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Getting started with FreeCoder

FreeCoder installs in a single command and runs as a clean web app you launch from your terminal. There's no account to create, no credit card, and no token limits — you can be coding in about two minutes.

What you'll need

Windows 10 or 11. macOS and Linux are coming; today FreeCoder is Windows-only.
PowerShell. It's built into Windows — just open the Start menu and type "PowerShell".
About 200 MB of disk space and an internet connection for the download.

1. Install

Open PowerShell and paste this line, then press Enter:

irm https://freecoder.space/install.ps1 | iex

Here's exactly what that command does — nothing hidden:

Downloads the FreeCoder program from freecoder.space, showing a live progress bar.
Verifies the download is a real, complete Windows program before installing it.
Installs it to %LOCALAPPDATA%\FreeCoder — a folder in your own user profile. It touches nothing else on your system.
Adds that folder to your user PATH so you can run freecoder from anywhere.
Enables quiet auto-updates, so you're always on the latest version.

Windows may show a blue “Windows protected your PC” box the first time. That's a reputation notice for new software, not a virus warning — click More info → Run anyway. Full explanation in Is it safe?

2. Launch it

Open a new terminal window (so it picks up the updated PATH), then run:

freecoder

That's it. Running freecoder with no arguments starts a small local server and opens the FreeCoder workspace in your default browser. The terminal just hosts the server in the background — all of your actual work happens in the clean web UI.

3. Open a project

FreeCoder works on a folder on your computer. The easiest way is to start it from inside the project you want to work on:

cd C:\path\to\your-project
freecoder

FreeCoder reads your repository to understand your code, and respects your .gitignore so it skips files you don't track. Now it's ready for its first task.

4. Give it a task

Type what you want in plain English — the same way you'd ask a teammate. For example:

“Add a dark-mode toggle to the navbar.”
“Write tests for the auth module.”
“Explain how routing works in this project.”
“Find and fix the bug causing the 500 on /checkout.”

FreeCoder plans the work, edits across files, runs commands, and shows you every change before it lands. Walk through a real one in Your first session.

What you get, free

A built-in AI model that's free and unlimited — no token caps (a single small ad keeps it free).
A real autonomous agent — multi-file edits, command execution, plan mode, and parallel subagents.
Extensibility with skills, plugins & hooks, and MCP servers.
The freedom to bring your own model whenever you want.

Staying current & removing it

FreeCoder updates itself silently on launch, so there's nothing to maintain. If you ever want to remove it, one command does it — see Update & uninstall.

Frequently asked

Is FreeCoder really free?

Yes. The built-in AI model is free and unlimited, funded by a single small ad — no account, no credit card, and no token caps. You can also bring your own provider key if you prefer.

What are FreeCoder's system requirements?

Windows 10 or 11 with PowerShell (built into Windows), about 200 MB of free disk space, and an internet connection for the download. macOS and Linux support is planned.

How do I install FreeCoder?

Open PowerShell and run: irm https://freecoder.space/install.ps1 | iex — then open a new terminal window and run freecoder to launch it.

Do I need an API key to use FreeCoder?

No. FreeCoder works out of the box with its free built-in model. Adding your own provider key is optional and only needed if you want to use a specific model.

Is FreeCoder a terminal app or a web app?

Both, in a sense: you launch it from your terminal with one command, and it opens a clean coding workspace in your browser. The terminal just runs a small local server in the background.

Next steps

Your first session → · Vibe coding → · Is it safe? → · Troubleshooting →