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Key parameters, commands, and hotkeys for all 10 tools on one page. Models and pricing move fast — check each tool's website for the current truth.
Snapshot date: 2026-04
| What you want | First pick | Alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Tab completion inside an IDE | Cursor | Copilot / Windsurf / Trae |
| Agent in the terminal for complex tasks | Claude Code | Codex CLI / Aider / Gemini CLI |
| Already subscribed to ChatGPT | Codex CLI | Cursor with GPT |
| Analyze a huge codebase in one pass | Gemini CLI (2M context) | Aider + map mode |
| Tight budget / zero cost | Trae (free) or Gemini CLI (free tier) | Aider + local models; or codex --oss --local-provider ollama |
| Direct network in China (no VPN) | Trae | OpenClaw + local model |
| Team collaboration, spec-driven | Kiro (Spec) | Claude Code plan mode |
| Git-native, multi-model | Aider | — |
| AI agent automation (beyond coding) | OpenClaw | — |
| Stick with VS Code, nothing new to install | Copilot | Cursor/Windsurf/Trae are VS Code forks |
| Dimension | Claude Code | Codex CLI | Cursor | Copilot | Windsurf | Gemini CLI | Kiro | Aider | Trae | OpenClaw |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | CLI | CLI | IDE | IDE plugin | IDE | CLI | IDE | CLI | IDE | Agent framework |
| Vendor | Anthropic | OpenAI | Cursor | GitHub | Codeium | AWS | OSS | ByteDance | OSS | |
| Tab completion | — | — | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | — | ★★ | — | ★★ | — |
| Agent execution | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★ | ★★ | ★★ | ★★ | ★★★ |
| Runs in terminal | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★ | — | ★ | ★★★ | — | ★★★ | — | ★★★ |
| Context window | 200K | per model | per model | per model | per model | 2M | per model | per model | per model | per model |
| MCP support | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Extension-based | — | — | — | Native |
| Hook automation | ✅ | ✅ (beta, reuses Claude schema) | — | — | — | — | ✅ | ✅ (lint/test) | — | ✅ (Cron) |
| Subagent | ✅ | ✅ (TOML) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ✅ (workspaces) |
| Sandbox | App-layer + hooks | OS-kernel (Seatbelt/Landlock) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Multi-model | ★ (Claude only) | ★ (OpenAI only) | ★★★ | ★★ | ★★★ | ★ (Gemini only) | ★★ | ★★★ (almost any LLM) | ★★ | ★★★ |
| Open source | — | ✅ Apache-2.0 | — | — | — | — | — | ✅ MIT | — | ✅ MIT |
| Direct access in China | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ✅ | ✅ (with local model) |
| Pricing model | API / Pro plan | ChatGPT plan / API | Free / $20 Pro | Free / $10 Pro | Free / paid plan | Generous free tier | Free preview | Whatever LLM you pick | Free (with quota) | OSS free |
Knowing where each tool keeps its config is half the onboarding battle.
| Tool | Main config | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claude Code | CLAUDE.md + .claude/ |
Project root | Keep under 200 lines; split to .claude/rules/ for big projects |
| Codex CLI | AGENTS.md + .codex/config.toml |
Project root | ~/.codex/AGENTS.md for global; nested AGENTS.md overrides parents |
| Cursor | .cursor/rules/*.md |
Project root | Supports globs for file-type loading |
| Copilot | .github/copilot-instructions.md |
Project root | Plus agents/ and chatModes/ in same dir |
| Windsurf | .windsurfrules |
Project root | Single file, no splitting |
| Gemini CLI | GEMINI.md |
Project root | Structure similar to CLAUDE.md |
| Kiro | .kiro/steering/*.md |
Project root | Three modes: always / globs / manual |
| Aider | .aider.conf.yml |
Project root | YAML with model/lint/test settings |
| Trae | .trae/rules/project_rules.md |
Project root | Chinese rules supported |
| OpenClaw | ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json |
User home | JSON5, hot-reloaded |
# Install & run
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code
claude # Enter interactive
claude --resume # Resume last session
claude --model haiku # Cheap model for simple tasks
claude -p "task" --output-format json # Headless
# Inside the session
/compact # Compress context
/plan # Enter plan mode
Esc # Interrupt current generation# Install & run
npm install -g @openai/codex
codex # Enter TUI (first-run guides ChatGPT login)
codex --sandbox workspace-write # Default combo (`--full-auto` removed in v0.125.0; use this)
codex --sandbox read-only # Read-only exploration
codex --add-dir ../sibling-repo # Add writable dirs without opening the whole sandbox
codex --yolo # Skip sandbox AND approvals (only when externally sandboxed)
codex exec --json "..." | jq -c . # JSONL output for downstream scripts
codex --oss --local-provider ollama -m qwen2.5-coder # Free, fully local
codex mcp-server # Expose Codex as MCP server for other agents
codex resume # Resume last session
# Inside the TUI
/init # Scaffold AGENTS.md
/plan Shift+Tab # Plan mode
/model # Switch model
/review # Review diff / branch / commit
/compact # Compress conversation
/agent # Switch between subagent threads
/diff # Git diff (including untracked)
/debug-config # Diagnose config.toml not taking effectTab — Accept completion
Cmd+L — Open Chat (selection auto-attached)
Cmd+I — Open Composer (agent mode)
Cmd+K — Inline edit
Cmd+Shift+L — Add current file to Chat context
Esc — Reject completion
@file @folder @web @terminal — References
@notepad:name — Reference a Notepad
Tab — Accept completion
Esc — Reject completion
Cmd+Shift+I — Open Chat
Cmd+I — Inline edit
Alt+] / Alt+[ — Cycle completion suggestions
#file #selection #terminal #problems — References
@workspace — Whole-project context
Write mode — Direct code changes (like Composer)
Chat mode — Q&A
@file @folder @web — References
Cascade tracks your edit flow automatically — no need to paste context
npm install -g @google/gemini-cli
gemini # Enter interactive
# Use the 2M context for big-codebase analysis (overkill for small tasks)1. Describe need → 2. Kiro writes Spec → 3. You review → 4. Auto-implement + test
Steering load modes:
- always Loaded every conversation
- globs: ["*.java"] Loaded for matching files
- manual Invoked on demand
# Install & run
pip install aider-chat
aider --model claude-sonnet-4-5
aider --model deepseek/deepseek-chat # Cheap
aider --model ollama/qwen2.5-coder # Free, local
# Inside the session
/add file1 file2 — Add files to context
/drop file — Remove file
/code — Code mode (edit directly)
/ask — Ask mode (no edits)
/architect — Design first, then implementBuilder mode — Agent, multi-file edits
Chat mode — Q&A
@file @folder @web — References
Free models: Claude / GPT, pick per task complexity
openclaw onboard # Initial setup
openclaw gateway start # Start the gateway
openclaw doctor # Diagnostics
openclaw skills install <slug> # Install a Skill
openclaw cron add "0 9 * * *" "..." # Scheduled task
openclaw models set default <model> # Switch model
openclaw channels add telegram # Add messaging channel┌─ Mostly working in a terminal?
│ ├─ Strongest Agent / big refactors → Claude Code
│ ├─ Already on ChatGPT / kernel-level sandbox → Codex CLI
│ ├─ Huge context / free → Gemini CLI
│ └─ Multi-model / Git-native → Aider
│
├─ Mostly in an IDE?
│ ├─ Don't want a new IDE → GitHub Copilot (VS Code/JetBrains plugin)
│ ├─ Willing to switch, budget ok → Cursor
│ ├─ Want the AI to be proactive → Windsurf
│ ├─ Chinese UI / local network / free → Trae
│ └─ Team / spec-driven → Kiro
│
└─ Non-coding AI automation?
└─ Multi-platform, cron, skills → OpenClaw
| Combo | When |
|---|---|
| Claude Code + Cursor | Most popular full-stack combo: CLI for heavy lifting, IDE for daily work |
| Codex CLI + Cursor | For ChatGPT subscribers: CLI as Agent, IDE for completions |
| Codex CLI + Claude Code | Two CLIs, complementary: Codex for CI/scripts, Claude Code for big refactors |
| Claude Code + Copilot | Lightweight for pure VS Code users |
| Gemini CLI + Cursor | Budget-conscious: 2M free analysis + $20 IDE |
| Aider + local LLM | Zero API cost: ollama/qwen2.5-coder + Aider |
| Codex CLI --oss + Ollama | Zero API cost but you want Codex's agent experience: kernel-level sandbox + local model |
| Claude Code + OpenClaw | Coding + automation: CC codes, OpenClaw runs scheduled tasks |
See Tool Selection Guide and Real-World Scenarios for details.
- Per-tool deep dives: each tool's README at the project root
- Prompt techniques: common/prompting.en.md
- Methodology overview: see the Universal Methodologies section in the main README