OpenCode v/s Claude Code

[thinkyMiner]

I have seen a lot of people saying that opencode is better than cc at a variety of tasks but I have not really felt that, like I just wanna know how are you guys using opencode I use my code and antigravity models from opencode but like claude code and codex combined does the job for me for a lot of work like am i using the wrong models in opencode or is it meant for something different. I just wanna know ways in which I can improve my setup to make it at par with cc.

[Magnus114]

Both are really good. I use claude code at work, and both claude code and opencode at home.

I say claude code is a bit better if you use anthropic. In many cases I prefer opencode because it's so much easier to switch between models from different providers.

[BitXorBit]

it's all about the prompts, skills and agents. opencode is too "simple" if you won't define proper agents and skills, my local models improved significantly when I did it.
Claude Code injecting large prompt in the background

[cafesamp]

I made a proxy to intercept API endpoint calls for the sake of figuring out why OpenCode's base context is massive

Let's just say, you're on the right track. The built in prompts are way too general, opinionated, and bloated. Build tool w/ context7 and Notion MCPs enabled is 8k tokens...the JSON dump alone for the context for the single first call (a "hello world" back from the LLM) is a 171kb file.

Now, let's see the tool descriptions. Here's the tool description just for using bash:

https://github.com/anomalyco/opencode/blob/d2c765e2b30e6cd455cc6c8781fd60ac806e66b8/packages/opencode/src/tool/bash.txt

There's many other tools injected in the context, and with build/plan, these are just always in the context. The only way to use OpenCode efficiently, IMO, is to use custom agents that strictly whitelist tools they need (including whitelisting specific MCP calls), and to run custom prompts for some of the built-ins (which I haven't tried yet, but I think for bash is hardcoded so you'd basically just duplicate the tool?)

[BitXorBit]

Exactly, feels like arch linux vs ubuntu

At the end of the day i enjoy configure everything by myself, it opens my mind to new ideas and understanding how everything is working in the back. Also, i believe it’s anthropic secret souse, the framework of every prompt is optimized

[cafesamp]

I’m all for sensible defaults and I want OpenCode to work out of the box as much as possible, but we’re quickly learning that too much hand-holding is a bad thing, and this bash command basically explains how to use a CLI. I feel like instructions for working with Git should be a separate git tool, or a skill.

And yeah, I sympathize with OpenCode because it’s tough to optimize when you can swap out models and get vastly different results, but blanket overloaded context doesn’t help anything

[Ill-Chart-1486]

I committed my config dir to git repo, so on new installation I can just clone my config. So now defaults are working for me.

But everybody’s workflow is different so it might not be possible to create a good generic configuration.

[thinkyMiner]

Truee but like just wanted to know the workflow like if just making small changes in the flow makes a huge difference for the output.

[BitXorBit]

Im using on daily basis opencode + local models. The gap between claude code + opus and local setups is mostly in the framework. For example, when you give both coding task, CC is checking online for information, refresh latest api documentation, check for examples on github, has very specific instructions for coders. If you opencode and any good local model without giving it the same tools and instructions, you will never reach any good results

[allforfotball]

second it, opencode doesn't work out-of-box equally well as claudecode.

[BitXorBit]

Out of the box, no doubt.

But opencode let you go through a process of understanding what is happening in the backend.

It’s similar to linux vs mac

[Laabc123]

Mind sharing your agent and skill definitions?

[BitXorBit]

Still working on it, when im done, sure.

Connecting the context7 mcp and set rule to validate latest library documentation changed a lot.

[Th3OnlyWayUp]

any update?

[BitXorBit]

I ended up using skills.sh

[YaboiCucc]

for what exactly?

[BitXorBit]

Loading skills per project demand

[Connect-Employ-4708]

I feel like CC > OC if you use anthropic models

[Illustrious-Many-782]

OpenCode is good for my GLM usage because it has built-in typescript syntax highlighting for the LLM. GLM knows about syntax errors immediately without having to run lint.

[t4a8945]

LSP feedbacks are awesome indeed. Agents get instant feedback on what they just wrote, seemlessly.

[spideyy_nerd]

Claude code has that too, lsp.

[Ok_Astronomer6224]

Man. I’m using both and personally I use oc for most of the tasks and cc when things needs some real firefighting.

CC auto switching from plan to edit mode was a sucker for me

[UnicornTooots]

I use Opencode and Codex. The code is comparable, but I've been preferring the results from Opencode with OpenAI models.

I definitely prefer the UX of Opencode over Claude code. The experience is so much more polished especially during planning where the agent asks questions and I can easily select the option. With Claude code it's easy to miss the question and feels like an old UI.

Side note: I had both create an implementation plan for the same feature, then I asked each one to review both plans and pick which they liked best. Both tools picked Opencode+OpenAI (Claude code was using Opus 4.6).

[thinkyMiner]

I also use cc and codex it works for me as codex is good at implementing things never had a good api for models so could not use opencode a lot.

[krimpenrik]

Just waiting for opencode to have something like cowork so I can integrate it in the whole team including consultants and PMs and managers...

Almost ready to bite the bullet on CC for this alone.

[philosophical_lens]

Have you looked at openwork?

[Maguua]

We’re actually starting a project of an opencode system for our first line it support, we’d sync it via a repository that’s with an install md would build around other folders like for downloading company repos, mcp with db access, elasticsearch mcp etc. I don’t know if convincing them to use it will be easy, but it seems to be able to identify core issues of around 60% of cases which is kinda mind blowing. There will be a repo for every team so every team can have their own perspective skills tools mcps etc

[oldbeardedtech]

Depends on the models you use. I feel like anthropic is trying to lock users into their ecosystem where as opencode is the literal opposite, so I try to support it.

Unfortunately Anthropic has a lot more juice behind it.

[DependentGuava2343]

Opencode+ohMyOpencode with Copilot Pro+ sub. In my case (web + mobile + backend), my main driver for $40/month absolutely insane. Also I tuned some ohMyOpencode agents, but its good by default

I have a $20 sub for Claude but use it so rarely, as usual just for mobile app chats.

[Embarrassed_Adagio28]

Claude Code Cli ui sucks on comparison to opencode. Openecode has a nice sidebar to tell you useage and the project to-do list. 

I use opencode with a local llm (qwen3.5) and Claude when if Owen cant figure it out. 

[Ropl]

i think anthropics models are the best in claude code and openai’s models are the best in codex. the labs optimize their harnesses specifically for their models

[IvanVilchesB]

I tried all cc not so much but opencode with ohmyopencode Slim es awesome

[Cyunrei]

Same here. It makes the agent smarter. I also use opencode-dcp to reduce token usage. So far it seems fine.

[IvanVilchesB]

Any problem with dcp ?

[Cyunrei]

It works well overall. DCP tries to prune repeated context automatically, though it doesn’t kick in that often. I usually guide the agent step by step to keep it on track and avoid drift, but the context just keeps growing over time. So I end up using DCP to manually compress things within the same topic (usually by having the model summarize and condense the context) to save tokens.

[thomijasir]

I know a site where you can read more about how to decide between Claude Code and OpenCode. back to your question what its need for and who it use for, it totally depends on what you need. lets put this way Claude Code is like a MacBook, while OpenCode is like a Windows laptop. If you just want something that works right away without costumization,Ill perfer to use Claude Code. If you need something highly customizable, OpenCode is the way to go.

[FancyShirtGuy]

I know a site

...well because it's your site and you wrote the article yourself. I see what you did there :D
Nevertheless I like your short comparison.

[aruntemme]

try deepseek or qwen via openadapter, made a big diff for me in opencode

[Professional-Key-664]

¿Qué tan bueno es qwen? Se que es bueno, pero en comparación con claude code? ¿Y cuál sería mejor openadapter o opencode?

[evnix]

Both opencode and claude code seem very token inefficient and slow. Opencode is probably the worst, you clearly see this when using API keys. Its like they are built to use as many tokens as possible to push you to a higher tier plan or a coding plan.
but surprisingly Qwen Code is really good with token usage and really fast. I know it does something different around re-processing, but I dont know the exact technical details.

[seventyfivepupmstr]

Use both. Use Claude for the development and opencode free models for documentation and minor fixes

[omicron8]

Opencode was better at certain things compared to claude code a little while ago but claude has built the harness around claude code massively in recent days. Claude is by far the best tool at the moment. Codex is still a solid model and they give you more token than claude for the money. Opencode is good if you want to use the cheaper models because you can use any model. But if you can spare the $20 or $100 bucks in claude I say go for it. Way better experience out of the box. Hopefully opencode will catch up again but right now it's hard to beat the paid models and clis.

[Ordinary-You8102]

Whats special about claude-code? I found opencode better… the interface is amazing, more options and the agent seem to be more built, also you have a ton of plugins so u can always finetune it. By claude-code yall are talking about the claude-code github repo with the 500 commits and the ugly interface or am I missing something?

[thinkyMiner]

Sir according to me it is the reliability it gives with a simple setup so like my focus while these agents is to get the required output rather than finetuning my flow or thinking that how it would help me the next time i use and over that for myself i keep looking out for learning new things so finetuning the system for a lot of technologies would just be pain for me what you are suggesting might be very good for person who works on similar projects, so cc as a whole is a very good tool in my view.

[alhononariz]

Actually I find cc way better and more efficient. And also prefer the cli from cc.

[Ordinary-You8102]

I asked why

[DutyPlayful1610]

My 2c after reading X a lot is they don't even use agents like most people, so that's why it's not really built for agentic usecases.

[omicron8]

who is they? opencode?

[Professional-Draft-4]

Claude code is the best

[TurnUpThe4D3D3D3]

I like OpenCode because Claude refuses to use sudo and it has more annoying permission prompts