When it comes to agentic coding, Cline was one of the first movers. With a brilliant idea to provide integrations into VS Code, they eliminated the need to switch from your favourite coding IDE. Then, around mid-2025, Anthropic flexed its muscles with Claude Code, leveraging their massive models to take the dominant position. For a moment, it looked like Claude had won the race.
But look at the red line! 📈
That vertical trajectory is Opencode.
In early 2026, Opencode didn't just pass Cline, it surpassed the reigning champion. It has become the fastest-growing coding assistant in history, proving that when it comes to dev tools, the community still leans towards open ecosystems.
Why are Devs ditching Claude?
Why leave a polished tool like Claude Code for a new open-source alternative?
- Independence: Claude locks you into the Anthropic ecosystem. Opencode is different, it isn't tied to one industry giant. You aren't building your workflow on a foundation that could change its terms of service or pricing overnight. You own the stack.
- Native OS Model Support: With claude-code, trying to run other models often requires fragile workarounds to bridge with tools like Ollama. Opencode supports a massive array of models natively. Whether you want to test the new Kimi 2.5 or swap between GPT-5 and Gemini, it works out of the box.
- No Enterprise Tax: To get enterprise-grade security from vendors like Anthropic, you often have to sign contracts with significant markups. Opencode lets you dodge this premium and leverage radically cheaper models (Qwen, GLM, Kimi, ...).
However, dodging the enterprise tax and choosing freely between providers means losing some guardrails. When you move to opencode, you basically inherit the role of Security Officer. A single developer piping code to a non-compliant API can leak your IP.
Use Opencode without Getting Fired (European perspective 🇪🇺)
So, how do you unlock the power of the most popular assistant without violating Data Residency laws or GDPR requirements? You generally have two paths.
1. The Local Route (BYOM)
The "Bring Your Own Model" approach involves running local models. This offers the ultimate form of data sovereignty because your code never leaves your physical machine. However, since your laptop isn't an B200 cluster, running a 1-trillion-parameter Kimi might be a bit of a challenge.
2. The Privacy Gateway
For professionals, especially in Europe where digital sovereignty is a priority, the solution is a Privacy Gateway such as cortecs. This middleware layer enables strict data residency, ensures no-training guarantees on your code, and enables Zero-Data-Retention policies.
(Full disclosure: I’m part of the cortecs' team)
Conclusion
Opencode surpassing claude is a historic moment for vibe coding enthusiasts.
But as you make the switch, remember that with open tools, security is no longer a "feature" but a configuration you must manage. Whether you choose a local stack or a privacy gateway, make sure your security posture grows as fast as your star count.
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