If you’ve been using AI coding assistants in your IDE, you’re already part of the agentic engineering revolution. But what happens when you’re SSH’d into a remote server at 2am debugging production, or working in a terminal without your favorite extension? That’s where Kilo CLI comes in.
What is Kilo CLI?
Kilo CLI is a terminal-first AI coding tool that brings the same agentic experience you’d get in VS Code or JetBrains directly to your command line. Built on the open-source OpenCode foundation, it supports 500+ AI models and integrates seamlessly with Kilo’s IDE extensions—your sessions sync everywhere.
Installation
Getting started takes seconds:
npm install -g @kilocode/cliOr run directly without installing:
npx --package @kilocode/cli kiloVerify it worked:
kilo --versionYour First Session
Navigate to any project directory and run:
kiloKilo auto-detects your repository and launches an interactive Terminal User Interface (TUI). Use /connect to add your first AI provider credentials, then start coding.
Core Commands
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
kilo | Launch interactive TUI |
kilo run "..." | Run a one-off task |
kilo auth | Manage AI provider credentials |
kilo models | List available models |
kilo mcp | Manage MCP servers |
kilo session list | List your sessions |
kilo upgrade | Update to latest version |
Operational Modes
Kilo isn’t a one-trick pony. It offers specialized modes for different workflows:
- Code Mode — High-speed generation and multi-file refactoring
- Architect Mode — High-level planning and technical strategy
- Debug Mode — Systematic problem diagnosis and resolution
Switch modes interactively or specify them in your prompt.
One-Off Tasks
Don’t need an interactive session? Run autonomous tasks from the command line:
kilo run "add input validation to the signup form"For CI/CD or automation, use the --auto flag for fully autonomous operation:
kilo run --auto "run tests and fix any failures"Model Flexibility
With 500+ models from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and more, you’re never locked into a single provider. Choose the best cost-to-performance ratio for each task—use a lightweight model for quick edits, a reasoning model for complex debugging.
kilo models # Browse and switch modelsSession Persistence
Kilo solves “AI amnesia” with persistent sessions. Start something in the CLI, check it in VS Code when you’re back at your desk, share it via Slack with a teammate. Your context moves with you.
Interactive Slash Commands
Within the TUI, slash commands give you keyboard-first navigation:
/sessions— Resume a previous session/models— Switch models mid-session/connect— Add new provider credentials/checkpoint list— View restore points/checkpoint restore <id>— Roll back to a previous state/tasks— View and search task history/themes— Switch the UI theme/help— Show available commands
Why Kilo CLI?
The tool fits into workflows where IDE extensions can’t reach: remote servers, minimal environments, automated pipelines. Combined with Kilo’s IDE extensions, you get a unified experience across your entire development lifecycle.
Install it, run kilo, and start coding. Your terminal just got an upgrade.