AI Tools
A comprehensive guide to installing and using AI tools on Debian — coding assistants, AI editors, local LLMs, image generation, and AI platforms.
AI tools have become an integral part of the modern development workflow — from terminal-based coding agents and intelligent IDEs to locally-run language models and image generators. This guide covers how to install and use the most popular AI tools on Debian.
AI Editors / IDEs
Code editors with built-in AI capabilities for intelligent completion, conversational programming, and code refactoring.
| Tool | Description | Open Source | Installation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cursor | VS Code-based AI editor with built-in assistant | No | .deb / AppImage |
| Windsurf | AI Agent IDE by Codeium | No | APT repository |
| Zed | High-performance Rust editor with LLM integration | Yes | Install script |
AI Coding Assistants (CLI)
Terminal-based AI coding tools for command-line workflows.
| Tool | Description | Open Source | Installation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claude Code | Anthropic's official terminal AI coding tool | No | Install script / npm |
| Aider | AI pair programming CLI, multi-model support | Yes | pip |
| OpenCode | Open-source terminal AI coding agent | Yes | Install script / npm |
| Cline | VS Code autonomous coding agent (5M+ users) | Yes | VS Code extension |
| Continue | Open-source AI code assistant (26K+ Stars) | Yes | VS Code / JetBrains / CLI |
| GitHub Copilot | GitHub's official AI coding assistant | No | gh CLI extension |
| Gemini CLI | Google's open-source CLI AI tool, free for personal use | Yes | npm |
AI Skills
Debian/Linux reliability rules that make AI agents verify system facts before installing packages, debugging services, or changing configuration.
| Entry | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|
| DebianClub AI Skills | Debian/Linux environment detection, APT safety, command safety, systemd, networking, development setup, GPU, containers, security audits, and Debian packaging workflows | Phase 2 |
| Install & Distribution | Local install, replace install, registry, packaging, and pre-release checks | Live |
| Usage | Invoke the skill in an AI agent and require fact verification before advice | Live |
| Safety Boundary | Read-only defaults, risky command detection, approval before changes, and log redaction | Live |
Local LLM Runners
Run large language models locally for privacy and offline use.
| Tool | Description | Installation |
|---|---|---|
| Ollama | Most popular local LLM runner with model registry | Install script |
| LM Studio | GUI application for discovering and running LLMs | AppImage |
| llama.cpp | High-performance C++ LLM inference engine | Build from source |
| llamafile | Single-file portable LLM, zero dependencies | Download and run |
| Jan | Privacy-first local AI chat application | AppImage / .deb |
| LocalAI | OpenAI API-compatible local inference server | Docker |
AI Image & Speech
Locally-run AI image generation and speech recognition tools.
| Tool | Description | Installation |
|---|---|---|
| Stable Diffusion WebUI | Most popular AI image generation interface | Git + Python |
| ComfyUI | Node-based AI image generation UI | Python |
| OpenAI Whisper | Speech recognition and transcription | pip |
AI Platforms & Automation
Visual AI application builders and workflow automation tools.
| Tool | Description | Installation |
|---|---|---|
| Dify | LLM app development platform with visual workflow + RAG | Docker |
| n8n | Workflow automation platform, 400+ app integrations | Docker / npm |
| OpenClaw | Self-hosted AI agent platform | Install script |
Common Prerequisites
Many AI tools share common dependencies. Install these before proceeding with individual guides.
Node.js
Claude Code, OpenCode, Gemini CLI, and similar tools usually require Node.js 18+. Check whether the Debian repository version satisfies the target tool first:
apt-cache policy nodejs npmIf the repository version is sufficient, prefer Debian packages:
sudo apt install nodejs npm
node --version
npm --versionIf you truly need a third-party repository or installer script, review the source, GPG key, rollback path, and impact on the system Node.js package before making changes. Do not run unreviewed curl | bash commands.
Python
Required for Aider, Whisper, Stable Diffusion, and other ML tools.
# Debian 13 includes Python 3 by default
sudo apt install python3 python3-pip python3-venvDocker
Recommended for Dify, n8n, LocalAI, and other platforms.
sudo apt install docker.io docker-compose-plugin
sudo usermod -aG docker $USER
# Log out and back in for changes to take effectNVIDIA GPU Drivers
Optional but recommended for local LLMs and image generation.
# Install NVIDIA drivers
sudo apt install nvidia-driver
# Verify after reboot
nvidia-smiNot all tools require a GPU. Ollama, llama.cpp, and others can run in CPU-only mode — just slower.
Related Resources
- Development Tools — Application installation on Debian
- Docker Guide — Docker installation and usage
- Command Line Basics — Getting comfortable with the terminal
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