# Kilo Code

> Open-source agentic coding agent for VS Code, JetBrains, and the terminal

- Category: AI Coding / Autonomous Coding Agents
- Language: TypeScript
- Licence: MIT
- Repository: https://github.com/Kilo-Org/kilocode
- Website: https://kilo.ai/
- Canonical page: https://ai-tldr.dev/tools/kilo-code/

## In short

Kilo Code is an open-source coding agent that you run inside your editor or terminal. You describe what you want in plain English, and the agent writes code, runs terminal commands, automates the browser, and checks its own work. It sits in the Autonomous Coding Agents category of the AI Coding tools and is open-source, written in TypeScript and licensed MIT.

## Overview

Kilo Code is an open-source coding agent that you run inside your editor or terminal. You describe what you want in plain English, and the agent writes code, runs terminal commands, automates the browser, and checks its own work. It is one of the most popular open-source coding agents and is released under the MIT license.

The same agent runs in several places: a VS Code extension, a JetBrains plugin, a command-line tool, Slack, and the cloud. It connects to more than 500 AI models, so you can pick the one that fits your task. You can bring your own API keys or use Kilo's account, and the CLI can run fully autonomously for CI/CD pipelines.

Kilo Code also supports different working modes (Architect for planning, Coder for writing code, Debugger for fixing bugs) and a marketplace of MCP servers that extend what the agent can do.

## What it does

- Generates code from natural-language instructions and checks its own work
- Runs terminal commands and automates the browser as part of a task
- Inline autocomplete suggestions as you type, powered by AI
- Works across VS Code, JetBrains, a CLI, Slack, and the cloud
- Connects to 500+ AI models, with bring-your-own API keys optional
- Multiple modes (Architect, Coder, Debugger) plus custom modes and an MCP server marketplace

## Getting started

You can run Kilo Code as a VS Code extension or as a command-line tool. The CLI install is a single npm command, and you can also run it without installing using npx.

1. Install the VS Code extension

   Install the Kilo Code extension from the VS Code Marketplace, then create an account to access the available models.

```text
Search "Kilo Code" in the VS Code Marketplace
```

2. Install the CLI

   Install the command-line agent globally with npm, or run it directly with npx without installing.

```bash
npm install -g @kilocode/cli
# or run directly
npx @kilocode/cli
```

3. Start the agent in your project

   From any project directory, run the kilo command to start an interactive session.

```bash
kilo
```

4. Run autonomously in CI/CD

   Use the --auto flag to run a task with no permission prompts. Only use this in trusted environments like CI/CD pipelines, since it lets the agent act without confirmation.

```bash
kilo run --auto "run tests and fix any failures"
```

## When to use it

- Generating new code or refactoring existing code from plain-English descriptions inside VS Code or JetBrains
- Automating repetitive coding tasks and running terminal commands without leaving the editor
- Running tests and fixing failures automatically in a CI/CD pipeline with the autonomous CLI mode
- Trying out and comparing many different AI models for coding from a single agent