This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Pankaj Singh
You’re a developer then; juggling tight deadlines, complex codebases, and endless refactors is just another day at work.
I’ve been exploring AI-powered tools that don’t just talk tech but actually ship code. And after testing a bunch of agents across the OpenRouter Marketplace, I’ve narrowed it down to four top AI coding assistants in IDE and terminal as per OpenRouter, and they have genuinely improved my workflow: ForgeCode, Cline, Roo Code, and Kilo Code.
These agents aren’t just gimmicks, they work directly inside your terminal or IDE, understand your code context, and automate everything from debugging to architectural planning. Whether you’re solo-building or working in a large enterprise environment, these tools help you code smarter, faster, and with fewer interruptions.
1. ForgeCode – #1 Terminal-Based Coding Assistant!
ForgeCode is my go-to AI pair programmer inside the terminal. It works natively in your CLI (you can even keep using VS Code or any editor – ForgeCode “integrates seamlessly with your shell”) so you never have to leave your dev environment. As a dev, I appreciate that ForgeCode requires zero configuration headaches. You install it and it “shows you the exact same logs and output” as if you ran the tools yourself.
In practice, I use ForgeCode to analyse and modify my codebase on the fly. For example, I can ask, “Explain how the authentication flow works in this project,” and ForgeCode will parse the relevant files and give a detailed breakdown.
It even assists with debugging errors, refactoring legacy code, writing database schemas, and handling Git operations. Also recently, ForgeCode enabled the 1T-parameter powerhouse – K2 Kimi by MoonshotAI.
Get started with ForgeCode: Install it via npx forgecode@latest or [sign up on the official site]. It’s free!!!
2. Cline – Autonomous VS Code Coding Agent
Cline is an autonomous coding assistant built as a VS Code extension. It can create and edit files, run terminal commands, and even browse the web to gather information on your behalf. Cline is open-source and uses a Plan/Act architecture with support for Model Context Protocol (MCP) tools. In practice, I simply ask it to generate or explain code; for example, “Build a REST API endpoint,” and Cline will write the full code, or “Explain what this function does,” and it will analyse and summarise it. I found Cline to be very popular (over 1.9M installs) and it integrates easily with OpenRouter.
Try Cline: Open the VS Code Marketplace, search for “Cline”, and install the extension. Then connect your OpenRouter API key in Cline’s settings to start coding with free AI models.
3. Roo Code – Whole Dev Team of AI Agents in VS Code
Roo Code feels like having a whole dev team of AI agents in your editor. This open-source VS Code extension (formerly called “Roo Cline”) is designed to code, debug, and evolve software with minimal human input. Roo Code supports multi-turn coding sessions and context persistence, so it remembers the state of your project across multiple edits. It can read/write your project files, run terminal commands, and even automate a headless browser to gather documentation or run web-based tools.
One of the coolest things is its multi-mode design. Roo Code has specialised modes like Architect Mode (for planning), Code Mode (for writing code), and Debug Mode (for problem diagnosis). You can also create custom modes (e.g. a security auditor or a QA engineer persona). In my experience, Roo Code shines on large or complex workflows: it can break down a big task into subtasks and delegate them to these sub-agents, maintaining a coherent “memory” of each part. I saw it handle big refactors and multi-file updates more smoothly than simpler assistants.
Install Roo Code: In VS Code, press Ctrl+P and paste the Roo Code install command from its Marketplace page (or search the Marketplace for “Roo Code (prev. Roo Cline)”). After adding it, visit roocode.com or the extension docs to configure your AI providers (OpenRouter, etc.). Roo Code is free and open-source, so you can try it immediately.
4. Kilo Code – All-in-One VS Code AI Agent
Kilo Code is like the ultimate coding assistant, merging the best of Cline and Roo Code into one extension. It’s also open-source and VS Code–based. Kilo adds advanced workflow orchestration: for example, its Orchestrator Mode will break a complex project into delegated subtasks, and then use dedicated modes (Architect, Coder, Debugger) to tackle each piece. This means you can have Kilo plan out a solution, implement it, and even troubleshoot it, all in a coordinated way.
It also uses documentation lookups to avoid hallucinating fake APIs (hallucination-free code). Plus, it keeps its own “memory bank” of your code and preferences so you don’t have to re-explain the project. Kilo even gives $20 in free credits for Claude/Gemini models by default, a nice bonus for getting started. As the Kilo team says, it “combines all features of Cline, Roo, and [its] own additions” into one powerful extension.
Get Kilo Code: Install the Kilo Code extension from the VS Code Marketplace (search for “Kilo Code”) or visit kilocode.ai. It’s fully open-source with no extra fees (no commissions – you pay exactly the LLM cost). I recommend trying it with the free models on OpenRouter to see how it can handle your toughest coding tasks.
Conclusion
AI coding agents aren’t just a cool experiment anymore; they’re becoming a real part of how modern developers work. Tools like ForgeCode, Cline, Roo Code, and Kilo Code have genuinely helped me move faster, write better code, and stay focused without bouncing between tabs or tools.
Ready to try these AI agents in your own workflow?
I’ve shared the exact tools I use to write, debug, and scale code more efficiently. Whether you’re a terminal wizard or a VS Code pro, there’s something here to help you move faster with less friction.
If you’re still coding without an assistant, you’re probably spending more time than you need to. These tools meet you where you are in the terminal or editor and take care of the heavy lifting. Just like your assistant!
Let me know your thoughts on these agents in the comment section below!!!
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Pankaj Singh