opencode/packages/www/content/docs/config.mdx

---
title: "Config"
---

You shouldn't have to configure OpenCode manually. Ask OpenCode to update its configuration for you.

## Format

OpenCode supports both **JSON** and **JSONC** (JSON with Comments) configuration files.

```jsonc title="opencode.jsonc"
{
  "$schema": "https://opencode.ai/config.json",
  "model": "openai/gpt-5.2-custom",
  "providers": {
    "openai": {
      "models": {
        "gpt-5.2-custom": {
          "modelID": "gpt-5.2",
          "name": "GPT-5.2 Custom",
        },
      },
    },
  },
}
```

## Locations

OpenCode loads global configuration from:

```text
~/.config/opencode/opencode.json(c)
```

Project-specific configuration can use either form:

```text
/home/user/projects/my-app/opencode.json(c)
/home/user/projects/my-app/.opencode/opencode.json(c)
```

When OpenCode starts, it searches for configuration files from the current
directory upward to the project root. It merges direct `opencode.json(c)` files
from the project root toward the current directory, then does the same for
files inside `.opencode` directories. A `.opencode` config therefore overrides
every direct config, even when the direct config is closer to the current
directory. Avoid mixing the two forms across one project hierarchy unless this
precedence is intentional.

For example, consider a monorepo with OpenCode started from
`/home/user/projects/acme/packages/web`:

```text
~/.config/opencode/opencode.json

/home/user/projects/acme/
├── opencode.json
└── packages/
    └── web/
        ├── opencode.json
        └── src/
```

OpenCode applies these files from lowest to highest precedence:

1. `~/.config/opencode/opencode.json`
2. `/home/user/projects/acme/opencode.json`
3. `/home/user/projects/acme/packages/web/opencode.json`

In this direct-config example, the package config overrides matching settings
from the repository config, which overrides matching settings from the global
config. Settings that do not conflict are preserved from every file.

## Schema

The complete OpenCode configuration schema is available at
[opencode.ai/config.json](https://opencode.ai/config.json).

Add the `$schema` field to your configuration file to enable validation and
autocomplete in editors that support JSON Schema:

```json title="opencode.json"
{
  "$schema": "https://opencode.ai/config.json"
}
```

Use the schema as the source of truth for available fields, accepted values,
and nested configuration shapes.

### Shell

Set the shell used by the terminal and shell tools.

```jsonc
{
  "shell": "/bin/zsh",
}
```

### Model

Set the default model in `provider/model` format. The root default currently
does not retain a `#variant`; agent and command model references can select one.

```jsonc
{
  "model": "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-5",
}
```

See the [models guide](/models) for model selection and local models.

### Default agent

Choose the primary agent used when a session does not select one explicitly.

```jsonc
{
  "default_agent": "build",
}
```

See the [agents guide](/agents) for built-in and custom
agents.

### Autoupdate

Control automatic updates from the global config. Set this to `false` to
disable updates. The current beta treats `true` and `"notify"` identically and
automatically installs compatible non-major updates; project-level values are
ignored.

```jsonc
{
  "autoupdate": false,
}
```

### Sharing

Set the intended session sharing policy. V2 accepts this field, but session
sharing is not implemented yet.

```jsonc
{
  "share": "manual",
}
```

See the [sharing guide](/sharing) for more details.

### Username

Set a username for future display behavior. V2 accepts this field but does not
currently display it in conversations.

```jsonc
{
  "username": "alice",
}
```

### Permissions

Define ordered rules that allow, deny, or ask before an agent uses a tool on a
matching resource.

```jsonc
{
  "permissions": [
    {
      "action": "shell",
      "resource": "git push *",
      "effect": "ask",
    },
  ],
}
```

See the [permissions guide](/permissions) for rule matching and available actions.

### Agents

Override built-in agents or define specialized agents with their own model,
instructions, mode, and permissions.

```jsonc
{
  "agents": {
    "reviewer": {
      "description": "Review changes without editing files",
      "mode": "subagent",
      "system": "Focus on correctness, security, and missing tests.",
      "permissions": [{ "action": "edit", "resource": "*", "effect": "deny" }],
    },
  },
}
```

See the [agents guide](/agents) for all agent options and file-based agents.

### Snapshots

Enable or disable filesystem snapshots used by undo and revert behavior.

```jsonc
{
  "snapshots": false,
}
```

See the [snapshots guide](/snapshots) for undo and redo behavior.

### Watcher

Ignore files and directories that should not trigger filesystem updates.

```jsonc
{
  "watcher": {
    "ignore": ["dist/**", "coverage/**"],
  },
}
```

### Formatter

Define formatter settings for compatibility and future use. V2 accepts this
field, but it does not run formatters yet.

```jsonc
{
  "formatter": {
    "prettier": {
      "command": ["bunx", "prettier", "--write", "$FILE"],
      "extensions": [".js", ".ts", ".tsx"],
    },
  },
}
```

See the [formatters guide](/formatters) for accepted fields and current limitations.

### LSP

Define language server settings for compatibility and future use. V2 accepts
this field, but it does not start language servers yet.

```jsonc
{
  "lsp": {
    "typescript": {
      "command": ["typescript-language-server", "--stdio"],
      "extensions": [".ts", ".tsx"],
    },
  },
}
```

See the [LSP guide](/lsp) for accepted fields and current limitations.

### Media

Control how oversized images loaded by the `read` tool are resized or rejected
before they are sent to a model.

```jsonc
{
  "media": {
    "image": {
      "auto_resize": true,
      "max_width": 2000,
      "max_height": 2000,
      "max_base64_bytes": 5242880,
    },
  },
}
```

See the [attachments guide](/attachments) for image processing and limits.

### Tool output

Set the maximum number of lines and bytes retained from a tool result.

```jsonc
{
  "tool_output": {
    "max_lines": 2000,
    "max_bytes": 51200,
  },
}
```

### MCP

Configure local and remote Model Context Protocol servers. Global timeouts can
be overridden by an individual server.

```jsonc
{
  "mcp": {
    "servers": {
      "playwright": {
        "type": "local",
        "command": ["bunx", "@playwright/mcp"],
      },
    },
  },
}
```

See the [MCP guide](/mcp-servers) for remote servers, OAuth, environment variables, and timeouts.

### Compaction

Control automatic context compaction and how much recent context it preserves.

```jsonc
{
  "compaction": {
    "auto": true,
    "keep": {
      "tokens": 15000,
    },
    "buffer": 20000,
  },
}
```

See the [compaction guide](/compaction) for automatic context management.

### Session warming

Keep recently active model sessions warm with periodic transient requests.
Warming is disabled by default; set it to `true` to use the four-minute idle
interval and 30-minute active window.

```jsonc
{
  "warming": {
    "prompt": "Do not perform any work. Reply with exactly: OK",
    "interval": "4 minutes",
    "duration": "30 minutes",
  },
}
```

See the [session warming guide](/warming) for request behavior, customization,
and cost considerations.

### Skills

Add directories or URLs that OpenCode should search for agent skills.

```jsonc
{
  "skills": ["./team-skills", "https://example.com/.well-known/skills/"],
}
```

See the [skills guide](/skills) for skill structure and automatic discovery under `.opencode/skills/`.

### Commands

Define reusable slash commands as named prompt templates.

```jsonc
{
  "commands": {
    "review": {
      "description": "Review the current changes",
      "template": "Review the current diff for correctness and missing tests.",
    },
  },
}
```

See the [commands guide](/commands) for arguments, models, agents, and file-based commands.

### Instructions

Declare additional instruction files, globs, or URLs. V2 accepts this field,
but does not load these entries yet; use `AGENTS.md` for active instructions.

```jsonc
{
  "instructions": ["CONTRIBUTING.md", "docs/guidelines/*.md"],
}
```

See the [instructions guide](/instructions) for project instructions and `AGENTS.md`.

### References

Make local directories or Git repositories available as named supporting
context.

```jsonc
{
  "references": {
    "docs": {
      "path": "../product-docs",
      "description": "Product behavior and terminology",
    },
    "effect": {
      "repository": "Effect-TS/effect",
      "branch": "main",
    },
  },
}
```

See the [references guide](/references) for shorthand, visibility, and path resolution.

### Plugins

Load plugins from packages or local files. Use the object form when a plugin
accepts options.

```jsonc
{
  "plugins": [
    "opencode-example-plugin",
    {
      "package": "./plugins/local.ts",
      "options": {
        "enabled": true,
      },
    },
  ],
}
```

See the [plugins guide](/build/plugins) for plugin development and configuration.

### Providers

Configure providers and add or override their models, request settings,
headers, and model variants.

```jsonc
{
  "providers": {
    "openai": {
      "models": {
        "gpt-5.2-custom": {
          "modelID": "gpt-5.2",
          "name": "GPT-5.2 Custom",
          "limit": {
            "context": 200000,
            "output": 32000,
          },
        },
      },
    },
  },
}
```

See the [providers guide](/providers) for credentials, custom endpoints, provider packages, and model configuration.