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OpenCode gives most control to developers who work in a terminal, want to choose among many model providers, run local models, define project instructions, and separate planning from editing. Continue is the better fit for an IDE-first workflow because it combines agent, chat, edit, and autocomplete modes inside VS Code and JetBrains. The deciding caveat is lifecycle: Continue’s official repository is read-only after its final 2.0.0 release, while OpenCode’s documentation presents an actively maintained product.

OpenCode vs. Continue at a glance

Control area OpenCode Continue
Primary workspace Terminal, desktop app, and IDE extensions VS Code and JetBrains, plus a CLI
Model choice Provider-neutral setup with 75+ LLM providers through Models.dev, including local models Hosted providers, local runtimes, and self-hosted providers documented
Project guidance /init creates an AGENTS.md file describing project structure and coding patterns Custom agents and provider configuration are documented; an equivalent single project-initialization flow is not established here
Change protection Plan mode proposes an implementation while disabling changes Agent, edit, chat, and autocomplete modes; a single read-only planning mode is not established in the cited documentation
Parallel work Multi-session workflows and share links Not established in the cited material
Offline or local use Supports local models; privacy depends on the selected provider and deployment Documents Ollama, LM Studio, llama.cpp, LlamaStack, llamafile, offline development, and self-hosting
Maintenance signal Current installation and product documentation Repository marked no longer actively maintained and read-only after final 2.0.0 release
License and client price Free client, MIT license; provider charges may still apply Apache 2.0; provider charges may still apply

The “75+” figure is OpenCode’s own capability statement, not an independent benchmark. Neither product has a published head-to-head productivity or performance result in the available evidence.

What “more control” means in practice

Control is not one feature. For an AI coding assistant, it usually means deciding which model sees your code, where the assistant runs, what instructions it follows, when it may edit files, and how easily you can inspect or repeat work. It also includes operational control: whether a tool fits your terminal or IDE, whether it can use local infrastructure, and whether its maintainers are likely to ship fixes.

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OpenCode and Continue both expose provider choice and local-model paths, so neither locks you to one hosted service. Their emphasis differs. OpenCode puts the agent and its operating rules at the center of a terminal-oriented workflow. Continue puts a set of distinct interaction modes inside an IDE. That difference matters more than a raw feature count.

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Where OpenCode gives you control

Provider-neutral model selection

OpenCode’s documentation describes support for more than 75 LLM providers through Models.dev. You configure credentials for the provider you choose rather than buying a model from the client itself. The documented options include hosted services, local models, GitHub Copilot sign-in, and ChatGPT Plus or Pro sign-in.

This separates the assistant interface from the inference bill. The OpenCode client can be free while a hosted provider charges for tokens or a subscription. A local deployment may avoid per-request cloud fees but still requires suitable hardware, model downloads, storage, and maintenance.

Project-level instructions with AGENTS.md

OpenCode can initialize a project with /init. The resulting AGENTS.md file records the project structure and coding patterns so the agent has durable, repository-specific guidance. You can use that file to state conventions such as where tests live, which commands validate a change, and which directories should not be edited.

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This is a practical control surface because the instructions travel with the repository rather than living only in one developer’s chat history. Review the generated file before relying on it: keep rules accurate, remove assumptions that no longer apply, and avoid placing secrets in it.

Plan mode before edits

OpenCode’s Plan mode disables changes while the agent proposes an implementation. That gives you a deliberate checkpoint for decomposing a task, identifying files, and challenging the approach before any write operation occurs.

A useful workflow is to start in Plan mode for a behavior change, check the proposed files and dependencies, then leave planning only after you agree with the scope. This is stronger than merely asking an editing agent to “be careful,” because the documented mode changes what the agent is allowed to do.

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Terminal, desktop, and IDE surfaces

OpenCode is described as an open-source agent that helps write code in a terminal, IDE, or desktop app. Terminal access is valuable when your work already involves shell commands, remote development, containers, or scripted checks. IDE extensions let you bring the same agent into an editor, while the desktop app offers another front end.

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Its documentation also lists language-server protocol (LSP) support, multi-session use, and share links. LSP integration can provide language-aware context; multi-session workflows let you keep separate tasks or repositories isolated; share links can make an interaction available to collaborators. The exact behavior depends on the current client and provider configuration.

Where Continue gives you control

Four distinct IDE modes

Continue’s official documentation defines four primary modes: agent, chat, edit, and autocomplete.

  • Agent: suited to multi-step tasks where the assistant reasons across files and performs an operation.
  • Chat: useful for explanations, design questions, and repository exploration without treating every question as an edit request.
  • Edit: focused on applying a targeted transformation to selected code or files.
  • Autocomplete: provides inline suggestions while you type.

The separation is useful for developers who want to choose the smallest level of autonomy for each task. An explanation can stay in chat, a bounded refactor can use edit, and a larger change can move to agent mode.

Broad provider and self-hosting documentation

Continue documents integrations with Anthropic, OpenAI, Azure, Amazon Bedrock, Google Gemini, DeepSeek, Mistral, xAI, Vertex AI, and other hosted services. Its local options include Ollama, LM Studio, llama.cpp, LlamaStack, and llamafile. The provider documentation also describes self-hosting a model provider.

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That breadth makes Continue viable in organizations with an existing cloud agreement, a private endpoint, or a local inference stack. The client does not by itself guarantee that code stays on your machine: the selected provider, telemetry settings, network path, and deployment determine the actual privacy boundary.

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Custom agents, MCP, and CLI workflows

Continue documents custom agents, provider configuration, MCP integrations, offline development, and CLI automation. MCP integrations can connect the assistant to approved tools and data sources, while custom agents let a team define specialized behavior for tasks such as testing, documentation, or code review.

The Continue CLI provides a terminal-native option, but the product’s center of gravity remains the VS Code and JetBrains extensions. If you expect identical behavior across a shell, desktop app, and editor, verify the features you need in each surface rather than assuming parity.

The maintenance qualification

Continue’s repository currently states: “Note: the continuedev/continue repository is no longer actively maintained and is read-only for all users.” It describes a final 2.0.0 release for the VS Code extension, CLI, and JetBrains plugin and identifies the project as Apache 2.0 licensed.

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Existing installations can still be useful, and the documented workflows remain relevant. For a new team standard, however, read-only status raises practical questions: who will fix a compatibility break, update an integration, or address a security issue? Treat that uncertainty as a selection cost even when Continue’s feature set matches your workflow.

Control comparison by decision

If your priority is… Stronger fit Reason
Terminal-first development OpenCode Its primary presentation is a terminal agent, with desktop and IDE options as well.
Many provider choices in one client OpenCode It advertises 75+ providers through Models.dev and emphasizes provider neutrality.
Local or self-hosted inference Either Both document local paths; Continue names more specific runtimes, while OpenCode emphasizes broad provider coverage.
Repository instructions that travel with the code OpenCode /init creates an AGENTS.md project-instruction file.
A hard planning checkpoint before edits OpenCode Plan mode disables changes while proposing an implementation.
Inline completion in an IDE Continue Autocomplete is a documented first-class mode in VS Code and JetBrains.
Separate chat, edit, and agent experiences Continue Those modes are explicitly defined in its documentation.
Long-term confidence for a new standard OpenCode Continue’s official repository is read-only after its final 2.0.0 release.

How to start with OpenCode

  1. Choose the execution surface. Decide whether the terminal, desktop app, or an IDE extension matches the way you inspect files and run tests.
  2. Select a provider. Pick a hosted service, a supported subscription sign-in, or a local model. Create the required credential with that provider; OpenCode itself does not make provider usage free.
  3. Open the repository and run /init. Let OpenCode create the project’s AGENTS.md file.
  4. Review the instructions. Correct the project structure, coding patterns, test commands, and prohibited paths before asking for edits.
  5. Plan risky work first. Use Plan mode for changes that span files, alter behavior, or touch sensitive code. Inspect the proposed implementation while changes are disabled.
  6. Execute in a controlled session. Leave planning only after approving the scope. Keep unrelated tasks in separate sessions and use the documented share-link feature when a collaborator needs to inspect the interaction.
  7. Validate outside the model. Run the repository’s tests, linters, type checks, and security checks yourself. Neither the client’s free status nor its model choice is evidence that generated code is correct.

How to start with Continue

  1. Install the extension or CLI for your environment. Use the VS Code or JetBrains extension when you want inline IDE workflows; use the CLI when terminal automation is the priority.
  2. Configure a provider. Continue’s documentation covers hosted services, local runtimes, and self-hosted endpoints. Enter the credentials or endpoint settings required by the provider you selected.
  3. Choose the least autonomous mode that fits the task. Start with chat for questions, edit for a bounded transformation, autocomplete for inline suggestions, and agent for multi-step work.
  4. Define team behavior. Configure custom agents and approved MCP integrations only after deciding which tools and data each agent may access.
  5. Test local or offline operation. Confirm that the selected runtime is actually receiving requests locally and that your editor is not also sending context to a hosted fallback.
  6. Plan for lifecycle risk. Pin a known-good release, document your provider configuration, and identify a migration path before making Continue a required part of a team toolchain.

Local, offline, and privacy considerations

“Supports local models” is not the same as “private by default.” In either client, privacy depends on the complete path from editor to model. A hosted provider receives whatever context the client sends; a self-hosted service keeps inference under your administration but still requires access controls and logging decisions; a local runtime reduces network exposure but may have lower speed or model capability.

  • Inventory which files, symbols, terminal output, and chat history are included in requests.
  • Choose a provider deployment whose retention and training policies meet your requirements.
  • Keep credentials outside repository instruction files and source control.
  • For offline work, disconnect or restrict network access and verify that requests still complete through the local runtime.
  • Use repository permissions to prevent an agent from reading secrets or unrelated projects.

Continue’s documentation is particularly explicit about Ollama, LM Studio, llama.cpp, LlamaStack, llamafile, offline development, and self-hosting. OpenCode’s documentation emphasizes local-model support and provider neutrality. In both cases, the deployment you select—not the product name—determines the final privacy posture.

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Cost, licensing, and operational trade-offs

Item OpenCode Continue
Client pricing statement Product page says the software is free to use No separate paid client price is established in the cited material
Open-source license MIT Apache 2.0
Model usage Provider charges or subscription terms may apply Provider charges or subscription terms may apply
Local deployment costs Hardware, storage, electricity, and administration are your responsibility Hardware, storage, electricity, and administration are your responsibility

Compare the total operating cost, not just the client license. A hosted model can be simpler but incur recurring usage charges. Local inference can improve control and data locality while shifting cost into hardware and maintenance. Continue’s read-only status can also create engineering cost if an editor update or provider API change requires a workaround.

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Common failure modes and fixes

The assistant edits more than intended

For OpenCode, begin in Plan mode and tighten the project rules in AGENTS.md. For Continue, use chat or edit mode instead of agent mode and limit the selected context. In either tool, inspect the proposed file list before accepting changes.

A local model works but produces weak results

Check the model’s context window, coding capability, and hardware fit before blaming the client. Reduce the task size, provide clearer repository instructions, or switch to a stronger provider for the specific operation. Local availability does not imply parity with every hosted model.

Provider credentials fail

Verify that the key belongs to the selected provider, has access to the requested model, and is available to the process running the client. For self-hosted services, confirm the endpoint is reachable from the editor or terminal and that authentication is configured on both sides.

An IDE update breaks Continue

Because the repository is read-only after 2.0.0, first confirm whether the issue is a compatibility change rather than a provider setting. Pin the last known-good environment, record the working configuration, and evaluate an actively maintained alternative before making the extension mandatory for a team.

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Generated code passes one check but fails elsewhere

Run the full project validation sequence, including tests, type checks, linting, packaging, and security scans. An AI assistant can follow instructions consistently and still misunderstand undocumented behavior or edge cases.

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Should you use OpenCode, Continue, or both?

Choose OpenCode for control-oriented, terminal-heavy work

OpenCode is the clearer choice when you want provider freedom, local-model options, repository-level instructions, a documented no-edit planning stage, and multiple work surfaces. It also presents the stronger lifecycle signal for a new standard because its current documentation describes ongoing installation and product support.

Choose Continue for an established IDE workflow

Continue remains attractive when your productivity depends on VS Code or JetBrains and you want separate agent, chat, edit, and autocomplete modes. Its provider matrix and local/self-hosting guides can fit an existing infrastructure investment. The maintenance warning should be accepted consciously, not discovered after rollout.

Use both only with an explicit boundary

A developer could use Continue for inline completion and OpenCode for terminal-based planning or multi-session work. If you do this, define which tool owns project instructions, which provider receives code, and how changes are reviewed. Otherwise, two assistants can apply conflicting conventions or send the same sensitive context through different providers.

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Questions to settle before standardizing

  • Do developers need a terminal agent, an IDE assistant, or both?
  • Which models are approved, and may developers bring their own API keys?
  • Is local inference required, preferred, or merely useful for experimentation?
  • Who maintains provider credentials, local runtimes, and editor compatibility?
  • What is the review process for agent-generated edits?
  • Can the team accept a read-only upstream project, or is active maintenance a requirement?

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I bring my own API key to either assistant?

Yes. Both are documented around selecting a provider and configuring its credentials. The key’s permissions, billing, retention, and model access remain governed by that provider.

Does a local model make either tool completely offline?

Not automatically. You must select and verify a local runtime, ensure the client is not using a hosted fallback, and account for any integrations that still require network access.

Is Continue unusable because its repository is read-only?

No. Existing installations, the final 2.0.0 releases, and documented workflows can continue to work. The read-only status means new adopters must weigh compatibility, security fixes, and future integration risk.

Which assistant is better for autocomplete?

Continue has an explicitly documented autocomplete mode. OpenCode’s cited material emphasizes an agent workflow and does not establish an equivalent autocomplete feature.

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Is OpenCode’s “75+ providers” an independent test result?

No. It is a capability figure stated in OpenCode’s current documentation, not an independent benchmark.

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