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OpenHands

What it is

OpenHands (formerly OpenDevin) is an open-source platform for building autonomous AI agents for software engineering.

What problem it solves

It provides a full agentic environment with a terminal, browser, and file editor, allowing models to solve complex engineering tasks that require more than just file edits.

Where it fits in the stack

Agent / Orchestration. It is a heavy-duty agent platform that can perform multi-step, autonomous tasks.

Architecture overview

Client-server architecture. Usually runs in a Docker container to provide a sandboxed environment where the agent can safely execute shell commands and browse the web.

Typical workflows

  • End-to-end Feature Development: "Implement a new dashboard page, test it in the browser, and fix any CSS issues."
  • Automated Bug Hunting: "Find and fix the memory leak in the background worker."
  • Tool Building: "Write a script to migrate the database and run it against the dev instance."

Strengths

  • High Autonomy: Can iterate through multiple steps (Plan -> Act -> Observe) without constant human input.
  • Multimodal: Can use a browser to verify changes or gather information.
  • Sandboxed: Runs in Docker, protecting the host system from potentially harmful commands.

Limitations

  • Complexity: Heavier to set up and run than simpler tools like Aider.
  • Resource Intensive: Requires significant local resources or a remote server to run the Docker environment.
  • Experimental: Some features are still in active development and may be less stable.

When to use it

  • For complex, multi-step tasks that require high autonomy.
  • When the agent needs to verify its work via a browser or a running application.
  • When you want a fully sandboxed execution environment.

When not to use it

  • For simple file edits where Aider would be faster.
  • On machines with limited RAM/CPU for Docker.

Security considerations

  • Sandbox Escape: While Docker provides isolation, be cautious when giving agents high-level permissions.
  • API Costs: Highly autonomous agents can consume many tokens quickly.