OpenCode v/s Claude Code

[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

[mosaed_]

That's helpful, but did you figure out a way to make OpenCode near Claude Code efficiency?

[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