OpenCode can take place in a few places on your computer, but the core action usually happens in your terminal or command-line window, where you launch it and work with the agent. It can also run in your browser as a local web app, and some tutorials show it being used in a desktop or IDE workflow too.

Where it runs

  • Terminal/TUI: This is the main place OpenCode runs, acting like an interactive coding assistant inside your terminal.
  • Browser/Web app: OpenCode can start a local server and open in your browser at 127.0.0.1 by default.
  • Local computer only: The web interface is bound to localhost by default, so it runs on your machine rather than publicly on the internet.
  • Project folder: You usually launch it from inside a project directory so it can read and edit your files there.

Simple picture

Think of it like this: you open a terminal, run OpenCode, and it works on the code in the folder you pointed it at. If you use the web mode, it still runs locally on your computer, just through your browser instead of a terminal window.

In one line

OpenCode “takes place” mainly in your terminal, while its web version runs locally in your browser on your own computer.

Would you like the exact steps to start OpenCode on Windows, Mac, or Linux?