How Opencode Changed the Way I Code

If you want to ship features faster, start with small, testable experiments — that’s the core Opencode mindset that changed how I approach problems. This post explains the tools, patterns, and daily habits I adopted from Opencode, with concrete examples you can copy into your workflow today.

About Opencode

Opencode is a set of pragmatic practices and lightweight tools that prioritize rapid feedback, reproducibility, and collaborative clarity. It focuses on making code changes small, observable, and reversible so teams move faster with less risk.

Before Opencode I shipped large, ambiguous changes that required long reviews and lots of rework. After adopting Opencode patterns I reduced review cycles, decreased bugs in production, and regained confidence to ship daily.

Workflow changes I made

From big PRs to tiny experiments

The single biggest change: I stopped trying to finish entire features in one branch. Instead I split work into small, testable commits and branches that demonstrate value early.

Example sequence:

Create a feature flag and a minimal API endpoint.
Add a unit test that describes expected behavior.
Implement a tiny, working handler.
Open a short PR with a clear goal and rollout plan.

This keeps reviews focused and allows safe, incremental rollouts.

Better branching and commit hygiene

I use descriptive branch names and small commits that each do one thing. Commit messages follow this pattern:

feat(auth): add token rotation endpoint
fix(cli): handle empty config file
refactor(api): extract validation middleware

Small, focused commits make bisecting and reverting trivial.

Automated feedback loops

Opencode emphasizes fast, automated feedback. I rely on small CI checks and local linters to catch issues before review.

Local example (run before commit):

# quick local checks
pnpm -w -s lint && pnpm -w -s test

In CI I run only targeted checks for the branch: unit tests, type checks, and a quick build. This keeps CI green and fast.

Tooling and examples

CLI habits and snippets

Adopt a few CLI habits that save time:

Use atomic commands that fail fast.
Prefer quiet, deterministic output for scripts.
Keep reproducible dev setups (Devcontainer or dotfiles).

Useful snippet to run tests for changed packages (monorepo):

# run tests only for changed packages
pnpm -w -s -C . run -w test --filter @your-scope/... --since origin/main

Lightweight CI checks

Only include checks that provide value for the change being proposed. For example, skip heavy integration tests on WIP branches and run them on main or when a PR reaches a specific size.

CI pattern I use:

quick: lint, unit tests, typecheck (fast, run on every PR)
full: integration tests, e2e, deploy preview (run on merge to main or manual trigger)

Code review checklist

Make reviews actionable and short. Use a checklist in the PR description:

Does this change have a clear, testable goal?
Are tests added or updated?
Is there a migration or deploy risk? If yes, is rollout plan defined?
Are docs or changelogs updated?

Encourage reviewers to leave focused comments tied to goals, not style nitpicks.

Practical tips to adopt Opencode today

Ship a one-line experiment: implement the simplest change that proves a hypothesis.
Add a single unit test for that experiment before implementing it.
Keep CI checks that run quickly (< 5 minutes) for PRs.
Use feature flags for risky changes and toggle them progressively.
Write clear PR descriptions with acceptance criteria and rollback steps.
Automate mundane tasks (formatting, dependency updates) with bots.

Small habits compound: after a few weeks you’ll notice shorter reviews, fewer rollbacks, and faster iterations.

Conclusion

Opencode isn’t a single tool — it’s a mindset: make changes small, observable, and reversible. By adopting small experiments, improving commit hygiene, and favoring fast feedback you can ship safer and faster.

Try this today: pick one open issue, split it into a one-commit experiment with a test, and open a focused PR. Tell me how it went in the comments.