8 minute read

Quick Answer

OpenHands (formerly OpenDevin) is an open-source AI coding agent that goes beyond simple code suggestions to perform autonomous software engineering tasks. Unlike tools like Cursor or GitHub Copilot that assist while you type, OpenHands operates as an independent agent that can plan, execute, test, and debug code across entire repositories. It runs in Docker containers for security, supports multiple LLM providers, and includes specialized features like the “Resolver” for automatically fixing GitHub issues. Best for developers who want powerful agentic capabilities with full control over their environment.

What is OpenHands?

OpenHands is a comprehensive platform for constructing, deploying, and managing generalist AI software engineering agents. Originally launched as “OpenDevin” in response to proprietary AI systems like Devin, OpenHands has evolved into a mature ecosystem maintained by All Hands AI (which secured $18.8M in Series A funding).

The platform isn’t just a coding assistant – it’s a complete agentic system with:

  • Sandboxed Runtime: Docker containers for safe code execution
  • Agent SDK: Programmatic interface for building custom agents
  • CLI, GUI, and Cloud: Multiple interaction modalities
  • MCP Support: Integration with Model Context Protocol ecosystem

Core Philosophy

OpenHands embodies the shift from assistance to agency:

Traditional Assistants OpenHands Agents
Suggest code while you type Execute multi-step plans autonomously
Need human guidance for each step Can work independently for hours
Limited to editor context Understand entire repositories
Single-model locked-in Model-agnostic (BYOK)

Key Features

1. Autonomous Coding & Refactoring

OpenHands can perform complex engineering tasks from start to finish:

  • Multi-file editing: Refactor across entire codebases
  • Dependency management: Install packages, resolve conflicts
  • Test-Driven Development: Write tests, implement code, verify passes
  • Error recovery: Analyze failures, fix bugs, retry automatically

2. The “Resolver” – Autonomous Issue Fixing

A standout feature is the OpenHands Resolver:

  • Connects to GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket
  • Automatically reads issue descriptions
  • Clones repositories and reproduces bugs
  • Implements fixes and opens Pull Requests
  • Shifts developer role from “writer” to “reviewer”

3. Docker Sandbox Security

Every agent runs in an isolated Docker container:

Workspace: ./workspace (mounted into container)
Runtime: docker.all-hands.dev/all-hands-ai/runtime
Isolation: Non-root user, restricted network access

Benefits:

  • Prevents accidental damage to host system
  • Contains “blast radius” of errors
  • Enables safe experimentation

4. Web Browsing & Verification

Agents can browse the internet to:

  • Read latest documentation (solves “knowledge cutoff” problem)
  • StackOverflow research for error solutions
  • Frontend verification: Spin up local servers, open browsers, visually inspect UI

5. Microagents – Customization Engine

Define specialized personas via Markdown files in .openhands/microagents/:

  • Repository-level: Auto-load for specific projects
  • Keyword triggers: Activate when mentioned in prompts
  • Organization-level: Enforce coding standards across teams

Example Microagent:

# .openhands/microagents/typescript.md
slug: typescript-enforcer
roleDefinition: Ensure TypeScript best practices
customInstructions: >
  - Always use interfaces over types
  - Enable strict mode
  - Avoid any types

6. Multi-Modal Interaction

  • CLI: Terminal-based for power users and automation
  • Local GUI: Visual IDE-like interface
  • Cloud: Managed SaaS with team collaboration

OpenHands vs Competitors

OpenHands vs Cursor

Aspect OpenHands Cursor
Architecture Open-source platform Proprietary IDE fork
Agency High (fully autonomous loops) Medium (Composer requires guidance)
Extensibility High (SDK, Microagents) Low (closed system)
Privacy Zero retention / Local Policy-dependent (cloud sync)
Cost Free + API costs Subscription ($20/mo)
Model Support Agnostic (BYOK) Fixed (Claude/GPT)

Winner: OpenHands for customization and privacy, Cursor for polished UX and speed.

OpenHands vs Aider

Aspect OpenHands Aider
Philosophy Generalist agent Git-native coding assistant
Workflow Plan → Execute → Verify Edit → Commit → Review
Scope Full-stack + DevOps Code-focused
Model Flexibility BYOK (any provider) BYOK (any provider)
Interface CLI / GUI / Cloud CLI-focused

Winner: OpenHands for complex autonomous tasks, Aider for git-centric workflows.

OpenHands vs Cline

Both are VS Code extensions, but:

Feature OpenHands Cline
Innovation Speed Fast (experimental features) Conservative (stability-focused)
Roadmap Community-driven “Quests” Team-planned releases
Target User Early adopters, power users Pragmatists, production users

Winner: OpenHands for cutting-edge features, Cline for stability.

Technology Stack Support

Host Requirements

OpenHands itself is built with:

  • Python (78%): Backend logic, SDK, orchestration
  • TypeScript (19%): Frontend GUI
  • Docker: Universal runtime requirement

Target Framework Capabilities

Web Development (Excellent)

  • React / Next.js: Native support, RSC-aware
  • Vue / Nuxt: Template-based generation
  • SvelteKit: Adapter configuration for deployment
  • Astro: Island architecture support

Backend Systems (Excellent)

  • Python: Django, FastAPI, Flask (auto pip, venv support)
  • Node.js: Express, NestJS (npm/yarn aware)
  • Go / Rust: Requires custom Dockerfile for toolchains
  • Java: Maven/Gradle projects with openjdk installation

Mobile Development (Mixed)

  • React Native / Flutter: Good for code generation
  • Android: Limited (requires Android SDK in container)
  • iOS: Code generation only (cannot compile without macOS)

Database & Cloud (Excellent)

  • PostgreSQL: Neon, Supabase integration
  • Firebase: Auth, Firestore, Cloud Functions
  • AWS: Bedrock, EC2, S3 via CLI tools

Usage Modalities

1. Command Line Interface (CLI)

The headless option for automation and CI/CD:

# Install
pip install openhands

# Run task
openhands -t "Fix the bug in auth.py"

Features:

  • Live logs of agent progress
  • Keyboard shortcuts for intervention
  • Auto-approval for trusted tasks

2. Local GUI

Visual IDE-like interface for interactive development:

  • File explorer with diff views
  • Terminal output visualization
  • Chat interface for natural language commands

3. OpenHands Cloud

Managed SaaS with team features:

  • Multi-user collaboration
  • Shared conversation threads
  • Integration as a Service: GitHub, Jira, Slack
  • Managed infrastructure (no Docker setup required)

Enterprise Features

Security Architecture

Sandboxing:

  • Agents run as non-root users
  • Network access restricted by default
  • File system access to workspace only

Security Analyzer LLM:

  • Secondary model that evaluates proposed actions
  • Blocks risky operations (git push –force, .env access)
  • Human review required for dangerous commands

Data Privacy

Mode Data Handling
Local Inference (Ollama) Never leaves machine
Enterprise SaaS Zero Data Retention (ZDR)
Standard SaaS 30-day rolling retention

Governance

For large organizations:

  • SSO via OAuth 2.0 Device Flow
  • Audit logs of all agent actions
  • RBAC for team permissions
  • On-premises deployment support

Pricing Model

Self-Hosted (Free Open-Source)

  • Cost: Free (MIT license)
  • You pay: API costs to your LLM provider
  • Hardware: Your Docker host (local machine, cloud VM)
  • Best for: Privacy-conscious teams, custom deployments

Cloud (Managed SaaS)

  • Computing: $5/hour for container usage
  • Inference: Pass-through of API provider costs
  • Team Plan: $99/month flat fee for unlimited users
  • Billing: Credits system for heavy workloads

Economic Advantage: The flat $99/month team pricing can offer savings compared to per-seat competitors like Cursor ($40/user/mo) for larger teams.

Best For

1. DevOps & Automation

OpenHands excels at infrastructure tasks:

  • CI/CD pipeline configuration
  • Database migrations
  • Cloud resource provisioning (Terraform scripts)
  • Deployment automation

2. Privacy-Conscious Organizations

With local inference support:

  • Run agents on-premises
  • Air-gapped environments compatible
  • No code leaves your infrastructure
  • GDPR/HIPAA compliant workflows

3. Open-Source Enthusiasts

  • MIT license: Free to use, modify, distribute
  • Community-driven: Public roadmap via “Quest” system
  • Extensible: Build custom agents with SDK
  • Transparent: Open codebase for security audits

4. Teams Requiring Customization

  • Microagents: Enforce coding standards
  • BYOK Models: Switch providers anytime
  • Custom Skills: Define specialized tools
  • MCP Integration: Connect to any data source

Avoid For

1. Beginners

OpenHands has a steeper learning curve:

  • Docker knowledge required for self-hosting
  • Configuration via YAML/JSON files
  • Understanding of agent concepts needed
  • Less “hand-holding” than Cursor or Copilot

2. Quick Autocomplete

If you only want ghost text suggestions while typing:

  • Use Cursor or GitHub Copilot instead
  • OpenHands is designed for complex, multi-step tasks
  • Overkill for simple completions

3. Resource-Constrained Hardware

Docker requirement means:

  • Minimum: 4GB RAM for simple containers
  • Recommended: 8GB+ for complex workloads
  • Not suitable for very old machines
  • Consider Aider or Roo Code for lighter alternatives

4. UI-Focused Development

OpenHands lacks the polished visual interfaces of:

  • Cursor: Native IDE with deep UX integration
  • v0: Real-time UI rendering
  • Bolt.new: Browser-based visual feedback

Getting Started

Self-Hosted Installation

# Prerequisites: Docker, Python 3.8+

# Install
pip install openhands

# Launch GUI
openhands serve

# Or run directly
openhands -t "Create a FastAPI server"

Cloud (Managed)

  1. Sign up at openhands.ai
  2. Create workspace
  3. Invite team members
  4. Start coding with web interface

Model Configuration

# config.yaml
models:
  provider: anthropic
  model: claude-3-5-sonnet
  api_key: $ANTHROPIC_API_KEY

# Or use local
models:
  provider: ollama
  model: codellama:34b
  base_url: http://localhost:11434

FAQ

Is OpenHands really free?

Yes, the open-source version is free (MIT license). You pay only for:

  • API costs to your LLM provider (OpenAI, Anthropic, etc.)
  • Hardware/cloud infrastructure to run it
  • Optional Cloud managed service ($99/mo for teams)

Can OpenHands replace my entire development team?

No. OpenHands is a force multiplier, not a replacement:

  • Good: Automating repetitive tasks, fixing bugs, running tests
  • Not Good: High-level architecture, product decisions, creative problem-solving
  • Best used as: A junior engineer that requires senior review

What’s the difference between OpenHands and Cursor?

OpenHands = Open-source platform for building agents Cursor = Polished IDE with AI features

Use Case Choose
Quick edits in existing codebase Cursor
Autonomous multi-file refactoring OpenHands
Polished UI/UX Cursor
Custom agent development OpenHands
Privacy (local inference) OpenHands
Zero configuration Cursor

Does OpenHands support mobile development?

Code generation: Yes (React Native, Flutter) Building/Compiling: Limited

  • Can write React Native code
  • Cannot easily run iOS simulators in Docker
  • Android requires custom Dockerfile with SDK
  • Better for: Web apps, backend APIs, DevOps

How secure is OpenHands?

Very secure when configured correctly:

  • Docker isolation prevents host system damage
  • Security Analyzer LLM reviews risky actions
  • Non-root user restricts privileges
  • Network restrictions block unwanted connections
  • Audit logs track all agent actions

Summary

Strengths

  • ✅ Fully autonomous agentic coding
  • ✅ Open-source with commercial support available
  • ✅ Model-agnostic (BYOK flexibility)
  • ✅ DevOps automation built-in
  • ✅ Privacy-first with local inference
  • ✅ Highly extensible (SDK, Microagents, MCP)
  • ✅ Mature platform (v1.0 released December 2025)

Weaknesses

  • ❌ Steeper learning curve than Cursor/Copilot
  • ❌ Docker required (resource overhead)
  • ❌ Less polished UX than commercial IDEs
  • ❌ Mobile development limitations
  • ❌ Configuration required (not zero-setup)

Bottom Line

OpenHands is the premier open-source AI coding agent for developers who want:

  1. Autonomous capabilities beyond autocomplete
  2. Privacy control through local inference
  3. Flexibility to use any LLM provider
  4. Customization via Microagents and SDK
  5. Cost efficiency with flat team pricing

For individual developers who just want faster typing, consider Cursor or GitHub Copilot instead. But for teams building custom AI workflows with enterprise requirements, OpenHands offers unparalleled power and flexibility.

The platform represents the future of agentic software engineering – where developers orchestrate AI agents rather than writing every line of code manually. If you’re ready to embrace this paradigm shift, OpenHands provides the tools to make it a reality.

Updated:

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