Open-source VS Code coding agent with switchable modes and your own key
Roo Code is an open-source VS Code extension that puts an autonomous coding agent inside the editor. What sets it apart is a mode system: separate profiles such as Code, Architect, Ask and Debug each carry their own instructions and permitted tools, so planning, implementing and answering questions happen under different rules rather than through one catch-all prompt. It supports many model providers as well as local models through Ollama or LM Studio, and custom modes can be stored as files in the repository and shared with a team. You bring your own API key, so the extension itself carries no subscription.
Last updated: 2026-09-20. This site only provides an index; for exact features, pricing, and licensing, see the official website.
developers, self-hosted setups, local model users and teams wanting agent control
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The mode system is the main difference. Instead of one agent with one prompt, you configure separate profiles with their own instructions and tool access, which makes planning and executing behave more predictably.
Not necessarily. You can connect a local model through Ollama or LM Studio and avoid API costs, though a strong hosted model generally performs better on multi-step tasks.
It asks for approval before executing terminal commands by default, and auto-approval is opt-in. Leaving approval on is advisable until you trust its behaviour in a given repository.
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