Code Buddy

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<img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/🤖-Code_Buddy-blueviolet?style=for-the-badge&labelColor=1a1a2e" alt="Code Buddy"/>

# Code Buddy

### The open-source AI coding agent that runs **free, on your own machine**

<p align="center">
  <a href="https://www.npmjs.com/package/@phuetz/code-buddy"><img src="https://img.shields.io/npm/v/@phuetz/code-buddy.svg?style=flat-square&color=ff6b6b&label=version" alt="npm version"/></a>
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  <a href="https://nodejs.org"><img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/node-%3E%3D18.0.0-54a0ff?style=flat-square&logo=node.js" alt="Node Version"/></a>
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  <a href="https://github.com/phuetz/code-buddy/stargazers"><img src="https://img.shields.io/github/stars/phuetz/code-buddy?style=flat-square&logo=github&color=feca57&label=Star" alt="GitHub stars"/></a>
  <img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/Tests-27K%2B-00d26a?style=flat-square&logo=jest" alt="Tests"/>
  <img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/v1.2.0-GA-blueviolet?style=flat-square" alt="Version 1.2.0 GA"/>
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Watch a **local model reason on screen, then use real tools to do the work** — no cloud, no API bill, `~$0`. Or bring any of **15 providers** (Claude, GPT, Grok, Gemini, …) with automatic failover. From your terminal, a desktop app, your phone, or a 24/7 service. No lock-in.

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  <a href="docs/qa/code-buddy-studio/cowork-demo-moneyshot.mp4"><img src="docs/qa/code-buddy-studio/cowork-demo-moneyshot.gif" alt="A local model reasons, then creates a file — for ~$0.0001" width="760"/></a>
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  <sub>A <b>local</b> model reasons, then uses a tool to create a real file — <code>~$0.0001</code>, no cloud. <a href="cowork/readme.md#demo">More demos →</a></sub>
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- 🆓 **Free & local-first** — runs entirely on local **Ollama (`$0`)**, any of **15 providers** with auto-failover, or a flat-fee **ChatGPT Plus/Pro** login (no API metering).
- 🧠 **Reasoning you can watch** — local models think step-by-step on screen, then call tools to act. See the [live captures](cowork/readme.md#demo).
- 🛠️ **~110 tools** — edit, shell, web search, browser, PDFs/Office, a skills marketplace, and MCP connectors to extend it.
- 🖥️ **Runs everywhere** — terminal TUI, the **Cowork** desktop app, an HTTP/WebSocket server, your phone, or a 24/7 background service — one core engine.
- 🤝 **Multi-AI Fleet** — peers observe each other live and call each other's models & read-only tools (`peer.chat` / `peer.tool.invoke`) across your network.
- 👁️ **Personal companion** *(optional)* — bidirectional voice, opt-in camera/presence, persistent memory, and 20+ messaging channels.

> **Don't take our word for it — [see it work, reproduce it yourself ✅](docs/proof.md).** Every headline claim above, with the exact command and the real `$0` output (local model writes code + a passing test, goal mode, the desktop app, the autonomous fleet loop).

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[Live site ↗](https://phuetz.github.io/code-buddy/) ·
[Proof ✅](docs/proof.md) ·
[Quick Start](#quick-start) ·
[In action](#in-action) ·
[Features](#features) ·
[FAQ](docs/faq.md) ·
[Docs](#documentation) ·
[Contributing](#contributing)

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## What is Code Buddy?

An open-source, multi-provider AI coding agent with a terminal UI, an HTTP/WebSocket server, and the **Cowork** desktop app — all on one core engine. It reads files, writes code, runs commands, opens PRs, and plans complex tasks across **15 LLM providers** with automatic failover and per-provider circuit breakers. With `buddy login`, a ChatGPT Plus / Pro subscription becomes the flat-fee brain of the whole system — no API keys, no per-token metering. An optional companion layer adds voice, durable memory, opt-in camera perception, and 24/7 background operation.

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## In action

**It writes the code *and* the test, then runs it — `$0`.** Hand Code Buddy a task in the terminal; here Grok (a flat-fee subscription, no API key) writes FizzBuzz + a test and runs it green — then a human re-runs the test to confirm. Unedited:

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  <img src="docs/assets/coding-demo.gif" alt="Code Buddy writes fizzbuzz.mjs and a test on Grok, runs it, and the test passes — $0, no API key" width="760"/>
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**Free local AI, with the reasoning on screen.** A local Ollama model (`qwen3.6:35b-a3b`) thinks through a task, then *uses tools* to do it — no cloud, ~`$0.0001`. Unedited captures from the Cowork desktop app:

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      <a href="docs/qa/code-buddy-studio/cowork-demo-chat.mp4"><img src="docs/qa/code-buddy-stud

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