dao-code
Open-source TypeScript terminal coding agent for DeepSeek-V4 — builds on DeepSeek's strong price-performance and ultra-cheap cache pricing, engineering byte-stable prefixes and cache-reusing forks so cross-session memory and a continuous self-correction layer add almost no token cost; 1M context, Sk
Dao Code is an open-source terminal coding agent built for DeepSeek V4 that reads code, writes files, runs commands, and fixes bugs directly from the command line. Engineered around cost optimization, it leverages DeepSeek's ultra-cheap prefix caching through byte-stable system prompts and cache-reusing forks to add cross-session memory and self-correction at minimal token expense. Real-world testing shows 95.8% cache hit rates on production bug-fix tasks, achieving 18–30× lower costs than Claude alternatives while maintaining high success rates (70/89 on Terminal-Bench 2.1, 13/14 on SWE-bench-style evaluations).
Key Features
Use Cases
- 01Fixing bugs in open-source repositories with automated test verification and iterative debugging
- 02Building complete projects from scratch in autonomous goal mode (e.g., Redis-compatible server, iOS apps)
- 03Performing complex refactoring across large codebases while maintaining test suites
- 04Running unattended scheduled coding tasks via cron integration with crash recovery
- 05Cost-conscious development teams needing high-quality AI assistance at 1/20th the price of premium alternatives
- 06Chinese developers requiring direct mainland access without VPN or quota limitations
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dao-code — FAQ
What is Dao Code?+
Dao Code is a terminal-native AI coding agent that uses DeepSeek V4 to autonomously read code, write files, execute shell commands, and fix bugs. It's optimized for cost through aggressive caching and runs entirely from the command line with an interactive TUI or one-shot mode.
How do I install Dao Code?+
Install via one-line shell script (curl | sh from the GitHub repo), download standalone binaries for your platform from Releases, use npm global install (npm i -g dao-code), or try zero-install with npx dao-code. Requires Node.js ≥20 for npm installation.
Do I need a DeepSeek API key?+
Yes, you must obtain a DeepSeek API key from platform.deepseek.com/api_keys. On first launch without a key, Dao Code walks you through entering and saving it to ~/.dao/config.json for automatic use in future sessions.
Is Dao Code free and open source?+
The software is MIT-licensed and completely free to use. You pay only for DeepSeek API usage, which runs approximately ¥0.07–0.21 per complete feature implementation based on production testing (far cheaper than Claude alternatives).
Which AI clients or editors does Dao Code work with?+
Dao Code is a standalone terminal agent, not a plugin for other editors. It runs independently via the dao command and connects directly to DeepSeek's API. It can interoperate with MCP servers and is compatible with Claude Code skill/hook/settings formats.
How does the cache optimization reduce costs?+
Dao Code engineers byte-stable system prompts that ride DeepSeek's prefix cache, achieving hit rates above 95% where cached tokens cost 1/120th of uncached ones. Memory and reflection operations run as forks that reuse the main cache, adding quality with negligible token expense.
How do I install dao-code?+
Open the source repository on GitHub and follow its README. dao-code is a agent — MCP Agents Market links you directly to the official repo.
Is dao-code free?+
dao-code is an open-source project hosted on GitHub. Check the repository for its license and any usage requirements.