nanocode is a minimalist coding agent implementation designed as a compact alternative to Claude Code, packaged in a single Python file with no external dependencies and totaling around 250 lines of code. It implements a full agentic loop where the model can reason, decide when to use tools, execute those tools, and iterate until producing a final answer, making it useful for simple AI-assisted coding workflows. It includes a set of integrated tools such as read, write, edit, glob, grep, and bash that let the agent interact with the file system and shell commands directly from the terminal, and it keeps a conversation history with colored terminal output for readability. The project exemplifies how lightweight architectures can still support practical agent workflows without complex infrastructure, making it suitable for developers exploring agent frameworks or building custom coding assistants.
Features
- Full agentic loop with tool use
- Minimalist one-file Python implementation
- Built-in terminal tools for file and shell operations
- Conversation history with colored output
- Configurable model backend via env variables
- Easy to inspect and modify for prototyping
Project Samples
