Haven't installed OpenClaw yet? Click here for one-line install commands
curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bashiwr -useb https://openclaw.ai/install.ps1 | iexcurl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.cmd -o install.cmd && install.cmd && del install.cmd- OpenClaw and OpenCode are complementary AI development tools: OpenCode focuses on real-time interactive development within the terminal, while OpenClaw extends to a remotely triggered, autonomously executing agent mode[1]
- Through the
opencode-controllerSkill, OpenClaw can directly invoke OpenCode's development capabilities, letting you trigger a complete code development workflow by sending a single message from Telegram[1] - The greatest value of this combination lies in "asynchronous development" — you issue a task on your phone, the agent autonomously completes it on your computer, and reports results afterward[5]
- Both can also be used independently: OpenCode is ideal for interactive development at your desk, while OpenClaw's coding-agent Skill provides standalone development capabilities without relying on OpenCode[2]
1. What Is OpenCode?
OpenCode is an AI code assistant that runs in the terminal, similar in functionality to Claude Code or Cursor's terminal mode. It lets you converse directly with AI in the command line, describe development requirements, and the AI reads your code in real time, generates modification suggestions, and executes them.[4]
OpenCode's design philosophy is "the developer sits at the terminal and collaborates with AI in real time." This differs from OpenClaw's philosophy — OpenClaw emphasizes "the developer is away from the computer, and AI works autonomously."
2. How Do They Complement Each Other?
| Dimension | OpenCode | OpenClaw |
|---|---|---|
| Use case | Interactive development at the desk | Remote/automated development |
| Interaction mode | Real-time terminal conversation | Asynchronous messaging commands |
| Feedback speed | Real-time (code as you go) | Asynchronous (report after completion) |
| Ideal tasks | Exploratory development, debugging, refactoring | Batch tasks, scheduled tasks, remote deployment |
| Autonomy level | Medium (requires human confirmation) | High (fully autonomous) |
| Requires presence | Yes | No |
When both are used together, you get a round-the-clock development workflow: during the day, sit at your computer and use OpenCode for fine-grained interactive development; at night or while out, issue development tasks through OpenClaw on your phone.[5]
3. Integration Methods
3.1 Method 1: opencode-controller Skill
opencode-controller is an OpenClaw Skill that enables the OpenClaw agent to launch and control OpenCode development sessions:[1]
npx clawhub install opencode-controllerOnce installed, you can issue development commands through any OpenClaw channel (Telegram, CLI, etc.):
"Use OpenCode to open ~/projects/my-app,
fix the button failure issue on the login page in Safari"OpenClaw will launch OpenCode, load the specified project, execute the development task, and return the results.
3.2 Method 2: coding-agent Skill (Standalone Option)
If you don't need OpenCode's specific features, OpenClaw's coding-agent Skill provides standalone development capabilities without depending on OpenCode:[2]
npx clawhub install coding-agentcoding-agent directly uses OpenClaw's own toolchain (Shell execution, file operations, etc.) to complete development tasks, with no need to install OpenCode.
3.3 How to Choose?
- Choose opencode-controller: If you're already using OpenCode and familiar with its workflow, and want to continue the same development experience within OpenClaw
- Choose coding-agent: If you're new to OpenClaw and want the simplest code development integration
- Install both: Use different tools for different scenarios — opencode-controller for complex development tasks, coding-agent for simple modifications
4. Real-World Workflow Examples
4.1 Remote Bug Fix
You receive a user-reported bug while you're out. Open Telegram:
"In the ~/projects/my-app project,
a user reports that the /api/users endpoint returns a 504 error when querying more than 1,000 records.
Find the bottleneck, fix it, run the tests, and if they pass, commit to Git"The agent will autonomously complete the entire process while you carry on with other things. You'll receive a notification on Telegram when it's done.
4.2 Automated Code Review
Combined with OpenClaw's Cron functionality, set up automated code reviews:
"Every morning at 8 AM, check the Git repository for new commits from the past 24 hours,
analyze code quality, flag potential security risks and performance issues,
and send the report to Telegram"4.3 New Feature Development
"In ~/projects/my-app, create a new /api/reports endpoint:
- GET /api/reports — get the list of all reports
- POST /api/reports — create a new report
- Use Express.js + Zod validation
- Write comprehensive Jest tests
- Ensure all tests pass"5. Best Practices
- Version control as a safety net: All agent modifications should be under Git version control. Even if the agent produces incorrect code, you can always roll back[4]
- Branch strategy: Have the agent work on a separate branch, then merge into the main branch after Code Review
- Provide context: In your instructions, describe the project's tech stack, coding style, and testing framework to help the agent produce code that better matches expectations
- Review all output: AI-generated code may be functionally correct but contain security vulnerabilities or performance issues. Always treat the agent's output as a Pull Request requiring review
- Isolate sensitive information: Ensure
.envfiles and secrets are not within the agent's accessible scope[7]
6. Known Limitations
- Context length: AI models have context window limitations. Very large projects (hundreds of thousands of lines of code) may exceed the model's processing capacity
- Framework familiarity: Models provide the best support for mainstream frameworks (React, Express, Django, etc.); niche or custom frameworks may perform poorly
- Asynchronous delay: When developing remotely via OpenClaw, it may take several minutes from issuing a command to receiving results, making it unsuitable for scenarios requiring real-time interaction
- Test coverage: Agent-generated tests may have insufficient coverage or be overly simplified, requiring manual addition of edge cases
Conclusion
The OpenClaw + OpenCode combination is not about replacing developers — it's about ensuring developers have the right AI tool available for every scenario.[6] When sitting at your computer, use OpenCode for precise control; when away from your computer, use OpenClaw for remote delegation.
For a deeper dive into coding scenarios, check out the Complete Coding Agent Guide. Interested in broader trends in AI-assisted development? We recommend reading Vibe Coding Workflows.
