What is Codewhale?
Codewhale is an open-source coding agent written in Rust for developers working in a terminal. Codewhale accepts a task, reads the repository, changes files, and runs commands until the task is complete or further input is needed. The project supports hosted model providers and models running on the developer's own machine.
Codewhale provides several ways to access the same underlying engine, including an interactive terminal application, headless execution, a local web interface, and a Runtime API. DeepSeek is the default provider, but developers can select another provider or use a local runtime without an API key.
What Codewhale can do
Codewhale combines repository tools with model selection, execution controls, and records of agent activity. Codewhale can handle individual coding requests or longer objectives that continue across turns. Extension support includes MCP servers, skills, plugins, and hooks, while sub-agents and fleets provide additional ways to divide work.
- Codewhale reads repositories, edits files, and runs shell commands.
- Codewhale supports OpenAI-compatible endpoints and local models through Ollama, vLLM, or SGLang.
- Codewhale records changed files, commands, web calls, MCP calls, and approvals in receipts.
- Codewhale can undo the last request and its file changes.
- Codewhale reviews GitHub pull requests and posts results only when explicitly requested.
- Codewhale connects to editors through the Agent Client Protocol.
How Codewhale works
Codewhale starts from the root of a Git repository after the developer commits or stashes existing work. The /provider command opens provider selection, API key entry, and model selection. When no provider is configured and Ollama is already serving a chat model, Codewhale can use that local model automatically.
Codewhale separates planning from execution through Plan, Work, and Operate modes. A fresh installation uses Work mode with Ask permission: repository file edits proceed without confirmation, while shell commands that are not read-only require approval. Headless tasks use codewhale exec, and adding --auto enables tools with Full Access by default.
Who Codewhale is for
Codewhale serves developers who want an agent inside repository and terminal workflows, including developers using scripts, CI, or editor integrations. Codewhale also supports users who prefer local models or need to switch providers between turns. Repository instructions, persistent objectives, and checked-in workflows support ongoing development tasks.
- Codewhale can fix failing tests and explain the resulting changes.
- Codewhale can inspect and plan repository changes without editing files.
- Codewhale can run individual tasks in scripts and CI.
- Codewhale can coordinate longer objectives through sub-agents and repository workflows.
Codewhale pricing and installation
Codewhale is free and MIT licensed, and no account is required. Developers supplying an API key pay the model provider directly; local models need no key. Codewhale displays session costs when pricing is known and marks unknown prices as unknown rather than treating them as free.
Codewhale offers an installation script for macOS and Linux, along with Windows installation options, npm, Cargo, and manual downloads. Prebuilt binaries cover Linux, macOS, and Windows. The documentation recommends keeping a single installation method per machine so competing copies do not appear on the shell's search path.
Codewhale strengths and limitations
Codewhale combines provider choice with action receipts, undo controls, and configurable execution permissions. Codewhale keeps provider keys on the user's machine and supports OS sandboxing in Ask and Auto-Review where available. These controls depend on the operating system and permission mode, so execution settings affect the restrictions applied to agent actions.
- Codewhale has no OS sandbox on Windows.
- Codewhale disables its sandbox in Full Access mode.
- Codewhale requires bubblewrap to be installed for Linux OS sandboxing.
- Codewhale's experimental Computer Use plugin is limited to macOS.
- Codewhale's native desktop application has no public download yet.
Codewhale FAQ
What is Codewhale?
Codewhale is an open-source coding agent written in Rust for the terminal. Codewhale reads repositories, edits files, and runs commands to complete developer tasks, with support for hosted model providers, OpenAI-compatible endpoints, and locally running models.
Is Codewhale free?
Codewhale is free and MIT licensed, with no account required. Developers using their own API keys pay their model provider directly. Local models require no API key, and Codewhale shows unknown session prices as unknown rather than free.
Can Codewhale use local models?
Codewhale supports local models through Ollama, vLLM, and SGLang. When no provider is configured and Ollama is already serving a chat model, Codewhale can use that model automatically. Local model use does not require an API key.
Does Codewhale ask before changing files or running commands?
Codewhale starts in Work mode with Ask permission, which applies repository file edits without asking and requests approval for shell commands that are not read-only. Plan mode makes no changes, while Full Access does not ask and disables Codewhale's sandbox.
Does Codewhale have an API or editor integrations?
Codewhale provides a local HTTP Runtime API for threads, events, approvals, and file changes. Codewhale also supports the Agent Client Protocol for editors such as Zed, a community-maintained VS Code extension, and connections to MCP servers.
Can Codewhale undo changes and show what happened?
Codewhale provides /undo to reverse the last request and its file changes. Codewhale's /receipts command lists changed files, commands, web and MCP calls, agents, approvals, and failures. Workspace restoration to an earlier snapshot requires trust mode or Full Access.
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