https://github.com/kittlabsai/kittycode
A minimal, hackable AI coding agent with a composable tool loop and modular skills
https://github.com/kittlabsai/kittycode
agent claude-code codex coding-agent gemini-cli openclaw
Last synced: 12 days ago
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A minimal, hackable AI coding agent with a composable tool loop and modular skills
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/kittlabsai/kittycode
- Owner: KittLabsAI
- License: mit
- Created: 2026-04-05T08:21:35.000Z (about 1 month ago)
- Default Branch: main
- Last Pushed: 2026-04-30T02:59:22.000Z (14 days ago)
- Last Synced: 2026-05-01T17:32:43.824Z (12 days ago)
- Topics: agent, claude-code, codex, coding-agent, gemini-cli, openclaw
- Language: Python
- Homepage:
- Size: 472 KB
- Stars: 3
- Watchers: 2
- Forks: 1
- Open Issues: 0
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- License: LICENSE
Awesome Lists containing this project
README
# KittyCode - Hackable coding agent
KittyCode is a minimal terminal coding agent focused on a compact, readable implementation. It keeps the core runtime straightforward, with an agent loop, local tools, context compression, a small command-line interface, and support for both OpenAI-compatible and Anthropic APIs.
## Get Started
1. Install KittyCode:
```bash
pip install kittycode
```
2. Configure KittyCode with the guided setup:
```bash
kittycode --config
```
This is the recommended way to create or repair `~/.kittycode/config.json`.
3. Start the interactive terminal UI:
```bash
kittycode
```
## Background
KittyCode is inspired by [NanoCoder](https://github.com/he-yufeng/NanoCoder) and keeps the same general idea of a small terminal coding agent while simplifying the project around the core runtime.
KittyCode follows a simple terminal-agent runtime model:
- A user message is sent through the configured model interface.
- The model can either answer directly or call tools.
- Tool calls are executed locally and the results are fed back into the conversation.
- The loop continues until the model returns plain text.
The project is intentionally small. It includes the core agent runtime, a compact CLI, session persistence, context compression, and a default built-in tool set.
## Features
- Minimal agent loop with optional parallel execution for multiple tool calls.
- LLM adapter that supports both OpenAI-compatible and Anthropic interfaces.
- Core built-in tools for shell execution, file operations, web search, web fetch/crawling, TODO tracking, and sub-agents.
- Interactive REPL and one-shot command mode, with `Esc` interrupt support.
- Context compression to keep long sessions manageable.
- Session save and resume support.
## Requirements
- Python 3.10 or newer
- An API key for either an OpenAI-compatible endpoint or an Anthropic-compatible endpoint
## Skills
At startup, KittyCode scans `~/.kittycode/skills` for skill folders. Each skill should live in its own directory and include a `SKILL.md` file at the top level.
Expected layout:
```text
~/.kittycode/skills/
example-skill/
SKILL.md
other-files...
```
KittyCode reads the leading `name` and `description` fields from each `SKILL.md`, keeps the resulting skill list in memory, and appends that list to each user turn inside a `` block. The reminder includes:
- `name`
- `description`
- `path`
This allows the model to see which local skills are available and decide when to read and use them.
KittyCode loads skills once at startup and keeps that snapshot fixed for the lifetime of the process. Restart KittyCode after adding or editing skills.
You can also invoke a loaded skill directly from the CLI with `/`.
- `/` selects that skill for your next non-command message.
- `/ ` runs the next request immediately with that skill.
## Usage
Run the interactive terminal UI:
```bash
kittycode
```
When the CLI is busy, press `Esc` to interrupt the current run. The stop is cooperative: KittyCode cancels at the next safe checkpoint between LLM streaming, tool dispatch, and loop rounds. A blocking external call may still need to return before the run fully stops.
You can also use the module entry point:
```bash
python -m kittycode
```
Run a one-shot prompt and exit:
```bash
kittycode -p "Explain the project structure"
```
Resume a saved session:
```bash
kittycode -r session_1234567890
```
Run the configuration wizard:
```bash
kittycode --config
```
## Interactive Commands
Inside the REPL, KittyCode supports:
- `/help`
- `/reset`
- `/skills`
- `/`
- `/model `
- `/tokens`
- `/compact`
- `/save`
- `/sessions`
- `/quit`
The `/skills` command prints the skills loaded at startup.
Slash commands also support prefix matching while typing, so entering `/` shows matching commands and skills through completion suggestions.
## Project Layout
- `kittycode/__init__.py`: public exports and compatibility aliases for moved runtime modules
- `kittycode/main.py`: CLI entrypoint wrapper
- `kittycode/cli.py`: interactive and one-shot CLI
- `kittycode/config/__init__.py`: config.json loading
- `kittycode/llm/__init__.py`: provider adapter and streaming parsing
- `kittycode/prompt/__init__.py`: system/user prompt builders
- `kittycode/skills/__init__.py`: local skill discovery and caching
- `kittycode/runtime/`: agent loop, context compression, interrupts, session helpers, and logging setup
- `kittycode/tools/`: built-in tools
- `tests/`: focused runtime and tool tests
## Development
Run the test suite:
```bash
python -m pytest -q
```
The current test suite covers the exported API, config-file behavior, provider conversion helpers, context compression, session helpers, the default tool registry, and skill discovery/prompt injection.