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:

👉 Read the Docs

💬 I’d love to hear your thoughts or feature requests — drop a comment below!

Leave a Reply