OpenCode is an open-source, MIT-licensed alternative to Claude Code that delivers the same terminal-native agentic coding experience — file editing, shell commands, LSP integration, multi-session support — without vendor lock-in. This tutorial walks through deploying OpenCode on a DigitalOcean Droplet via the 1-Click Marketplace App, pre-configured for DigitalOcean Serverless Inference. After SSHing in and pasting a Gradient model access key, you can immediately use models like MiniMax M2.5, Kimi K2.5, Claude Sonnet, DeepSeek, or Llama 3.3, switching between them with a single /models command. Key advantages include model freedom, pay-per-token pricing, privacy (no data retention), and full auditability of the codebase.
Table of contents
Key TakeawaysWhy Is Claude Code Popular?Why Use OpenCode + DigitalOcean Instead?How to Determine If This Is Right for YouStep 1 — Creating a Gradient Model Access KeyStep 2 — Deploying the OpenCode 1-Click ApplicationStep 3 — SSHing In and Completing the Setup WizardStep 4 — Running OpenCode and Choosing Your ModelStep 5 — Pinning Your Model and Adding Project RulesFAQConclusionRelated LinksSort: