Roo Code

What it is for

Roo Code was an open-source coding agent in VS Code: Quick Fix actions (to Roo / Explain / Improve), modes (Code, Architect, Ask, Debug, Orchestrator), and an approve/reject sidecar. Use this page when the job is the Roo Code extension — not Roomote Cloud.

The VS Code extension shut down on May 15, 2026. The repo is archived and still Apache 2.0. Successors named on the README: ZooCode (community fork) and Cline (the origin project). Roo Code, Inc. now ships Roomote as a separate cloud/self-host agent.

What makes it unique: the cover is Roo’s official Quick Fix menu on a real TypeScript file — To Roo Code / Explain with Roo Code / Improve with Roo Code — not a marketplace tile.

Key features

• Code Actions (Quick Fix) — select code and run Explain / Improve / Fix from the lightbulb or right-click Roo Code menu (cover; Code Actions).
• Modes — switch Code, Architect, Ask, Debug, Orchestrator, or a custom mode with its own role and tool rights (Using modes / Custom modes).
• Approve / Reject writes — file edits and terminal commands wait for you unless you turn on auto-approve (Auto-Approving Actions).
• Checkpoints — shadow-Git snapshots before file changes; view diffs and restore files or files-plus-task (Checkpoints).
• Codebase search — semantic index of functions/classes so Roo can find code by meaning, not exact names (Codebase Indexing).
• Shell commands — run and read workspace terminal commands through the integrated shell (Shell Integration).

Who it's for

Best fit: developers who used the Roo sidecar and now need a living fork (Cline / ZooCode) or the Roomote successor.

Poor fit: people who want a hosted Copilot SKU (GitHub Copilot) with no local agent.

Pricing

Verified 2026-10-22 (Asia/Shanghai). The extension itself had no seat price — Apache 2.0 + BYOK. Roo Cloud / Router died with the May 15 shutdown (billing@roocode.com). Roomote is the current public card from the same company (roomote.dev):

• Roo Code extension — $0 to read/build the archived Apache 2.0 tree. Inference was BYOK.
• Roomote Cloud — 7-day trial, then $49/mo (≤10 users), $249/mo (11–50), $499/mo (51–100). You bring an inference key. Source: roomote.dev and Cloud Terms.
• Roomote self-host — Free up to 10 users; $249 / $499 above that. Fair Core License, not Apache, until the two-year ALv2 grant.

Do not invent a 2026 Roo Code Pro seat. That SKU is gone.

Limitations / costs

• The extension is shut down. Marketplace installs will not get a living sidecar.
• Roomote is not Apache 2.0 today (Fair Core + ALv2-in-two-years).
• BYOK still means you pay the model. Tokens were never included.
• Cloud / Router billing questions go to billing@roocode.com per the README.

Alternatives

• Cline — the Apache 2.0 IDE agent Roo forked from; still living.
• Continue — OSS IDE chat / edit if you want a lighter sidecar.
• Cursor — hosted IDE agent if you want a commercial fork of VS Code.

Official tutorial

Official walkthrough stills live in the archived docs (chat interface, modes). Written path: Roo Code Docs plus the README.

Website

https://roocode.com

Repository

https://github.com/RooCodeInc/Roo-Code

Source

Catalog row curated for AI Tools Nav. Cover is Roo’s official Quick Fix menu (To / Explain / Improve). Extension shutdown 2026-05-15. Roomote Cloud dollars from roomote.dev ($49 / $249 / $499). License Apache 2.0 on the archived repo.

Last verified

2026-10-22 (Asia/Shanghai) editorial check.