Maintain a consistent AI coding workflow across VS Code, JetBrains, and the terminal
The process of editing code, running commands in the terminal, and returning to the editor to check results remains uninterrupted. Kilo Code is an open-source tool that runs the same agent in VS Code, JetBrains, or the CLI to preserve work context. You can freely choose from over 500 models, switch models during a task, and pay the model provider's rates directly.
Development direction shift to the v2 branch
The current main branch no longer accepts new features. All new feature pull requests must target the v2 branch, while only bug fixes for existing releases are applied to main. This structure maintains the stability of the currently used version while developing next-generation features separately. If you plan to build or contribute to the latest features directly, you should work based on the v2 branch.
Switching agents based on task nature
Kilo Code does not handle all tasks with a single agent; instead, it provides specialized agents according to the nature of the work. Use the default Code agent for implementing or modifying code, and the Plan agent for designing architecture or creating implementation plans. Choose the Ask agent when you only want to ask questions about the codebase without touching files, and the Debug agent for tracking and resolving issues. These agents can be switched at any time as needed, and you can also create custom agents to fit specific workflows.
Model selection and cost structure
You can start without setting up API keys separately; simply creating an account provides immediate access. You can freely switch models during a task, allowing you to select conditions suitable for the work among latency, cost, and reasoning capability. Fees are applied exactly as set by the model provider, with no markup from Kilo Code.
Autonomous execution in CI/CD pipelines
Using the kilo run --auto command allows it to operate fully autonomously without user input. This mode is designed to handle repetitive tasks, such as running tests and automatically fixing failed parts in CI/CD pipelines. The --auto option automatically approves permission confirmation prompts, but excludes actions explicitly denied by rules. It is safer not to use this mode in untrusted environments.
Pre-use considerations
Distributed under the MIT license, it allows commercial use, modification, and redistribution, provided that source and license notices are maintained. Kilo CLI is an enhanced version forked from OpenCode to operate within the Kilo agentic engineering platform. Since new features are not added to the main branch, if you expect the latest features upon installation, you should check v2 branch-based builds or official release notes. When using autonomous mode (--auto), it must be run only in trusted environments, and it is recommended to set permission rules in advance.
