Your AI-Powered Dev Team, Right in Your Editor.
Supercharge your editor with AI that understands your codebase, streamlines development, and helps you write, refactor, and debug with ease.
What is Roo Code?
Roo Code is an AI-powered tool integrated into VS Code, acting like a virtual dev team to assist with coding tasks. It goes beyond simple autocompletion, reading and writing across multiple files, and adapting to user workflows.
As an open-source, AI-powered coding assistant, Roo Code enhances coding tasks with intelligent AI agents. It's designed to streamline software development, particularly for developers seeking AI assistance in coding, debugging, and architecture tasks.
With Roo Code, you get a comprehensive development support system that lives within your VS Code environment, effectively acting like a whole dev team in the editor.
Key Features of Roo Code
AI Dev Team in VS Code
Agentic AI assistants for planning, writing, and fixing code across multiple files. Experience a virtual dev team with Roo Code.
Multiple Specialized Modes
Switch between coding, debugging, and architecture modes on the fly. Roo Code adapts to your development needs.
Deep Project-wide Context
Reads the entire codebase, preserving valid code with diff-based edits, ideal for multi-file refactors with Roo Code.
Open-Source & Model-Agnostic
Free and open-source, supporting various AI models like OpenAI and local LLMs. No vendor lock-in with Roo Code.
Guarded Command Execution
Users can approve or deny commands, ensuring automation occurs with oversight. Control your workflow with Roo Code.
Fully Customizable
Create and tweak modes, define usage rules, and tailor Roo Code to specific workflows.
Automated Browser Actions
Test and verify web apps directly from VS Code, enhancing testing capabilities with Roo Code.
How to Use Roo Code
Getting started with Roo Code is straightforward. You can install it directly from the VS Code Marketplace, where it boasts over 649.4k downloads, indicating widespread adoption.
For advanced users, installation involves cloning the GitHub repository, installing dependencies with `pnpm`, and running the extension. There are also options for VSIX package installation.
Once installed, Roo Code integrates seamlessly into your VS Code environment. You can leverage its specialized modes for coding, debugging, and architecture, or even create custom modes tailored to your specific needs.
Customize prompts via mode-specific `.clinerules-[mode]` files to fine-tune its behavior. Roo Code is designed for flexibility, allowing you to integrate it with various AI models like Gemini 2.5 Pro and Claude Code.
Quick Start
- Install from VS Code Marketplace.
- Explore specialized modes.
- Customize with `.clinerules` files.
- Integrate your preferred AI model.
Frequently Asked Questions about Roo Code
Is Roo Code free?
Yes, the core Roo Code extension is completely free and open-source. You only pay for any paid LLM usage (e.g., OpenAI API costs) if you choose those models.
What AI models does Roo Code support?
Roo Code is model-agnostic and supports various AI models, including OpenAI, Anthropic, and local LLMs, avoiding vendor lock-in.
How does Roo Code handle privacy?
As a local VS Code extension, your source code never leaves your machine unless explicitly sent to an API. You can exclude files via `.rooignore` or use entirely offline LLMs for full data privacy.
Can I customize Roo Code?
Absolutely! Roo Code is fully customizable. Users can create and tweak modes, define usage rules, and extend its capabilities via its Model Context Protocol (MCP).
What are the recent updates for Roo Code?
Version 3.23 (July 10, 2025) introduced stable codebase indexing and a new todo list feature. Ongoing enhancements include generating code from natural language descriptions.
How does Roo Code compare to other AI coding assistants?
Roo Code stands out with its open-source, model-agnostic architecture, agentic and context-aware workflow, deep project awareness, and high customizability, enabling global refactors and multi-file workflows.
Who is the target user for Roo Code?
Roo Code is aimed at software developers and engineering teams who want to accelerate coding tasks with AI, from individual programmers to enterprise teams working in VS Code.
Can Roo Code automate browser actions?
Yes, Roo Code can test and verify web apps directly from VS Code, opening the browser and running checks, enhancing testing capabilities.
What is the company behind Roo Code?
Roo Code is developed by Roo Code, Inc., a privately held startup founded in 2025, led by CEO Danny Leffel, with a mission to empower developers with advanced AI.
Are there any notable use cases for Roo Code?
Smartsheet, a large cloud work-management company, integrated Roo Code in an AI-assisted development workflow, cutting operational costs by 60% and improving response latency by 20%.