Kilo

Kilo is an AI coding agent that works inside VS Code, JetBrains, the command line, and a hosted cloud environment. It's built for developers who want full control over their AI setup: bring your own API keys at zero markup, use local models to keep code private, or route through Kilo's model gateway to access 500+ models.

The agent ships with five specialized modes, each suited to a different part of the development workflow:

• Code Mode writes, refactors, and ships production-ready code with full codebase context
• Architect Mode helps plan complex features and structure work before any code is written
• Debug Mode reads errors, traces issues, and suggests targeted fixes
• Ask Mode answers questions about your codebase without making changes
• Custom Mode lets you define your own agent behavior for specific workflows

Switching between modes doesn't mean switching tools. Everything runs in the same agent, in the editor or terminal you're already using.

Kilo also includes KiloClaw, a managed version of the OpenHands open agent platform. It deploys in under 60 seconds with no Docker, SSH, or config files required. Once running, KiloClaw connects to Telegram, Discord, or Slack, handles scheduled tasks and cron jobs, and acts on your behalf autonomously. It's the part of Kilo designed for background work: running tasks while you're away, automating repetitive operations, or handling code review in the cloud.

For teams comparing options, Kilo positions itself against tools like Cline and Roo Code as a more fully integrated alternative with broader model support and cloud agent capabilities built in. The codebase is Apache-2.0 licensed and fully open source.