OpenCode hands-on

OpenCode is the hands-on AI coding agent for this workshop. It can run in the terminal, inspect a project, suggest changes, and help you build.

What OpenCode is

OpenCode is an open source AI coding agent. The official docs describe it as available through a terminal interface, desktop app, or IDE extension.

In this workshop, we care about the terminal workflow because it teaches the most transferable skill: talking to an agent while watching the files and commands it touches.

Install OpenCode

Check the official docs before installing because commands can change: opencode.ai/docs↗.

The docs currently list multiple install paths, including install script, npm, package managers, Windows options, and binaries. Use the path that fits your machine and your instructor's guidance.

For npm-based installation, the official docs list:

npm install -g opencode-ai

Start OpenCode in a project

Move into your project folder first:

cd ai-workshop

Then start OpenCode:

opencode

First prompt

Start with a question, not a command:

Explain what files are in this project. Do not change anything yet.

This teaches the agent to inspect before acting.

Good beginner prompts

• "Make a plan before editing files."
• "Explain every command before running it."
• "Show me the diff and wait for my approval."
• "If you need an API key, stop and tell me where it should be stored."

Safety checkpoint

OpenCode can be powerful. Treat it like a developer with terminal access. Let it help, but do not let it blindly decide.

Never paste secrets into prompts. Never ask an agent to store API keys in source files.

Official references

• OpenCode docs↗