coding-agents.md

Coding agents

Table of contents

• What is a coding agent
• Choose a coding agent
• Set up Qwen Code-based agent
  • Set up Qwen Code
  • Set up a coding agent in VS Code
    • Set up Qwen Code Companion with Qwen3-Coder
    • Set up GitHub Copilot Chat with Qwen3-Coder

What is a coding agent

A coding agent lets you use LLMs to help you complete your tasks.

Choose a coding agent

You may use any coding agent with any LLM.

OpenRouter provides free models.

Set up Qwen Code-based agent

Below, we explain how to set up coding agents based on the free Qwen3-Coder LLM.

Complete these steps:

1. Set up Qwen Code
2. Set up a coding agent in VS Code

Set up Qwen Code

Qwen Code provides 1000 free requests per day.

• Install Qwen Code.
• Authenticate.
• Check that you have Qwen credentials at ~/.qwen/oauth_creds.json.

Set up a coding agent in VS Code

Set up a coding agent in VS Code using any of the following methods:

• Method 1: Set up Qwen Code Companion with Qwen3-Coder
• Method 2: Set up GitHub Copilot Chat with Qwen3-Coder

Set up Qwen Code Companion with Qwen3-Coder

1. Open the Chat panel using one of these methods:
   1. Method 1:
      1. Go to the Editor Toolbar.
      2. Click the Qwen icon.
   2. Method 2:
      1. Run using the Command Palette: Qwen Code: Open
2. Write /login in the chat.
3. Write @<file-name> to refer to the file <file-name>.

Set up GitHub Copilot Chat with Qwen3-Coder

Note

Copilot Chat is not officially available for users in Russia (see this discussion).

1. Install the github.copilot-chat and denizhandaklr.vscode-qwen-copilot extensions.
2. Run using the Command Palette: Qwen Copilot: Authenticate
3. Complete the authentication procedure.
4. Run using the Command Palette: Chat: Manage Language Models
5. Click Add Models.
6. Click Qwen Code.
7. Double click Qwen 3 Coder Plus to make the model visible.
8. Run using the Command Palette: Chat: Open Chat
9. The CHAT panel will open.
10. Go to CHAT.
11. Click Auto (Pick Model).
12. Click Qwen 3 Coder Plus.