One open-source agent, 500 models, and a browser it can drive

What it does Kilo is an open-source agentic coding assistant available as a VS Code extension, JetBrains plugin, CLI tool, Slack integration, and cloud service. It generates code from natural language, runs terminal commands, automates browser sessions, checks its own work, and provides inline autocomplete. The project also bundles an MCP server marketplace and switchable roles—Architect, Coder, Debugger, or custom modes.

The interesting bit The CLI started as a fork of OpenCode, but Kilo has grown into a broader platform with its own model gateway and provider-matched pricing. An --auto flag enables fully autonomous, unsupervised execution in CI/CD pipelines—convenient for automation, though the README warns it disables every permission prompt.

Key highlights

• 500+ models accessible through a unified gateway; API keys are optional
• Multi-surface deployment across VS Code, JetBrains, CLI, Slack, and cloud
• MCP server marketplace to extend agent capabilities
• Role-based modes (Architect, Coder, Debugger) plus user-defined custom modes
• Autonomous CI/CD mode that runs without user interaction

Caveats

• The README cites model versions such as “GPT-5.5” and “Claude Opus 4.7” that do not match any known public releases, so that section of the documentation is unclear
• The CLI is explicitly a fork of OpenCode, so core command-line functionality is inherited rather than original
• Autonomous mode disables all permission prompts and allows any action without confirmation, making it strictly a trusted-environment feature

Verdict Worth a look if you need an agent that follows you from IDE to terminal to Slack; skip it if you just want a quiet autocomplete partner.