opencode vs Archon
Two of the top coding agents and assistants, side by side: score, setup, license, activity and what each review found.
opencode
Terminal coding agent with build and plan modes
Archon
YAML workflow engine that runs coding agents in isolated worktrees
| What we compare | opencode | Archon |
|---|---|---|
| Score parts, out of 100 | ||
| Adoption | 99, widely used | 38, known |
| Freshness | 100, active | 100, active |
| Maintenance | 88, healthy | 93, healthy |
| Easy to run | 50, easy | 67, easy |
| Agent-ready | 30, minimal | 85, ready |
| Facts from GitHub and the README | ||
| Stars | 212.7k | 23.7k |
| License | MIT (permissive) | MIT (permissive) |
| Last commit | Oct 2026 | Oct 2026 |
| Last release | Oct 2026 | Sep 2026 |
| Language | Not stated | Not stated |
| Docker | No | Yes |
| GPU | Not needed | Not needed |
| arm64 or Apple Silicon | Mentioned | Mentioned |
opencode
Runs an AI coding agent in the terminal with two built-in agents: build (full access) and plan (read-only, asks before running bash), plus a general subagent for multi-step searches. Installs via a curl script, npm, Homebrew, Scoop, Chocolatey, pacman, mise or Nix, and ships a beta desktop app for macOS, Windows and Linux. For developers who want an open, configurable coding agent.
Who it is for: Developers wanting an open terminal coding agent
Strengths
- MIT license; installable from npm, Homebrew, Scoop, Chocolatey, pacman, mise and Nix
- Plan agent denies file edits and asks before bash, for safe codebase exploration
- Desktop app (beta) for macOS, Windows and Linux alongside the terminal UI
Weaknesses
- README covers install only; providers, config and server mode are in external docs
- No Dockerfile or compose file in the repo
- Desktop app is still beta
- no GPU
Archon
Defines development processes (plan, implement, validate, review, PR) as YAML workflows and runs them through Claude Code, Codex or Pi, each run in its own git worktree. Deterministic nodes mix with AI nodes and human approval gates; runs start from the CLI, a web console, Slack, Telegram, Discord or GitHub webhooks, with state in SQLite or PostgreSQL. For teams standardizing how agents ship code.
Who it is for: Teams standardizing how AI agents ship code
Strengths
- Every run isolated in a git worktree; parallel fixes without conflicts
- Bundled sdlc pack: ship, triage, investigate, plan, deliver, review, validate, upkeep
- Adapters for web, CLI, Slack, Telegram, Discord and GitHub webhooks
- Telemetry documented field by field; DO_NOT_TRACK=1 or CI=true disables it
Weaknesses
- Requires Claude Code (or Codex, Pi) installed separately; binaries need CLAUDE_BIN_PATH
- Anonymous telemetry is on by default
- x64 quick-install binaries require AVX2; older CPUs must build from source
- Workflows from v0.11.1 and earlier no longer ship and must be copied manually
- no GPU
- Docker + Compose
- Needs Bun, Claude Code (or Codex or Pi), GitHub CLI, SQLite or PostgreSQL
- Models: Claude Code, Codex, Pi