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general edit and adding some highlights as I work through the section [preview](https://coder.com/docs/@ai-coder-edit/ai-coder/agents) --------- Co-authored-by: EdwardAngert <17991901+EdwardAngert@users.noreply.github.com>
96 lines
5.5 KiB
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96 lines
5.5 KiB
Markdown
# AI Coding Agents
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> [!NOTE]
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>
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> This page is not exhaustive and the landscape is evolving rapidly.
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>
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> Please [open an issue](https://github.com/coder/coder/issues/new) or submit a
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> pull request if you'd like to see your favorite agent added or updated.
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Coding agents are rapidly emerging to help developers tackle repetitive tasks,
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explore codebases, and generate solutions with increasing effectiveness.
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You can run these agents in Coder workspaces to leverage the power of cloud resources
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and deep integration with your existing development workflows.
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## Why Run AI Coding Agents in Coder?
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Coder provides unique advantages for running AI coding agents:
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- **Consistent environments**: Agents work in the same standardized environments as your developers.
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- **Resource optimization**: Leverage powerful cloud resources without taxing local machines.
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- **Security and isolation**: Keep sensitive code, API keys, and secrets in controlled environments.
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- **Seamless collaboration**: Multiple developers can observe and interact with agent activity.
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- **Deep integration**: Status reporting and task management directly in the Coder UI.
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- **Scalability**: Run multiple agents across multiple projects simultaneously.
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- **Persistent sessions**: Agents can continue working even when developers disconnect.
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## Types of Coding Agents
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AI coding agents generally fall into two categories, both fully supported in Coder:
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### Headless Agents
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Headless agents can run without an IDE open, making them ideal for:
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- **Background automation**: Execute repetitive tasks without supervision.
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- **Resource-efficient development**: Work on projects without keeping an IDE running.
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- **CI/CD integration**: Generate code, tests, or documentation as part of automated workflows.
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- **Multi-project management**: Monitor and contribute to multiple repositories simultaneously.
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Additionally, with Coder, headless agents benefit from:
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- Status reporting directly to the Coder dashboard.
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- Workspace lifecycle management (auto-stop).
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- Resource monitoring and limits to prevent runaway processes.
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- API-driven management for enterprise automation.
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| Agent | Supported models | Coder integration | Notes |
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|---------------|---------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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| Claude Code ⭐ | Anthropic Models Only (+ AWS Bedrock and GCP Vertex AI) | First class integration ✅ | Enhanced security through workspace isolation, resource optimization, task status in Coder UI |
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| Goose | Most popular AI models + gateways | First class integration ✅ | Simplified setup with Terraform module, environment consistency |
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| Aider | Most popular AI models + gateways | In progress ⏳ | Coming soon with workspace resource optimization |
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| OpenHands | Most popular AI models + gateways | In progress ⏳ ⏳ | Coming soon |
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[Claude Code](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code) is our recommended
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coding agent due to its strong performance on complex programming tasks.
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> [!INFO]
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> Any agent can run in a Coder workspace via our [MCP integration](./headless.md),
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> even if we don't have a specific module for it yet.
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### In-IDE agents
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In-IDE agents run within development environments like VS Code, Cursor, or Windsurf.
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These are ideal for exploring new codebases, complex problem solving, pair programming,
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or rubber-ducking.
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| Agent | Supported Models | Coder integration | Coder key advantages |
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|-----------------------------|-----------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|
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| Cursor (Agent Mode) | Most popular AI models + gateways | ✅ [Cursor Module](https://registry.coder.com/modules/cursor) | Pre-configured environment, containerized dependencies |
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| Windsurf (Agents and Flows) | Most popular AI models + gateways | ✅ via Remote SSH | Consistent setup across team, powerful cloud compute |
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| Cline | Most popular AI models + gateways | ✅ via VS Code Extension | Enterprise-friendly API key management, consistent environment |
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## Agent status reports in the Coder dashboard
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Claude Code and Goose can report their status directly to the Coder dashboard:
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- Task progress appears in the workspace overview.
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- Completion status is visible without opening the terminal.
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- Error states are highlighted.
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## Get started
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Ready to deploy AI coding agents in your Coder deployment?
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1. [Create a Coder template for agents](./create-template.md).
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1. Configure your chosen agent with appropriate API keys and permissions.
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1. Start monitoring agent activity in the Coder dashboard.
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## Next Steps
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- [Create a Coder template for agents](./create-template.md)
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- [Integrate with your issue tracker](./issue-tracker.md)
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- [Learn about MCP and adding AI tools](./best-practices.md)
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