Comparing AI CLI Tools: Open Source vs. Closed Source for Developers

Hey folks, thanks for tuning in to this deep dive! It was a blast testing out all these awesome AI CLI tools — from Claude Code to Aider, GeminiCLI, Crush, QwenCLI, and Open Code. If you’re a dev experimenting with AI in your terminal, this one’s for you. Tons of surprises, a few headaches, and some clear standouts. Appreciate you all for watching — and if you’re building something cool with any of these tools, drop it in the comments, would love to see what you’re up to! Please note this wasn't supposed to be an evaluation of model capabilities just an evaluation of DX sorry if it came across in a different way. In this video I discuss: - First impressions of the latest AI CLI tools in August 2025 - Best UI for AI CLIs - Best Alternatives to Claude Code - A Real Look At CLI Development TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Evaluating CLI Tools for Developers: A Methodical Approach 01:18 Setting up the AI CLI Project with Claude's Planning Assistance 03:22 Exploring Open Code: API Key Setup and Initial Impressions 04:28 Hands-on with Open Code: Project Initialization and Feature Exploration 05:46 Open Code's Performance: Token Usage, Sharing Sessions, and Project Scaffold 07:16 Analyzing Open Code's Output and Addressing Project Startup Issues 08:39 Transitioning to Aider: Privacy Focus and Initial Setup 09:50 Aider Configuration and Attempting Phase Two Execution 10:24 Rebuilding the Project Plan with Claude after Data Loss in Aider 11:30 Executing Phase One with Aider and GeminiCLI: Initial Challenges 12:16 Exploring GeminiCLI's Features and Comparing with Open Code 13:27 GeminiCLI's Diffing Capabilities and Build Process Insights 14:19 Troubleshooting Build Errors with GeminiCLI and Assessing Performance 15:00 Leveraging GeminiCLI's Open Source Nature and Addressing Permission Issues 16:31 Fallback to Claude: Fixing Persistent Build Issues 18:26 Evaluating Crush: Setting Up and Initializing the Project 19:40 Experiencing Quota Limitations with Crush 20:19 Attempting to Use QwenCLI and Addressing Authentication Challenges 20:46 Post-Experiment Analysis: Rating CLI Tools Based on Key Metrics 21:55 Cost Analysis and Tool Obedience Considerations 22:21 Tier List Creation: Ranking Claude, Open Code, Aider, and More ABOUT MY CHANNEL My channel is about new app development trends & all things self-hosted. We cover lots of cool stuff such as Tauri, Pocketbase and LLMs. CHECK OUT OUR OTHER VIDEOS Best Cross Platform Builder - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbxxM_glSfU Awesome resources, check them out here: 1 Computer Tip To Give You 5% More Productivity, 1 Top Piece Of Weekly Security News, 1 Top Piece Of Weekly AI News - https://www.biz365.com.au/newsletter Build Your Next App Fast - https://fastpocket.dev GET IN TOUCH Want Biz365 to build something for you - Reach out for a collab at [email protected] FOLLOW Me ON SOCIAL Get updates or reach out to me on: X: https://x.com/@meinbiz