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Agent CLI Reference: 5-Tool Comparison

A side-by-side reference for Claude Code, Pi Coding Agent, OpenCode, Hermes Agent, and OpenClaw.

1. Claude Code (Anthropic)

Role: Primary generalist coding agent. Best all-around tool.
License: Proprietary (free tier + Pro subscription)
Runtime: Node.js
Config: CLAUDE.md in project root

Key Capabilities

Feature	How To	Course Reference
Multi-agent teams	`claude --teammate-mode tmux`	M4 — teammate-mode spawns agents in split panes
Headless execution	`claude -p "prompt" --print`	M5 CI/CD pipeline
Constrained tools	`--allowedTools "Read Write Edit"`	M3 security (L4 whitelist pattern)
Hooks system	`.claude/hooks/*.py`	M3 hook architecture (13 lifecycle events)
Subdirectory rules	`frontend/CLAUDE.md`, `backend/CLAUDE.md`	M2 skills deep dive
Stop hook self-improve	PostToolUse → headless claude session	M3, also ClaudeFAST pattern

Boilerplate Setup

bash

# Project initialization
claude --init

# Launch with teammate mode
claude --teammate-mode tmux

# Headless CI mode
claude -p "Implement the feature described in spec.md" --allowedTools "Read Write Edit Bash" --print

# With custom hooks directory
claude --hooks .claude/hooks/

Hook Lifecycle (13 events)

Phase	Events
Session	Setup, SessionStart, SessionEnd
Main Loop	UserPromptSubmit, PreToolUse, PermissionRequest, PostToolUse, PostToolUseFailure, Stop, Notification
Subagents	SubagentStart, SubagentStop
Maintenance	PreCompact

2. Pi Coding Agent (pi.dev)

Role: Customizable agent harness. Full control over every aspect.
License: Open source (MIT)
Runtime: Node.js (TypeScript SDK)
Config: .pi/settings.json, .pi/agents/*.md

Key Capabilities

Feature	How To	Course Reference
Extensions	`pi -e extensions/<name>.ts`	M3 — damage-control, tilldone
RPC mode	`pi --mode rpc`	M5 — programmatic control (26+ commands)
Agent teams	`agent-team` extension + `teams.yaml`	M4 dispatcher pattern
Agent chains	`agent-chain` extension + `agent-chain.yaml`	M4 pipeline pattern ($INPUT/$ORIGINAL)
P2P communication	`coms` (Unix sockets) / `coms-net` (HTTP/SSE)	M4 flat P2P pattern
Mental models	`.pi/multi-team/expertise/*.yaml`	M4 agent memory, self-improve commands
Damage control	`damage-control.ts` + `damage-control-rules.yaml`	M3 three access levels
Skills system	`.pi/skills/*/SKILL.md`	M2 composable skills

Boilerplate Setup

bash

# Launch with extensions
pi -e extensions/damage-control.ts -e extensions/tilldone.ts -e extensions/minimal.ts

# Launch with multiple extensions (stackable)
pi -e extensions/purpose-gate.ts -e extensions/tool-counter.ts

# RPC mode (programmatic control from any language)
pi --mode rpc

# Pi-to-Pi peer communication (same machine)
just local-coms --name planner --purpose "Plans the work"
just local-coms --name coder --purpose "Writes the code"

# Pi-to-Pi networked (across machines)
just coms-net-server    # hub
just coms --name dev    # client 1
just coms2 --name prod  # client 2

Extension Catalog (16 total)

Category	Extensions
UI	pure-focus, minimal, theme-cycler, session-replay
Monitoring	tool-counter, tool-counter-widget
Task	tilldone, purpose-gate
Multi-Agent	subagent-widget, agent-team, agent-chain
Safety	damage-control, damage-control-continue
P2P	coms, coms-net
Cross-Tool	cross-agent, system-select
Meta	pi-pi

Pi Agent Rust Port (Jeff Emanuel, 1,024★)

A Rust reimplementation of the Pi agent with zero unsafe code.

Feature	Pi (TypeScript)	Pi Agent Rust
Extensions	Full (16+)	Compatible
RPC mode	Yes	Yes
Performance	Baseline	~2x faster
Binary size	~35MB	~8MB
Memory safety	Node.js GC	Zero unsafe Rust

The 4 Dimensions of Control (Pi's strength)

Dimension	Pi's Advantage
Context	Full control over what the agent sees via extensions
Model	Any provider, any model — pluggable
Prompt	Skills, system prompts, agent .md files — fully customizable
Tools	Extensions can add, remove, or override any tool

3. OpenCode (opencode.ai)

Role: Open-source Claude Code alternative. MIT license.
License: MIT (open source)
Runtime: Node.js (npm global package)
Config: Shares ~/.grok/config.toml with Claude Code

Key Capabilities

Feature	How To	Course Reference
Headless commands	`opencode run "prompt"`	M5 CI/CD alternative to Claude Code CLI
Model selection	`opencode --model opencode-go/deepseek-v4-flash`	M6 cascade routing
Proxy support	Routes through `localhost:18901/v1`	M6 cost optimization
Shared config	Uses same `~/.grok/config.toml`	M5 production stack — dual tool setup
Go models	12 Go-optimized models available	M6 economics (Go models are cheaper per token)

Available Go Models (through proxy)

Model ID	Cost Tier	Best For
`opencode-go/deepseek-v4-flash`	Budget	General agentic tasks ($10/mo flat)
`opencode-go/deepseek-v4-pro`	Mid	Complex reasoning
`opencode-go/kimi-k2.6`	Mid	Long context
`opencode-go/qwen3.6-plus`	Budget	Structured tasks
`opencode-go/minimax-m2.7`	Budget	Fast responses

Boilerplate Setup

bash

# Headless task execution
opencode run "Refactor the auth module to use JWT tokens"

# With specific model
opencode --model opencode-go/deepseek-v4-flash run "Write unit tests for the API"

# With custom config
opencode --config ~/.grok/config.toml run "Deploy to staging"

# List available models
opencode models

When to Use OpenCode Instead of Claude Code

Scenario	Choose
Need open-source license	OpenCode
Budget-constrained	OpenCode (Go models at $10/mo flat)
CI/CD pipelines	OpenCode `run` command
Primary development	Claude Code (better tool calling)
Need hooks system	Claude Code (13 events vs OpenCode's limited hooks)
Heterogeneous stack	Both (OpenCode as backup/alternative model)

4. Hermes Agent (Some Engineering Inc.)

Role: TypeScript-native, MCP-first agent for structured workflows.
License: Open source
Runtime: Node.js (TypeScript)
Design philosophy: MCP-native architecture, structured output first

Key Capabilities

Feature	How To	Course Reference
MCP-native tools	Built-in MCP client	M2 Beyond MCP channels
Structured output	TypeScript types enforced	M2 context management
Tool-use workflows	Designed for function-calling chains	M2 agent loop variants
OpenClaw ecosystem	Integrates with OpenClaw agents	M4 multi-agent orchestration

Boilerplate Setup

bash

# Run with MCP server
hermes --mcp-servers ./mcp-config.json

# Execute workflow
hermes run workflow.ts

# With custom tools
hermes --tools-dir ./tools/

When to Use Hermes

Building TypeScript-native agent pipelines
MCP-first architecture (tools as MCP servers)
Tight integration with OpenClaw ecosystem
Structured output enforcement (TypeScript types)

5. OpenClaw

Role: Always-on agent employee. Heartbeat-driven, autonomous execution.
License: Open source
Runtime: Node.js daemon
Design philosophy: "If it can receive a heartbeat, it's hired."

Key Capabilities

Feature	How To	Course Reference
Heartbeat model	Wakes on schedule, works, sleeps	M7 always-on agents
One-shot execution	`claw do "task"`	M5 production task dispatch
Device-key pairing	Auth via device key + invite	M5 deployment modes
Paperclip-native	Primary agent for Paperclip orchestration	M7 framework comparison
tmux integration	Can run inside tmux sessions	M5 production stack

Boilerplate Setup

bash

# Start as daemon (always-on employee)
claw start --daemon

# One-shot task
claw do "Review the latest PR and leave comments"

# Schedule recurring task
claw schedule --cron "0 6 * * 1" --task "Generate weekly report"

# Check status
claw status

# Stop daemon
claw stop

Heartbeat Execution Model

Timer fires → Check for queued work → Wake agent → Execute → Report results → Sleep

No continuous running. The agent wakes, works, and goes back to sleep. This is the most cost-effective model for scheduled/recurring work.

Comparison Matrix

Feature	Claude Code	Pi Agent	OpenCode	Hermes	OpenClaw
License	Proprietary	MIT	MIT	Open	Open
Cost	Pro sub	Free	Free	Free	Free
Hooks	13 events	Extension events	Limited	MCP events	None
Multi-agent	teammate-mode	Extensions	No	Chains	Heartbeats
P2P coms	No	coms/coms-net	No	No	No
Headless mode	`--print`	RPC mode	`run`	Yes	daemon
MCP support	Built-in	Via extensions	Via proxy	Native	Via Paperclip
Best for	Generalist coding	Custom harness	OSS alternative	TS pipelines	Always-on tasks
Course module	M3, M4, M5	M3, M4, M5	M5, M6	M5	M5, M7

Quick Selection Guide

What are you building?
├── A feature? → Claude Code
├── A custom workflow? → Pi Agent
├── An open-source project? → OpenCode
├── A TypeScript pipeline? → Hermes
└── A recurring task? → OpenClaw

Need multiple?
├── Production system → All 5 (see REFERENCE-STACK.md)
├── Budget constrained → OpenCode + Go models
├── Maximum control → Pi Agent + extensions
└── Enterprise rollout → Claude Code + Agent Manager

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Agent CLI Reference: 5-Tool Comparison ​

1. Claude Code (Anthropic) ​

Key Capabilities ​

Boilerplate Setup ​

Hook Lifecycle (13 events) ​

2. Pi Coding Agent (pi.dev) ​

Key Capabilities ​

Boilerplate Setup ​

Extension Catalog (16 total) ​

Pi Agent Rust Port (Jeff Emanuel, 1,024★) ​

The 4 Dimensions of Control (Pi's strength) ​

3. OpenCode (opencode.ai) ​

Key Capabilities ​

Available Go Models (through proxy) ​

Boilerplate Setup ​

When to Use OpenCode Instead of Claude Code ​

4. Hermes Agent (Some Engineering Inc.) ​

Key Capabilities ​

Boilerplate Setup ​

When to Use Hermes ​

5. OpenClaw ​

Key Capabilities ​

Boilerplate Setup ​

Heartbeat Execution Model ​

Comparison Matrix ​

Quick Selection Guide ​

Agent CLI Reference: 5-Tool Comparison

1. Claude Code (Anthropic)

Key Capabilities

Boilerplate Setup

Hook Lifecycle (13 events)

2. Pi Coding Agent (pi.dev)

Key Capabilities

Boilerplate Setup

Extension Catalog (16 total)

Pi Agent Rust Port (Jeff Emanuel, 1,024★)

The 4 Dimensions of Control (Pi's strength)

3. OpenCode (opencode.ai)

Key Capabilities

Available Go Models (through proxy)

Boilerplate Setup

When to Use OpenCode Instead of Claude Code

4. Hermes Agent (Some Engineering Inc.)

Key Capabilities

Boilerplate Setup

When to Use Hermes

5. OpenClaw

Key Capabilities

Boilerplate Setup

Heartbeat Execution Model

Comparison Matrix

Quick Selection Guide