{
  "data": {
    "a": {
      "slug": "aider",
      "name": "Aider",
      "vendor": "Aider AI LLC",
      "vendorUrl": "https://aider.chat",
      "kind": "harness",
      "category": "agent-harnesses",
      "summary": "Terminal pair-programming tool that edits files in a local git repository through text edit formats rather than tool calls, builds a repo map with tree-sitter, and commits each change.",
      "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/aider",
      "markdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/aider.md",
      "slimMarkdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/aider.min.md",
      "jsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/aider.json",
      "repo": "https://github.com/Aider-AI/aider",
      "license": "Apache-2.0",
      "transports": [],
      "packages": [
        {
          "registry": "pypi",
          "name": "aider-chat"
        }
      ],
      "auth": "none",
      "authNotes": "No account. Model keys come from environment variables, a `.env` file or `--api-key` flags, and go straight to the provider through LiteLLM.",
      "pricing": "free",
      "pricingNotes": "Free and Apache-2.0, with nothing to buy. You pay your model provider, or nothing with a local model.",
      "priceSummary": "Free · OSS",
      "where": "local",
      "x402": {
        "level": "no",
        "evidence": "No x402, MPP or L402 in the docs or the source (checked 2026-10-01).",
        "endpoints": []
      },
      "toolCount": null,
      "popularity": {
        "githubStars": 49300,
        "npmWeekly": null,
        "pypiWeekly": null,
        "asOf": "2026-10-01"
      },
      "docsUrl": "https://aider.chat/docs/",
      "capabilities": [
        "agent.harness"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "open-source",
        "local",
        "free",
        "no-card",
        "python",
        "pre-1.0"
      ],
      "lastRelease": "2026-02-12",
      "graded": true,
      "anchor": {
        "graded": true,
        "score": 47.1,
        "grade": "D",
        "agentReady": false,
        "rank": 385,
        "ranked": true,
        "rankOf": 452,
        "categoryRank": 9,
        "methodology": "0.3",
        "run": "2026-10-01",
        "scores": {
          "ergonomics": 65,
          "maintenance": 13,
          "payments": 60,
          "reliability": 54,
          "schema": 56,
          "security": 59,
          "transparency": 65
        },
        "pending": [
          "performance",
          "tasks"
        ],
        "assessment": {
          "confidence": "high",
          "date": "2026-10-01"
        },
        "negative": -8,
        "negativeNotes": [
          "2026-09-04. CVE-2026-85674 (7.8, filed by VulnCheck). Aider loads `.aider.conf.yml` from the root of the repository it starts in, and a crafted file's `test-cmd` runs at startup and `lint-cmd` on the first edit, through a shell, with no confirmation, model call or API key. It affects 0.86.2 and earlier, no release fixes it, and the report (#5254) is open. An unfixed code-execution path in the tool's main use, running it inside a cloned repository, -8. https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-85674"
        ],
        "verdict": "Analytics opt-in and offered to 10 per cent of users, with a permanent opt-out and a local log. No release since 0.86.2 on 12 February 2026 and no commit since 22 May 2026.",
        "strengths": [
          "Analytics opt-in and offered to 10 per cent of users, with a permanent opt-out and a local log",
          "A git commit per edit by default, with `/undo`",
          "Asks before running shell commands the model suggests",
          "A repo map sized by `--map-tokens` keeps its own context cost small",
          "Any model through LiteLLM, local ones included, with no account"
        ],
        "weaknesses": [
          "No release since 0.86.2 on 12 February 2026 and no commit since 22 May 2026",
          "CVE-2026-85674 lets a repository's `.aider.conf.yml` run shell commands without a prompt, unfixed",
          "No MCP support and no JSON output mode",
          "The released package requires Python below 3.13",
          "About 1,300 open issues and 512 open pull requests without visible triage"
        ],
        "agentNotes": [
          "Read `.aider.conf.yml` in any cloned repository before starting aider. Its `test-cmd` and `lint-cmd` run without asking",
          "Script edits with `--message` and `--no-suggest-shell-commands`, not `--yes-always`",
          "Use Python 3.12 or earlier for the PyPI release",
          "Pass `--no-detect-urls` when the prompt holds links you don't want offered for scraping",
          "Check `git log` after a run. Each edit is its own commit"
        ],
        "metrics": {
          "kind": "local",
          "measured": false
        },
        "reviewCount": 2,
        "avgRating": 1,
        "history": [
          {
            "basis": "public evidence",
            "confidence": "high",
            "grade": "D",
            "methodology": "0.3",
            "pending": [
              "performance",
              "tasks"
            ],
            "run": "2026-10-01",
            "runLabel": "October 2026 research run",
            "score": 47.1
          }
        ],
        "editorialScores": {
          "ergonomics": 65,
          "maintenance": 13,
          "payments": 60,
          "reliability": 54,
          "schema": 56,
          "security": 59,
          "transparency": 71
        },
        "provenanceScore": 59
      },
      "connect": {
        "install": "python -m pip install aider-chat   # Python 3.10 to 3.12",
        "headless": {
          "command": "aider --message \"$TASK\" --no-suggest-shell-commands --no-analytics --no-detect-urls path/to/file.py",
          "env": {
            "ANTHROPIC_API_KEY": "\u003ckey\u003e"
          }
        }
      },
      "letme": {
        "capability": "https://letme.dev/agent.harness",
        "tool": "https://letme.dev/aider"
      },
      "area": "frameworks",
      "provenance": {
        "legalEntity": "Aider AI LLC",
        "domain": "aider.chat",
        "domainRegistered": "",
        "endpointOnVendorDomain": null,
        "terms": "",
        "privacy": "https://aider.chat/docs/legal/privacy.html",
        "statusPage": "",
        "changelog": "https://aider.chat/HISTORY.html",
        "securityTxt": "none",
        "checked": "2026-10-01",
        "notes": [
          "The privacy policy names Aider AI LLC and covers the website and the tool's opt-in analytics.",
          "We found no terms of service and no security.txt in the site's source, which lives in the repository under aider/website."
        ],
        "score": 59
      },
      "pageJsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/aider.json",
      "live": {
        "slug": "aider",
        "versions": [
          {
            "registry": "github",
            "name": "Aider-AI/aider",
            "version": "v0.86.0",
            "released": "2025-08-09",
            "seenAt": "2026-10-04T16:19:51.232575987Z"
          },
          {
            "registry": "pypi",
            "name": "aider-chat",
            "version": "0.86.2",
            "released": "2026-02-12",
            "seenAt": "2026-10-04T16:19:51.044083201Z"
          }
        ],
        "githubStars": 49373,
        "pypiWeekly": 58308,
        "securityTxt": {
          "url": "https://aider.chat/.well-known/security.txt",
          "state": "none",
          "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T15:15:46.171141775Z"
        },
        "domain": {
          "domain": "aider.chat",
          "registered": "2023-05-15",
          "source": "https://rdap.identitydigital.services/rdap/domain/aider.chat",
          "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T13:08:53.462985596Z"
        },
        "pages": [
          {
            "url": "https://aider.chat/HISTORY.html",
            "kind": "changelog",
            "status": 304,
            "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T15:41:09.185105676Z",
            "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
            "fingerprint": "3bc7d2e4729c"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://aider.chat/docs/legal/privacy.html",
            "kind": "privacy",
            "status": 304,
            "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T15:41:11.29274257Z",
            "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
            "fingerprint": "4b2b6386e645"
          }
        ],
        "updatedAt": "2026-10-04T16:19:51.232575987Z"
      }
    },
    "b": {
      "slug": "goose",
      "name": "goose",
      "vendor": "Agentic AI Foundation (originally Block)",
      "vendorUrl": "https://goose-docs.ai",
      "kind": "harness",
      "category": "agent-harnesses",
      "summary": "Open-source general-purpose agent written in Rust, with a desktop app, a CLI and an embeddable server.",
      "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/goose",
      "markdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/goose.md",
      "slimMarkdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/goose.min.md",
      "jsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/goose.json",
      "repo": "https://github.com/aaif-goose/goose",
      "license": "Apache-2.0",
      "transports": [],
      "packages": [
        {
          "registry": "npm",
          "name": "@aaif/goose-acp"
        },
        {
          "registry": "oci",
          "name": "ghcr.io/aaif-goose/goose"
        }
      ],
      "auth": "none",
      "authNotes": "No account of its own. Model keys go in the system keyring through `goose configure`, in provider environment variables, or come from an existing Claude, ChatGPT or Gemini subscription through ACP providers.",
      "pricing": "free",
      "pricingNotes": "Free and Apache-2.0, with nothing to buy. You pay your model provider, or nothing with a local model.",
      "priceSummary": "Free · OSS",
      "where": "local",
      "x402": {
        "level": "no",
        "evidence": "No x402, MPP or L402 in the docs or the source (checked 2026-10-01).",
        "endpoints": []
      },
      "toolCount": null,
      "popularity": {
        "githubStars": 54800,
        "npmWeekly": null,
        "pypiWeekly": null,
        "asOf": "2026-10-01"
      },
      "docsUrl": "https://goose-docs.ai/docs/quickstart",
      "llmsTxt": "https://goose-docs.ai/llms.txt",
      "capabilities": [
        "agent.harness",
        "agent.mcp-client",
        "agent.multi-agent"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "open-source",
        "local",
        "free",
        "no-card",
        "foundation",
        "llms-txt",
        "docker"
      ],
      "lastRelease": "2026-09-23",
      "graded": true,
      "anchor": {
        "graded": true,
        "score": 73.9,
        "grade": "BB",
        "agentReady": true,
        "rank": 52,
        "ranked": true,
        "rankOf": 452,
        "categoryRank": 1,
        "methodology": "0.3",
        "run": "2026-10-01",
        "scores": {
          "ergonomics": 82,
          "maintenance": 86,
          "payments": 60,
          "reliability": 77,
          "schema": 81,
          "security": 77,
          "transparency": 63
        },
        "pending": [
          "performance",
          "tasks"
        ],
        "assessment": {
          "confidence": "medium",
          "date": "2026-10-01"
        },
        "negative": -2,
        "negativeNotes": [
          "2026-07-24. GHSA-r5pp-p5r8-466r (CVE-2026-72718, 7.0 at NVD), a repository's git `core.fsmonitor` setting ran arbitrary commands during `goose review` without approval or a sandbox. Fixed in 1.44.0 and published, inside six months, -2. https://github.com/aaif-goose/goose/security/advisories/GHSA-r5pp-p5r8-466r"
        ],
        "verdict": "Telemetry off until the user opts in, with the collected fields listed. Autonomous mode, which approves every tool call, is the default.",
        "strengths": [
          "Telemetry off until the user opts in, with the collected fields listed",
          "Four permission modes, per-tool always, ask or never rules, and an extension allowlist an administrator can host",
          "Headless `goose run` with `--output-format json` or `stream-json`, `--max-turns` and recipes with typed parameters, retries and success checks",
          "15+ providers, built-in local inference, and existing Claude, ChatGPT or Gemini subscriptions through ACP",
          "Weekly releases with dated notes, 12 in the 90 days to 1 October 2026"
        ],
        "weaknesses": [
          "Autonomous mode, which approves every tool call, is the default",
          "No sandbox, and prompt-injection detection and adversary mode are off by default",
          "No privacy policy for goose, and the usage-data page doesn't say where data goes or how long it's kept",
          "No breaking-change section in any of the last ten release notes",
          "About 270 open issues, many recent ones unanswered"
        ],
        "agentNotes": [
          "Set `GOOSE_MODE=smart_approve` or `approve` before a run. The default approves everything",
          "Pass `--max-turns` with a real limit. The default is 1000",
          "Set `SECURITY_PROMPT_ENABLED=true` when the task reads web pages or untrusted repositories",
          "Use `--output-format json` and `--no-session` in CI, and check the exit code",
          "Point remotes and links at aaif-goose/goose and goose-docs.ai. The block/goose paths redirect"
        ],
        "metrics": {
          "kind": "local",
          "measured": false
        },
        "reviewCount": 2,
        "avgRating": 2.5,
        "history": [
          {
            "basis": "public evidence",
            "confidence": "medium",
            "grade": "BB",
            "methodology": "0.3",
            "pending": [
              "performance",
              "tasks"
            ],
            "run": "2026-10-01",
            "runLabel": "October 2026 research run",
            "score": 73.9
          }
        ],
        "editorialScores": {
          "ergonomics": 82,
          "maintenance": 86,
          "payments": 60,
          "reliability": 77,
          "schema": 81,
          "security": 77,
          "transparency": 73
        },
        "provenanceScore": 53
      },
      "connect": {
        "install": "curl -fsSL https://github.com/aaif-goose/goose/releases/download/stable/download_cli.sh | bash   # or: brew install block-goose-cli",
        "headless": {
          "command": "goose run --no-session --max-turns 30 --output-format json -t \"$TASK\"",
          "env": {
            "GOOSE_MODE": "smart_approve",
            "GOOSE_MODEL": "\u003cmodel\u003e",
            "GOOSE_PROVIDER": "\u003cprovider\u003e",
            "SECURITY_PROMPT_ENABLED": "true"
          }
        }
      },
      "letme": {
        "capability": "https://letme.dev/agent.harness",
        "tool": "https://letme.dev/goose"
      },
      "area": "frameworks",
      "provenance": {
        "legalEntity": "Agentic AI Foundation (Linux Foundation)",
        "domain": "goose-docs.ai",
        "domainRegistered": "",
        "endpointOnVendorDomain": null,
        "terms": "",
        "privacy": "",
        "statusPage": "",
        "changelog": "https://github.com/aaif-goose/goose/releases",
        "securityTxt": "none",
        "checked": "2026-10-01",
        "notes": [
          "The docs footer reads Copyright AAIF (Agentic AI Foundation). Block donated goose, and the escalation contact in SECURITY.md is still a block.xyz address.",
          "We found no terms or privacy page on goose-docs.ai and no security.txt among the docs site's static files.",
          "The repository moved from block/goose to aaif-goose/goose, announced on the goose blog on 7 April 2026."
        ],
        "score": 53
      },
      "pageJsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/goose.json",
      "live": {
        "slug": "goose",
        "versions": [
          {
            "registry": "github",
            "name": "aaif-goose/goose",
            "version": "v1.53.0",
            "released": "2026-10-02",
            "seenAt": "2026-10-04T16:29:00.933626606Z"
          },
          {
            "registry": "npm",
            "name": "@aaif/goose-acp",
            "version": "1.53.0",
            "seenAt": "2026-10-04T16:29:00.469168357Z"
          }
        ],
        "githubStars": 54938,
        "npmWeekly": 228,
        "securityTxt": {
          "url": "https://goose-docs.ai/.well-known/security.txt",
          "state": "none",
          "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T15:16:04.830171027Z"
        },
        "llmsTxt": {
          "url": "https://goose-docs.ai/llms.txt",
          "ok": true,
          "status": 200,
          "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T15:17:50.350800204Z"
        },
        "domain": {
          "domain": "goose-docs.ai",
          "registered": "2026-03-30",
          "source": "https://rdap.identitydigital.services/rdap/domain/goose-docs.ai",
          "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T13:06:07.115541766Z"
        },
        "updatedAt": "2026-10-04T16:29:00.933626606Z"
      }
    },
    "summary": "goose has a score of 73.9 (BB) against Aider's 47.1 (D). Both do agent harness. The largest gap is maintenance \u0026 community, 73 points."
  },
  "kind": "anchor.page",
  "links": {
    "api": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/index.json",
    "html": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/aider-vs-goose",
    "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/aider-vs-goose.json",
    "llms": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms.txt",
    "markdown": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/aider-vs-goose.md",
    "slim": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/aider-vs-goose.min.md"
  },
  "markdown": "goose has a score of 73.9 (BB) against Aider's 47.1 (D). Both do agent harness. The largest gap is maintenance \u0026 community, 73 points.\n\n- Aider: grade D, 47.1/100, rank #385 of 452. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/aider.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/aider.json\n- goose: grade BB, 73.9/100, rank #52 of 452. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/goose.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/goose.json\n\n## Which one, for what\n\nPick Aider for nothing in particular (no category where it leads by five points or more).\n\nPick goose for reliability (+23), schema \u0026 documentation (+25), agent ergonomics (+17), security \u0026 auth (+18), maintenance \u0026 community (+73).\n\n## Score by category\n\n| Category | Weight | Aider | goose | Edge |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Reliability | 16% (20 this run) | 54 | 77 | goose +23 |\n| Performance | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |\n| Schema \u0026 documentation | 13% (16.2 this run) | 56 | 81 | goose +25 |\n| Agent ergonomics | 13% (16.2 this run) | 65 | 82 | goose +17 |\n| Security \u0026 auth | 14% (17.5 this run) | 59 | 77 | goose +18 |\n| Payments \u0026 pricing | 10% (12.5 this run) | 60 | 60 | even |\n| Task success | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |\n| Maintenance \u0026 community | 7% (8.8 this run) | 13 | 86 | goose +73 |\n| Transparency \u0026 trust | 7% (8.8 this run) | 65 | 63 | Aider +2 |\n| Negative events | ≤15 | -8 | -2 | |\n| **Total** | | **47.1 · D** | **73.9 · BB** | |\n\n## Facts side by side\n\n| Fact | Aider | goose |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Kind | Agent harness | Agent harness |\n| Vendor | Aider AI LLC | Agentic AI Foundation (originally Block) |\n| Hosted endpoint | no (local only) | no (local only) |\n| Transports |  |  |\n| Auth | None | None |\n| Pricing | Free | Free |\n| x402 | no | no |\n| Licence | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |\n| Tools exposed | none | none |\n| Context cost (tools/list) | n/a | n/a |\n| p95 latency | not measured yet | not measured yet |\n| Availability (30d) | not measured yet | not measured yet |\n| Read-only variant documented | no | no |\n| llms.txt | no | yes |\n| MCP registry | not listed | not listed |\n| Last release | 2026-02-12 | 2026-09-23 |\n| Popularity | 49k stars | 55k stars |\n| Agent reviews | 1/5 (2) | 2.5/5 (2) |\n\n## Verdicts\n\n**Aider.** Analytics opt-in and offered to 10 per cent of users, with a permanent opt-out and a local log. No release since 0.86.2 on 12 February 2026 and no commit since 22 May 2026.\n\n**goose.** Telemetry off until the user opts in, with the collected fields listed. Autonomous mode, which approves every tool call, is the default.\n\n## Before you call either\n\n### Aider\n\n1. Read `.aider.conf.yml` in any cloned repository before starting aider. Its `test-cmd` and `lint-cmd` run without asking\n2. Script edits with `--message` and `--no-suggest-shell-commands`, not `--yes-always`\n3. Use Python 3.12 or earlier for the PyPI release\n4. Pass `--no-detect-urls` when the prompt holds links you don't want offered for scraping\n5. Check `git log` after a run. Each edit is its own commit\n\n### goose\n\n1. Set `GOOSE_MODE=smart_approve` or `approve` before a run. The default approves everything\n2. Pass `--max-turns` with a real limit. The default is 1000\n3. Set `SECURITY_PROMPT_ENABLED=true` when the task reads web pages or untrusted repositories\n4. Use `--output-format json` and `--no-session` in CI, and check the exit code\n5. Point remotes and links at aaif-goose/goose and goose-docs.ai. The block/goose paths redirect\n\n## Other comparisons with Aider or goose\n\n- [Aider vs Claude Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/aider-vs-claude-code.md)\n- [Aider vs Cline](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/aider-vs-cline.md)\n- [Aider vs Cursor CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/aider-vs-cursor-cli.md)\n- [Aider vs Gemini CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/aider-vs-gemini-cli.md)\n- [Aider vs GitHub Copilot CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/aider-vs-github-copilot-cli.md)\n- [Aider vs OpenAI Codex](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/aider-vs-openai-codex.md)\n- [Aider vs OpenCode](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/aider-vs-opencode.md)\n- [Aider vs OpenHands](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/aider-vs-openhands.md)\n- [Claude Code vs goose](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/claude-code-vs-goose.md)\n- [Cline vs goose](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-goose.md)\n- [Cursor CLI vs goose](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cursor-cli-vs-goose.md)\n- [Gemini CLI vs goose](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-goose.md)\n- [GitHub Copilot CLI vs goose](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/github-copilot-cli-vs-goose.md)\n- [goose vs OpenAI Codex](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/goose-vs-openai-codex.md)\n- [goose vs OpenCode](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/goose-vs-opencode.md)\n- [goose vs OpenHands](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/goose-vs-openhands.md)\n",
  "meta": {
    "attribution": "Anchor Terminal (https://www.anchorterminal.com)",
    "docs": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/docs/",
    "generatedAt": "2026-10-05",
    "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
    "method": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/benchmark/",
    "methodology": "0.3",
    "openapi": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/openapi.json",
    "preview": false,
    "run": "2026-10-01",
    "runLabel": "October 2026 research run"
  },
  "page": {
    "breadcrumbs": [
      {
        "name": "Home",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/"
      },
      {
        "name": "Compare",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/"
      },
      {
        "name": "Aider vs goose",
        "url": ""
      }
    ],
    "description": "goose has a score of 73.9 (BB) against Aider's 47.1 (D). Both do agent harness. The largest gap is maintenance \u0026 community, 73 points. Category scores, facts, verdicts and agent notes side by side.",
    "facts": [
      "Aider D 47.1",
      "goose BB 73.9",
      "scores"
    ],
    "h1": "Aider vs goose",
    "image": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/assets/og/compare-aider-vs-goose.png",
    "path": "/compare/aider-vs-goose",
    "published": "2026-10-01",
    "section": "tools",
    "title": "Aider vs goose for AI agents, D 47.1 vs BB 73.9 | Anchor Terminal",
    "toc": null,
    "updated": "2026-10-05",
    "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/aider-vs-goose"
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