Amp
A free AI coding agent from Sourcegraph that lets Deep Mode handle hour-long autonomous coding tasks in the background – ideal for delegating complex, time-intensive coding.
Tool overview
Based on current evidence, Amp has attracted some attention in the Chinese tech community but the discussion is dominated by introductory articles and opinion pieces, with very little hands-on testing from real-world developers. The free, unlimited-token model and the Deep Mode concept spark curiosity, but its practical reliability remains largely unproven.
What it does: Amp operates as a CLI-based agent with Smart Mode for instant Q&A and Deep Mode for autonomous, long-running tasks (45–60 minutes). In Deep Mode, you give a high-level goal, and Amp independently searches code, writes, debugs, and delivers results. It supports thread management, MCP tools, and can be integrated into automation loops like Ralph.
Barrier to entry & cost: According to community posts, Amp is currently free with no token limits, though it likely requires a Sourcegraph account and API key. The CLI-only interface demands comfort with terminal workflows, and the long-running nature of Deep Mode means developers must adapt to asynchronous task management. Conservatively, it suits those already familiar with AI coding agents.