qwen-code: Use AI Agents to Work on Code

Overview

Qwen Code is a TypeScript coding agent that works with a project from the terminal and can also connect to editor, desktop, web, and chat interfaces. It helps developers delegate repository tasks such as understanding code, making changes, and running workflows to an AI agent.

It supports Qwen and other model APIs, as well as third-party providers and local models. It is a fit for developers who want to choose their model provider and workflow interface rather than use a single-model terminal tool.

Key Features

• Interact with an agent in a project directory using the qwen command.
• Connect to Qwen, OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, third-party providers, or local models.
• Use agent capabilities including SubAgents, Agent Teams, Auto-Memory, Auto-Skills, and MCP.
• Integrate with VS Code, Zed, JetBrains, a desktop app, and an experimental web UI.
• Connect chat channels including Telegram, DingTalk, WeChat, and Feishu.
• Run non-interactively for scripts and CI/CD, or build integrations with TypeScript, Python, and Java SDKs.

Use Cases

• Developers exploring an unfamiliar repository can ask the agent to explain its layout and point out where to start.
• Individual contributors can delegate code changes and development workflows from the terminal or a supported editor.
• Teams that use different model providers can use one coding-agent framework with compatible APIs or local models.
• Automation engineers can invoke the agent from scripts, CI/CD, or custom applications through headless mode and SDKs.
• Developers who prefer chat or desktop workflows can access the agent without staying in a terminal session.

Project Facts

• Language: TypeScript
• License: Apache-2.0
• Stars: 28.3k
• Forks: 3.2k
• Topics: agentic, ai, ai-agent, ai-coding, cli, coding-agent, developer-tools, llm, mcp, qwen, terminal, typescript
• Archived: No

Getting Started

Install with npm, then launch the agent in a project directory:

npm install -g @qwen-code/qwen-code@latest
cd /path/to/your-project
qwen

The npm installation requires Node.js 22 or later. Run /auth in the session to configure a provider and API key. See the README and user documentation for installation options and configuration details.

Alternatives

• zero: Zero is a Go terminal agent focused on scriptable local sessions and explicit controls over side effects.
• DeepSeek-Reasonix: DeepSeek-Reasonix emphasizes prefix-cache stability and persistent, continuous autonomous operation.
• grok-build: Grok Build is a Rust agent with full-screen terminal and headless modes, plus web search for longer tasks.
• pi: Pi is a TypeScript agent toolkit with a unified provider API and an extensible design for custom workflows.

Considerations

• The npm installation requires Node.js 22 or later. Standalone installers and Homebrew are also listed in the README.
• Model-provider access and authentication need to be configured before use.
• The README labels the web UI and daemon mode as experimental.
• The project covers several interfaces and integration types, so users should consult the documentation for setup requirements specific to their chosen workflow.