Amazon Q Developer
Generative AI coding assistant for building, operating, and transforming software
Plandex
Terminal AI agent that plans, codes, and debugs large projects
Plandex is a terminal‑based AI development tool that plans, implements, and debugs extensive coding tasks, handling up to 2 M tokens and integrating with multiple model providers for flexible, controlled automation.
Overview
Overview
Plandex targets developers who need AI assistance on sizable, multi‑file projects. Running entirely in the terminal, it lets you start a REPL inside any codebase, load only the files required for a step, and interact via a project‑aware chat.
Capabilities
The engine maintains an effective 2 M token context window, loading snippets on demand and caching results across OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google models. A cumulative diff sandbox isolates AI‑generated edits until you approve them, while built‑in debugging automatically runs builds, linters, tests, and even browser scripts. You can choose full autonomy—letting Plandex plan, code, and debug end‑to‑end—or step‑by‑step control, reviewing each change before it touches the repository. Model packs let you blend providers for cost, speed, or capability, and tree‑sitter project maps give fast syntax validation for over 30 languages.
Deployment
Installation is a single curl … | bash command, with no external dependencies. For Windows users, run under WSL. Self‑hosting is supported via a lightweight Docker container, and the CLI can be scripted or piped into other tools. Git integration automatically generates commit messages and can push branches, making AI‑driven development fit cleanly into existing workflows.
Highlights
2 M token effective context window with selective loading
Cumulative diff sandbox for safe, reviewable changes
Configurable autonomy from full auto to step‑by‑step control
Multi‑model support with Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, and open‑source providers
Pros
- Handles very large codebases without performance degradation
- Fine‑grained control over AI actions and review process
- Built‑in debugging and syntax validation across 30+ languages
- Zero‑dependency one‑line CLI install
Considerations
- Requires terminal proficiency; no graphical UI
- Full autonomy may need careful configuration to avoid unwanted changes
- Windows support limited to WSL environments
- Self‑hosting setup can be complex for beginners
Managed products teams compare with
When teams consider Plandex, these hosted platforms usually appear on the same shortlist.
Looking for a hosted option? These are the services engineering teams benchmark against before choosing open source.
Fit guide
Great for
- Developers needing AI assistance on multi‑file, large‑scale projects
- Teams that want version‑controlled AI‑generated code
- Projects that benefit from automated debugging and testing
- Environments where command‑line workflow is primary
Not ideal when
- Users seeking a graphical IDE integration
- Small scripts where AI overhead outweighs benefit
- Non‑technical stakeholders without terminal experience
- Environments without Docker or WSL support
How teams use it
Full‑stack feature rollout
AI plans, implements, and tests the feature across multiple services, delivering a merge‑ready branch with passing CI.
Legacy code refactor
Plandex indexes a 20 M token codebase, updates APIs, and validates syntax, reducing manual effort and regression risk.
CI/CD pipeline automation
The agent generates build scripts, runs them, debugs failures, and commits a functional pipeline configuration.
Prototype scaffolding
Combining models, Plandex scaffolds front‑end and back‑end components, producing a runnable prototype ready for further development.
Tech snapshot
Go93%
Shell2%
TypeScript1%
PLpgSQL1%
Python1%
C1%
Frequently asked questions
Which operating systems does Plandex run on?
Native support for Linux and macOS; Windows users can run it inside WSL.
Do I need an account with a specific AI provider?
You provide API keys for the model providers you wish to use (OpenRouter, Anthropic, Google, etc.).
How does Plandex handle very large projects?
It uses a 2 M token effective context window, selective file loading, tree‑sitter project maps, and caching to keep performance stable.
Can I control how much autonomy the AI has?
Yes, you can set the autonomy level from full auto to manual step‑by‑step, reviewing each diff before applying.
Is there a cloud‑hosted version of Plandex?
The Plandex Cloud service is being wound down; the recommended approach is self‑hosting via Docker or running locally.
Project at a glance
Stable- Stars
- 14,899
- Watchers
- 14,899
- Forks
- 1,072
LicenseMIT
Repo age2 years old
Last commit4 months ago
Primary languageGo
Last synced 3 days ago