Using OpenCode CLI Instead of Copy-Pasting from ChatGPT

Copy-pasting from ChatGPT breaks down fast: you lose track of which file a snippet belongs to, and the AI never sees the rest of your project. OpenCode runs in your terminal inside your project folder, so it reads your real files and writes code straight into them.

This pairs with the Prompt Flow — same discipline, better tool.

Prerequisites

Install Node.js

Download it from nodejs.org/en/download/current.

Choose the Windows Installer (.msi).

The Node.js download page with the Windows Installer (.msi) option highlighted

Verify the installation

Open Command Prompt (CMD) and run:

node -v

It should print a version number such as v24.12.0 — the exact version depends on what you installed. If you get "command not found", close and reopen CMD first; the installer only updates the PATH for new terminal windows.

Installing OpenCode

Install the package globally

In CMD or Git Bash:

npm install -g opencode-ai

Start OpenCode

If it didn't open automatically after installing, run:

opencode

Get an API key

Open opencode.ai/zen in your browser, click Get started with Zen, and register or log in.

After registering, click Copy Key.

The OpenCode Zen dashboard showing the API key with a Copy Key button

An API key is a password. Don't paste it into a chat, a screenshot, or a file you commit to Git.

Connect the key

Back in the terminal where OpenCode is running, type /connect, choose OpenCode Zen, then paste the key and press ↵.

The OpenCode /connect command with OpenCode Zen selected as the provider

Pick a model

Type /models and choose a free one — for example DeepSeek V4 Flash Free.

The OpenCode model picker listing available models including free options

Test it

Send any message to confirm the connection works before you start on real code.

Using it on a project

Open a terminal in your project folder

Right-click inside the folder and choose Open in Terminal or Open Git Bash here.

Windows right-click context menu showing the Open in Terminal option

This step is the whole point. OpenCode only sees the folder you launched it from — launch it from the wrong place and it writes files in the wrong place.

Run OpenCode

opencode

OpenCode running inside a project folder in the terminal

Switch between Plan and Build mode

Press ⇧ ⇥ to toggle.

Plan mode — the AI proposes what it will do without touching your files.
Build mode — the AI actually edits files.

OpenCode showing Plan mode after pressing Shift + Tab

Start building

Every generated file lands inside the folder you opened the terminal in — no copy-pasting, no guessing which file a snippet belonged to.

Habits worth keeping

Plan before you build. Read what it wrote. Commit often so you can undo a bad generation with Git instead of by hand.The tool changed; the responsibility didn't. You still have to be able to explain every line it produces.