Practical overview
When it fits
Use Zerostack when you want a CLI coding agent with selectable task modes and control over providers, permissions and session workflows.
Who it is for
- Developers who want a coding agent in a terminal workflow.
- Users who need to switch between code-writing, planning, review, debugging and read-only modes.
- Developers looking to configure provider choices, permissions, sessions or optional tool integrations.
Documented uses
- Start an interactive coding-agent session or submit a single prompt.
- Choose a built-in prompt mode to match a coding task.
- Save, resume or continue sessions, with automatic context compaction.
- Connect MCP servers when using the optional MCP feature.
- Explore a codebase with subagents or move the agent between Git worktrees.
Requirements & limits
The project is available as a public GitHub repository under the GPL-3.0 license. The README documents installation through a script, release tarballs, Cargo, Homebrew and Nix.
- The README lists OpenRouter, OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, Ollama and custom providers.
- The permission system has five configurable modes, per-tool patterns and session allowlists.
- MCP, ACP, persistent memory, lifecycle hooks, advisor and multimodal input are listed as optional, gated or compile-time features.
- The README states that Windows support has not been tested.
Check current requirements in the official documentation. Source-based guidance does not mean OpenViST has run or independently tested this project.
Install Zerostack and configure a provider
Install the CLI, set an OpenRouter API key, and start an interactive session.
Before you start
- A supported installation route: the documented install script, Cargo, Homebrew, Nix, or a GitHub release tarball.
- An OpenRouter API key for the default provider.
Steps
Install Zerostack using one of the documented methods.
Set the OPENROUTER_API_KEY environment variable to your API key.
Run zerostack to open an interactive session.
Run /prompt autoconfig inside Zerostack to explore its documentation and configure the tool.
Expected outcome
An interactive terminal session starts with OpenRouter as the default provider; the autoconfig prompt can guide further configuration.
Guide limitations
- The README says Windows support has not been tested.
- MCP support is an optional compile-time feature; other listed integrations are gated.
Compare options for AI coding assistance
These projects document a common task and share a project role. This is a source-based comparison, not an execution benchmark or a guarantee of interchangeability.
| Project | Documented purpose | Platform | Access and requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zerostack | Start an interactive coding-agent session or submit a single prompt. | CLI | The project is available as a public GitHub repository under the GPL-3.0 license. The README documents installation through a script, release tarballs, Cargo, Homebrew and Nix. |
| Llmcode | Inspect a project's directory structure with `/tree`. | CLI | The documented setup requires an API key and supports an API base URL and model setting. The project is open source under Apache-2.0. |
| Klaat Code | Open a project directory for terminal-based coding assistance. | CLI, Server | The README provides a global npm installation command and documents browser sign-in with a KlaatAI account. It also identifies the repository as open source under Apache 2.0. |
Sources & review
Source record details
- Source availability
- Active
- Sources checked
- 11 October 2026
- Original website title
- gi-dellav/zerostack · Official homepage title · retained in its source language