Kilo, a remote-first AI coding startup, has launched Kilo CLI 1.0, a fully rebuilt command-line interface supporting more than 500 AI models including proprietary and open-source ones like Alibaba’s Qwen. Backed by GitLab co-founder Sid Sijbrandij, Kilo aims to break developers free from reliance on a single IDE or AI model, enabling flexible workflows across terminals, IDEs, remote servers, and Slack. The new CLI is open source under MIT license, optimized for terminal use during critical production tasks and offers multiple modes for coding, architecture planning, and debugging. It addresses ‘AI amnesia’ with a Memory Bank that preserves context across sessions in Markdown files, synchronizing CLI and Slack interactions. Kilo supports extensibility via the Model Context Protocol, integrating with external tools for a more agent-driven, seamless development experience. Its pricing model offers transparent API-based billing without commission, rewarding active subscribers. Positioned against competitors like Claude Code and OpenAI Codex, Kilo CLI emphasizes openness, security, and flexibility, hosting models on compliant AWS infrastructure. CEO Scott Breitenother envisions Kilo as a “mech suit” for developers, boosting strategic thinking while automating code creation.
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