega-ai.github.io/kolega-code/gigacode/), Kolega Code can: **Fan out many sub-agents at once.** Split a wide codebase review by package, assign independent implementation tasks, or run checks across many directories in parallel.**Use real workflow shapes.** The agent can generate parallel phases, pipelines, loops, judge panels, and synthesis steps instead of only delegating one task at a time.**Keep orchestration visible.** Workflow phase headers and progress lines appear in the transcript; the sub-agent inspector shows each agent's live trajectory.**Save inspectable artifacts.** Each run keeps the generated workflow script, result files, a Markdown transcript, raw JSONL, a resume journal, and debug sub-agent transcripts under Kolega Code's state directory.**Run in either mode.** In Plan mode, workflow sub-agents stay read-only for parallel investigation. In Build mode, they can use the full coding toolset.**Resume interrupted runs.** Finished workflow steps are journaled so a deliberate resume does not have to restart the whole fan-out. Use normal chat for focused changes. Turn on Gigacode when the problem is broad enough that one serial agent pass would be the bottleneck. **Gigacode orchestration:** parallel, pipelined, looped, judged, and synthesized multi-agent workflows with saved artifacts and resume support.**Specialized sub-agents:** planning, building/coder, investigation, general, and browser agents, with live activity tracking in the TUI.**Repo tools:** read and search code, create files, apply precise edits, and inspect session changes/diffs.**Terminal execution:** run shell commands with streamed output and project-level permission controls.**Plan/build workflow:** use read-only Plan mode for investigation and a reviewable task list, then Build mode to implement.**Web search and browsing:** DuckDuckGo works by default with no key; Firecrawl, Tavily, and SearXNG are configurable search backends. Kolega Code can also fetch URLs directly and use a Playwright-powered browser agent for interactive sites.**MCP servers:** connect verified`streamable_http` ,`sse` , and`stdio` MCP servers (including OAuth-enabled HTTP servers) as permission-gated tools.**Model routing:** choose provider/model combinations, set thinking effort, split long-context/fast/thinking roles, and override models per agent role.**Interactive or scriptable:** use the Textual TUI, queue follow-up prompts while the agent is working, run`kolega-code ask` , request JSON output, list/export/resume sessions, and diagnose setup with`doctor` .**Extensibility:** add agent skills, override prompts with project templates, run lifecycle hooks, and persist project permission rules.**Local-first state:** sessions, settings, permissions, OAuth tokens, and API-key settings stay on your machine with restrictive permissions where applicable. **1. Install** with the script: ``` curl -fsSL https://kolega.dev/install-kolega-code.sh | sh ``` Or with [uv](https://docs.astral.sh/uv/) (or `pip` ): ``` uv tool install kolega-code # or: pip install kolega-code ``` Verify the install: ``` kolega-code --version ``` **2. Start a session** in your project: ``` kolega-code . ``` **3. Connect a model.** Complete the first-run wizard with ChatGPT sign-in or an API key. Later, open the categorized Settings screen from the sidebar or with `/settings` . Use `Shift+Tab` to switch between **Plan** and **Build** mode, or run `/gigacode on` when a task is broad enough for fan-out. Resume a previous conversation: ``` kolega-code . --resume # latest session kolega-code . --resume # a specific Resume ID from `sessions list` ``` | Mode | Command | Best for | |---|---|---| Interactive TUI | `kolega-code .` | Day-to-day development, exploration, orchestration | One-shot | `kolega-code ask "…"` | Scripting, automation, quick questions, CI | There are also helper commands for managing sessions and checking your setup: ``` kolega-code ask "summarize this repository" --project . kolega-code sessions list --project . kolega-code doctor --project . ``` Kolega Code supports a broad model-provider catalog and lets you route models by role instead of forcing one model to do every job. Supported model providers: - Anthropic - OpenAI API - OpenAI via ChatGPT subscription sign-in - Groq - Together.ai - Fireworks.ai - xAI / Grok - DashScope / Qwen - Moonshot / Kimi - DeepSeek - Z.AI / GLM Coding Plan - Kimi Coding Plan - Ollama Cloud - local Llama Supported web-search backends: - DuckDuckGo — default, no key required - Firecrawl - Tavily - SearXNG — self-hosted option See [Providers & Models](https://kolega-ai.github.io/kolega-code/configuration/providers-and-models/) for model IDs, role configuration, API-key variables, and thinking-effort options. Kolega Code can assign different models to different operational roles: a strong long-context model for the main coding loop, a faster model for utility calls, and a dedicated model for extended thinking. You can also override models per agent role — planning, building, investigation, general, and browser — so wide workflows can use cheaper models where they fit and stronger models where they matter. If you have a paid **ChatGPT** plan (Plus, Pro, or Business), you can use it to run OpenAI models instead of a separate API key. Run `/login chatgpt` in the TUI, complete the browser sign-in, and Kolega Code switches to the **OpenAI (ChatGPT subscription)** provider (default `gpt-5.6-sol` ). Tokens are stored locally (chmod `600` ) and refreshed automatically; `/logout chatgpt` removes them. See [Sign in with ChatGPT](https://kolega-ai.github.io/kolega-code/configuration/sign-in-with-chatgpt/). Set your provider, model, and API keys from first-run onboarding or the full-screen Settings editor in the UI, or via environment variables and flags for non-interactive use: ``` export KOLEGA_CODE_PROVIDER=deepseek export DEEPSEEK_API_KEY=... kolega-code ask "summarize this repository" --project . --provider deepseek --model deepseek-v4-pro ``` API key variables only provide credentials — pick a provider/model explicitly or save one in Settings. Local session state lives under your platform's state directory unless `KOLEGA_CODE_STATE_DIR` is set. See the [Configuration docs](https://kolega-ai.github.io/kolega-code/configuration/settings-and-api-keys/) for the full story. The `web_search` tool uses DuckDuckGo by default without a key. To choose another backend, set it in **Settings** or export `KOLEGA_CODE_WEB_SEARCH_BACKEND` as `firecrawl` , `tavily` , or `searxng` ; use `FIRECRAWL_API_KEY` , `TAVILY_API_KEY` , or `SEARXNG_BASE_URL` as needed. Projects can override Kolega Code's base prompts with uppercase Markdown templates in `.kolega/prompts/` . Generate editable starters with Jinja replacement tags using `/prompts dump` in the TUI or `kolega-code prompts dump --project .` in a terminal. To dump only selected starters, pass prompt names such as `coder` , `planning` , or `compaction` (filename aliases like `CODER.md` work too). Validate existing overrides with `/prompts validate` or `kolega-code prompts validate --project .` . **Python 3.11+**- An **API key**, ChatGPT sign-in, or local model for at least one supported model provider - A terminal that supports a modern TUI (most do) Full documentation lives at ** kolega-ai.github.io/kolega-code**: Contributions are welcome. See [CONTRIBUTING.md](/kolega-ai/kolega-code/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md) for local setup, running the test suite, and building the docs site. Please report security issues privately per [SECURITY.md](/kolega-ai/kolega-code/blob/main/SECURITY.md). Released under the [Apache License 2.0](/kolega-ai/kolega-code/blob/main/LICENSE).