https://github.com/lingcoder/crab-code
🦀 Open-source alternative to Claude Code, built from scratch in Rust. Agentic coding CLI — thinks, plans, and executes with any LLM. Compatible with Claude Code workflows.
https://github.com/lingcoder/crab-code
agent agentic-coding ai ai-agent ai-coding anthropic claude-code claude-code-alternative cli code-generation coding-assistant deepseek developer-tools llm mcp ollama open-source openai rust rust-lang
Last synced: 4 days ago
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🦀 Open-source alternative to Claude Code, built from scratch in Rust. Agentic coding CLI — thinks, plans, and executes with any LLM. Compatible with Claude Code workflows.
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/lingcoder/crab-code
- Owner: lingcoder
- License: apache-2.0
- Created: 2026-04-02T02:13:05.000Z (about 2 months ago)
- Default Branch: main
- Last Pushed: 2026-05-01T08:52:18.000Z (29 days ago)
- Last Synced: 2026-05-01T10:27:46.911Z (29 days ago)
- Topics: agent, agentic-coding, ai, ai-agent, ai-coding, anthropic, claude-code, claude-code-alternative, cli, code-generation, coding-assistant, deepseek, developer-tools, llm, mcp, ollama, open-source, openai, rust, rust-lang
- Language: Rust
- Homepage: https://github.com/lingcoder/crab-code
- Size: 3.99 MB
- Stars: 49
- Watchers: 0
- Forks: 9
- Open Issues: 2
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- License: LICENSE
Awesome Lists containing this project
- awesome-cli-coding-agents - Crab Code - native agentic coding CLI aligned with Claude Code's toolset and permission model; works with any LLM provider (Anthropic/OpenAI/DeepSeek/Bedrock/Vertex). 27 crates, 4,700+ tests, layered config system. Apache-2.0. (Terminal-native coding agents / Open Source)
README
**Open-source alternative to Claude Code, built from scratch in Rust.**
[](https://www.rust-lang.org/)
[](LICENSE)
[](https://github.com/lingcoder/crab-code/actions/workflows/ci.yml)
[](#contributing)
**English** | [**ä¸æ–‡**](README.zh-CN.md)
---
> **Active Development** — 4700+ tests · 27 crates · ~149k LOC
Crab Code is a Rust-native agentic coding CLI. It aligns with Claude Code's toolset, permission model, and interaction patterns while supporting any LLM provider (Anthropic / OpenAI / DeepSeek / Bedrock / Vertex).
## Quick Start
```bash
git clone https://github.com/lingcoder/crab-code.git && cd crab-code
cargo build --release
export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-ant-...
./target/release/crab # Interactive TUI
./target/release/crab "explain this codebase" # Single-shot
./target/release/crab -p "fix the bug" # Non-interactive
```
See `crab --help` for more. Config lives at `~/.crab/config.toml` (snake_case TOML); the full loading & merge spec is in [`docs/config-design.md`](docs/config-design.md).
## Configuration
Config sources, low → high priority:
```
defaults < plugin < user < project < local < --config (file layer)
<
env < CLI flag (runtime layer)
```
- **User**: `~/.crab/config.toml` (or `$CRAB_CONFIG_DIR/config.toml`)
- **Project**: `$PWD/.crab/config.toml` (committed)
- **Local**: `$PWD/.crab/config.local.toml` (gitignored)
- **`--config `**: CLI-injected file
- **`-c key.path=value`**: dotted runtime override (TOML grammar; repeatable)
Example `config.toml`:
```toml
api_provider = "deepseek"
base_url = "https://api.deepseek.com/v1"
model = "deepseek-chat"
api_key = "sk-..." # optional; env wins if both set
[permissions]
allow = ["Bash(git:*)", "Read", "Edit"]
deny = ["Bash(rm:*)"] # deny always wins over allow
```
## Environment Variables
Env (runtime layer) always wins over file. Mutually-exclusive variants apply highest-first.
| Category | Variable | Purpose |
|----------|----------|---------|
| Provider | `CRAB_API_PROVIDER` | Override provider: `anthropic`, `openai`, `deepseek`, `bedrock`, `vertex`, `custom` |
| Provider | `CRAB_API_KEY` | Universal API key (any provider; highest priority) |
| Provider | `CRAB_MODEL` | Override model name |
| Provider | `CRAB_BASE_URL` | Universal base URL override |
| Provider | `CRAB_CONFIG_DIR` | Relocate config root (default `~/.crab/`) |
| Provider | `ANTHROPIC_API_KEY` / `ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN` | Anthropic provider only |
| Provider | `ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL` | Anthropic base URL (only when `CRAB_API_PROVIDER=anthropic`) |
| Provider | `OPENAI_API_KEY` | OpenAI provider |
| Provider | `OPENAI_BASE_URL` | OpenAI base URL (only when `CRAB_API_PROVIDER=openai`) |
| Provider | `DEEPSEEK_API_KEY` | DeepSeek provider |
| Provider | `DEEPSEEK_BASE_URL` | DeepSeek base URL (only when `CRAB_API_PROVIDER=deepseek`) |
| Bedrock | `AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID` / `AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY` | Static credentials |
| Bedrock | `AWS_SESSION_TOKEN` | Optional session token (temporary credentials) |
| Bedrock | `AWS_REGION` / `AWS_DEFAULT_REGION` | AWS region |
| Bedrock | `AWS_ROLE_ARN` | IAM role ARN to assume |
| Bedrock | `AWS_WEB_IDENTITY_TOKEN_FILE` | OIDC token file (web-identity role assumption) |
| Bedrock | `AWS_EXTERNAL_ID` | External ID for cross-account role assumption |
| Bedrock | `AWS_ROLE_SESSION_NAME` | Session name for assumed role |
| Vertex | `GOOGLE_CLOUD_PROJECT` / `GCLOUD_PROJECT` | GCP project ID |
| Vertex | `GOOGLE_CLOUD_REGION` | GCP region (default: `us-central1`) |
| Vertex | `GOOGLE_APPLICATION_CREDENTIALS` | Path to service account key JSON |
| Shell | `CRAB_SHELL` | Path to bash/zsh binary (overrides auto-detection for the Bash tool) |
| Shell | `SHELL` | POSIX fallback when `CRAB_SHELL` is unset |
| Shell | `CRAB_USE_POWERSHELL_TOOL` | Truthy value exposes the `PowerShell` tool on Windows (default off) |
| Agent | `CRAB_COORDINATOR_MODE` | `1` enables Agent Teams coordinator mode |
| Agent | `CRAB_AUTO_DREAM` | `1` enables background memory consolidation between sessions |
| Agent | `CRAB_AUTO_DREAM_MIN_HOURS` | Minimum hours between consolidations (default: 6) |
| Agent | `CRAB_AUTO_DREAM_MIN_SESSIONS` | Minimum sessions before consolidation triggers (default: 2) |
| TLS | `CRAB_CA_BUNDLE` | Path to custom CA certificate bundle (PEM) |
| TLS | `SSL_CERT_FILE` / `SSL_CERT_DIR` | Standard OpenSSL CA overrides |
## Comparison
| | Crab Code | Claude Code | OpenCode| Codex CLI |
|--|-----------|-------------|---------|-----------|
| Open Source | Apache 2.0 | Proprietary | MIT | Apache 2.0 |
| Language | Rust | TypeScript | TypeScript | Rust |
| Models | Any provider | Anthropic | Any provider | OpenAI only |
| MCP | 3 transports | 6 transports | LSP | 2 transports |
## Architecture
27 Rust crates in 4 layers. See [`docs/architecture.md`](docs/architecture.md) for details.
```
Entry cli · daemon · acp
Engine agents · engine · session · tui · remote
Service api · tools · commands · hooks · mcp · skills · plugin · telemetry · ide · sandbox · swarm · cron · fs · memory · process
Foundation core · utils · config · auth
```
## Build & Test
```bash
cargo build --workspace
cargo nextest run --workspace # or: cargo test --workspace
cargo clippy --workspace -- -D warnings
```
## Contributing
PRs welcome.
## License
[Apache License 2.0](LICENSE)