What is this?
Codewhale is an open-source coding agent that runs in your terminal: it reads your project, edits files, runs shell commands, and checks its own work, using whichever hosted or local model you pick.
Codewhale is an open-source coding agent that runs in your terminal: it reads your project, edits files, runs shell commands, and checks its own work, using whichever hosted or local model you pick.Is this just a terminal tool, or does it have a GUI too?It is primarily a terminal TUI launched with codewhale, plus codewhale web for a bundled local web client; desktop and web apps are still in development, and a community-maintained VS Code extension connects to the same Runtime.
It is primarily a terminal TUI launched with codewhale, plus codewhale web for a bundled local web client; desktop and web apps are still in development, and a community-maintained VS Code extension connects to the same Runtime.How do I install and start using it?Install the official GitHub release on macOS/Linux or the matching installer on Windows, or grab it via npm, Cargo, Docker, Nix, Scoop, or Android/Termux. Then open a terminal in your project folder and run codewhale.
Install the official GitHub release on macOS/Linux or the matching installer on Windows, or grab it via npm, Cargo, Docker, Nix, Scoop, or Android/Termux. Then open a terminal in your project folder and run codewhale.Do I need to bring my own model or API key?Yes, on first run you connect a hosted provider or set up a local model; model replies won't work until one is connected. Local models can run through Ollama, vLLM, or SGLang.
Yes, on first run you connect a hosted provider or set up a local model; model replies won't work until one is connected. Local models can run through Ollama, vLLM, or SGLang.Is every changelog entry something I can actually download right now?No, the changelog can describe the next release's unreleased candidate, and those changes aren't in any published build until that release actually ships.
No, the changelog can describe the next release's unreleased candidate, and those changes aren't in any published build until that release actually ships.How much control do I have over what the agent is allowed to do?Approval modes (Ask, Auto-Review, Full Access) and repository rules gate what the agent can do, and even Full Access respects hard policy boundaries; optional OS sandboxing adds a stronger execution boundary where supported.
Approval modes (Ask, Auto-Review, Full Access) and repository rules gate what the agent can do, and even Full Access respects hard policy boundaries; optional OS sandboxing adds a stronger execution boundary where supported.Can I split a big task across multiple agents?Yes, Codewhale supports agent teams: you can hand parts of a larger job to agents running different models and roles, and coordinate them without their internal instructions leaking into your transcript.
Yes, Codewhale supports agent teams: you can hand parts of a larger job to agents running different models and roles, and coordinate them without their internal instructions leaking into your transcript.Why did this project exist alongside tools like Claude Code or Codex?Codewhale began as deepseek-tui, still keeps that project's configuration and session compatibility, but is now provider-neutral, independently maintained, and not affiliated with any model provider.
Codewhale began as deepseek-tui, still keeps that project's configuration and session compatibility, but is now provider-neutral, independently maintained, and not affiliated with any model provider.Can I plug in my own MCP servers and skills?Yes, you can connect MCP servers and skills, configure hooks, and keep agent roles as readable files in your project or personal settings.
Yes, you can connect MCP servers and skills, configure hooks, and keep agent roles as readable files in your project or personal settings.What if the agent makes a change I don't want?The /undo and /restore commands let you roll back workspace changes the agent made.
The /undo and /restore commands let you roll back workspace changes the agent made.What are similar projects?claude-code, ordewell, oh-my-openagent, qwen-code, jcode, PI-Desktop, Kun, hermes-workspace
claude-code, ordewell, oh-my-openagent, qwen-code, jcode, PI-Desktop, Kun, hermes-workspaceWhich topics is it in?multi-model, vscode, vllm, tui, agent-orchestration, ollama, multi-agent, local-first, coding-agent, ai-agent, rust, android
multi-model, vscode, vllm, tui, agent-orchestration, ollama, multi-agent, local-first, coding-agent, ai-agent, rust, android