How I Built ArchonCLI: A Free, Lightweight AI Coding CLI Tool for Developers on a Budget
Hi devs 👋 — I’m a 17-year-old student who was frustrated paying $20/month for AI coding tools — literally my entire food budget.
So, I decided to build ArchonCLI, a completely free AI coding assistant that puts developers in control.
🚀 Why ArchonCLI?
Most AI coding tools today:
- 💸 Lock you into expensive monthly subscriptions
- 🔒 Only support one AI provider
- 📦 Require huge downloads (500MB+)
- ❌ Give you no control over which AI models you can use
✅ My Solution — ArchonCLI
ArchonCLI is:
- Free to use — no subscriptions
- Uses your own API keys (OpenAI, Gemini)
- Lightweight and Python-based (<5 MB) → Instant install
- Flexible — switch providers mid-session
- Secure — all data stays on your machine
🔧 What Can You Control?
With ArchonCLI, you can:
- 🎯 Choose your AI provider anytime
- 💵 Monitor your actual API spending
- 🔄 Switch models in the middle of a conversation
- 🛡 Keep all your data local and private
🛠 Features Coming Soon
- 🌐 Multi-provider support (OpenAI, Gemini, and more)
- 🧠 Intelligent routing between models
- 📂 Persistent context memory for tasks
- 🤖 Autonomous code execution
- 📊 Real-time usage tracking
💡 Why It Matters
As both a student and indie developer, subscription fees are a huge barrier.
ArchonCLI makes AI coding accessible by:
- Eliminating hidden fees
- Providing control over providers and spending
- Remaining lightweight and easy to install
📅 What’s Next?
ArchonCLI is launching soon!
If you’re interested in early access, updates, or want to follow the journey:
💬 I’d love to hear your thoughts or feature requests — drop a comment below!
