Boxcode

Paid LinuxMacWindows

What Boxcode is

Boxcode is a free, MIT-licensed AI coding harness available through a native Rust terminal CLI and a Code-OSS editor. The agent reads project files, edits them, and runs terminal or editor commands, with codebase indexing, chat assistance, and terminal access. File changes appear as line-numbered diffs before application. The /plan command creates an editable plan, while /rollback restores files written by the model during the session. Destructive actions such as deleting, force-pushing, and publishing require user approval; catastrophic commands are never offered. Boxcode connects to OpenAI-compatible endpoints, including hosted, self-hosted, custom, and user-deployed models, configured through /provider or BOXCODE_ENDPOINT. The IDE includes Ask, Edit, and Agent modes, Light and Dark themes, and an integrated localhost browser. The CLI can deploy projects to Vercel or Netlify after approval. Publishing can add a shareable link, sign-up, a per-project SQLite database, live reload, and change requests. Linux, macOS, and Windows are listed; macOS IDE builds are unsigned during development.

Who it suits

Boxcode suits developers who want the same coding agent in a terminal and editor. It fits users who need reviewable changes, rollback, approval gates, and flexible model endpoints across major desktop platforms.

What it does well

Free software under the MIT license
Previews edits as line-numbered diffs
Provides editable plans and session rollback
Supports OpenAI-compatible model endpoints
Approval gates protect destructive actions

What to know first

macOS IDE builds are unsigned during development
Publishing and deployment require approval
Google login stores credentials in a local config file

Verdict

Boxcode combines terminal and editor workflows with visible diffs, rollback, approval controls, and configurable model providers. Its unsigned macOS IDE status and approval requirements are important operational details.

Facts from Boxcode's own pages

Coding agent: Yes · holbox.ai, 22 Sept 2026
Approval controls: Destructive actions such as deletes, force-pushes, and publishing wait for approval; catastrophic commands are never offered. · boxcode.sh, 12 Oct 2026
Approval gate: Destructive actions such as deleting, force-pushing, publishing, and putting things on the internet wait for user approval; catastrophic commands are never offered. · boxcode.sh, 12 Oct 2026
Authentication: The docs say Boxcode login uses Google and writes credentials to ~/.boxcode/config.toml; users can skip login and configure their own API key. · boxcode.sh, 12 Oct 2026
Chat assistance: Yes · holbox.ai, 22 Sept 2026
CLI: The CLI is a native Rust TUI whose sessions print as ordinary terminal output. · boxcode.sh, 12 Oct 2026
Codebase indexing: Yes · holbox.ai, 22 Sept 2026
Community: The homepage invites users to join the community for notices about build days, builder days, and campus workshops. · boxcode.sh, 12 Oct 2026
Deploy integrations: The CLI page says Boxcode can deploy projects to Vercel or Netlify and return a live URL after an approval-gated call. · boxcode.sh, 12 Oct 2026
Editor: Boxcode IDE is a Code-OSS fork whose chat participant launches the same CLI binary. · boxcode.sh, 12 Oct 2026
File changes: The CLI presents file changes as diffs against the current on-disk files before they are applied. · boxcode.sh, 12 Oct 2026
File edits: File changes are previewed as diffs with line numbers against the current file before they are applied. · boxcode.sh, 12 Oct 2026
IDE: Boxcode IDE is a Code-OSS build that uses the same CLI agent binary and includes Ask, Edit, and Agent chat modes. · boxcode.sh, 12 Oct 2026
IDE features: Boxcode IDE includes Ask, Edit, and Agent chat modes, Boxcode Light and Dark themes, and an integrated browser for localhost. · boxcode.sh, 12 Oct 2026
IDE macOS status: The download page says macOS IDE builds are unsigned while the IDE is in development. · boxcode.sh, 12 Oct 2026
IDE signing status: The download page says macOS IDE builds are unsigned while the IDE is in development. · boxcode.sh, 12 Oct 2026
Installation: The CLI is distributed as a checksum-verified prebuilt binary, and the IDE download page lists macOS, Linux, and Windows builds. · boxcode.sh, 12 Oct 2026
Install requirements: The CLI is distributed as a checksum-verified prebuilt binary and does not require a Rust toolchain. · boxcode.sh, 12 Oct 2026
Integrations: The CLI page says Boxcode can deploy projects to Vercel or Netlify in the same conversation. · boxcode.sh, 12 Oct 2026
License: The Boxcode CLI is MIT licensed. · boxcode.sh, 12 Oct 2026
Model compatibility: Boxcode connects to any OpenAI-compatible endpoint, including hosted, self-hosted, or user-deployed models. · boxcode.sh, 12 Oct 2026
Model endpoints: Boxcode supports OpenAI-compatible endpoints, including custom endpoints, configured through `/provider` or `BOXCODE_ENDPOINT`. · boxcode.sh, 12 Oct 2026
Other project features: The CLI page describes publishing a project to a shareable link and adding sign-up, a per-project SQLite database, live reload, and change requests from the live page. · boxcode.sh, 12 Oct 2026
Planning and rollback: The `/plan` command creates an editable plan before file changes, and `/rollback` restores files the model wrote during the session. · boxcode.sh, 12 Oct 2026

Where Boxcode stands on Freedom251

AI Coding Assistants#97 of 102