Codebuff

Overview

Codebuff is an AI-powered coding assistant designed to work seamlessly in your terminal. It analyzes your entire codebase in seconds, maps out dependencies and patterns, and provides context-aware code suggestions and edits. Unlike other AI coding tools, Codebuff makes precise changes while preserving your existing structure and style, helping developers save time and reduce errors. With support for multiple programming languages and workflows, it streamlines coding tasks from small fixes to large-scale refactoring, all without complex setup.

Key Features

Multi-Agent Architecture: Uses specialized agents (File Picker, Planner, Editor, Reviewer) working together to handle complex, multi-file changes with 61% accuracy on coding benchmarks.
Full Codebase Understanding: Builds a living map of your project's structure, dependencies, and patterns so every edit respects your existing architecture and coding style.
Model Flexibility via OpenRouter: Choose from Claude, GPT, DeepSeek, Qwen, and other models. Mix and match based on task complexity and budget with no vendor lock-in.
Knowledge Files: Stores insights from each session in human-readable markdown files that evolve with your project, giving the AI persistent memory across conversations.
TypeScript SDK: Embed Codebuff's capabilities into your own apps, CI/CD pipelines, or custom workflows using the open-source @codebuff/sdk package.
Terminal Commands & Testing: Runs shell commands, installs packages, executes tests, and fixes failing specs directly from your terminal.
No IDE Lock-In: Works with VSCode, Cursor, Vim, Emacs, or any editor. It's just an npm package you install globally.
Custom Agent Creation: Build your own specialized agents using TypeScript generators for validation, code standards, or any team-specific workflow.

Pros

Strong Multi-File Editing: The multi-agent system handles changes that touch multiple components, endpoints, and tests better than single-model tools.
Works Anywhere: Installed via npm with no IDE dependency, so it fits into any existing development workflow and tech stack.
Transparent, Pay-As-You-Go Pricing: 500 free credits monthly, then just 1¢ per credit with no mandatory subscription. You see credit costs before each task runs.
Open-Source and Extensible: Full source code available on GitHub, plus a TypeScript SDK for building custom agents and integrations.
Persistent Project Memory: Knowledge files give the AI context that carries over between sessions, reducing repetitive explanations about your codebase.
Model Choice Freedom: OpenRouter integration lets you pick the best or cheapest model for each task instead of being locked to one provider.

Cons

Terminal-Only Interface: No GUI or visual editor. Developers who prefer point-and-click IDEs may find the CLI-only approach uncomfortable.
Learning Curve for Natural Language Coding: Getting the best results requires learning how to phrase prompts effectively, which takes practice.
Knowledge File Management: For large projects, the markdown knowledge files require manual organization to stay useful.

Use Cases

Multi-File Feature Development: You're building a feature that touches API routes, database models, frontend components, and tests. Codebuff's agents coordinate changes across all these files while keeping dependencies and imports consistent, saving hours of manual cross-referencing.
Large Codebase Refactoring: You need to rename a pattern, restructure modules, or migrate to a new architecture across hundreds of files. Codebuff maps your repo and applies style-safe edits that respect contributor conventions, completing in minutes what would take hours manually.
Rapid Prototyping: You want to test an idea quickly without leaving the terminal. Describe what you need in plain English and Codebuff scaffolds the feature, installs dependencies, and wires everything together so you can validate fast.
Automated Test Creation: Your project lacks test coverage. Codebuff can generate tests, run them, identify failures, and iterate on fixes until the specs pass, all through conversational instructions.
CI/CD and Tooling Integration: Using the TypeScript SDK, you can embed Codebuff into your build pipeline to automate code reviews, enforce patterns, or generate boilerplate during deployment workflows.
Learning New Tech Stacks: You need to work in an unfamiliar language or framework. Codebuff understands the target stack's conventions and generates idiomatic code, letting you ship working code while you learn.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Codebuff?

Codebuff is an open-source, terminal-based AI coding agent. It uses a multi-agent architecture to understand your entire codebase and make precise, context-aware edits through natural language instructions.

Is Codebuff free to use?

Yes. Codebuff uses a pay‑as‑you‑go pricing model with a free usage tier built in. Every new account receives 500 free credits each month that reset monthly and can be used at no cost. After you use those free credits, you pay 1¢ per credit based on the complexity of the task you run, and Codebuff shows you the cost before you execute it. Additionally, you can earn 250 extra free credits per month for each user you refer to the platform.

Which AI models does Codebuff support?

Codebuff works with any model available through OpenRouter, including Claude, GPT, DeepSeek, Qwen, and others. You can switch models per task based on your needs and budget.

Does Codebuff work with my IDE?

Yes. Since Codebuff runs in the terminal, it works alongside any editor or IDE including VSCode, Cursor, Vim, Emacs, and others. There's no IDE plugin required or lock-in.