CoderMind (RPG-ZeroRepo) CLI
Microsoft's CoderMind builds a repository planning graph that Claude Code and Copilot use to create and update a project
- 552 ★ on the repository
- Last commit
- MIT
Extended access
Why this level
- Generates and edits files across the repository, and the optional post-commit hook syncs the graph after every commit
- Initial encoding and planning send project content to the AI services of the chosen agent
Install
- Works in
Manual install
uv tool install cmind-cli --from "git+https://github.com/microsoft/RPG-ZeroRepo.git#subdirectory=CoderMind"Needs Python 3.12 or newer, uv and Git. Then run cmind check.
Access and checks
How we reviewExtended accessThe tool runs code or makes network calls and only reads external data.
- Generates and edits files across the repository, and the optional post-commit hook syncs the graph after every commit
- Initial encoding and planning send project content to the AI services of the chosen agent
This is third-party code. Review the repository files before installing.
What it does
CoderMind is a cmind command-line tool plus a set of slash commands for Claude Code and GitHub Copilot. It keeps a Repository Planning Graph (RPG) in the project that links requirements, features, architecture, files, code entities and dependencies. The graph lives in rpg.json and outlives individual chats, so the agent does not lose architecture decisions on a long task. Three workflows run on it. Build turns requirements into a staged plan: feature spec, skeleton, data flow, base classes, interfaces, tasks, then test-driven code generation. Understand maps an existing repository into an RPG with /cmind.encode, after which the agent searches the graph and explains the code. Update finds the affected nodes, plans the edit and changes code and graph together. An MCP server with search_rpg, explore_rpg, get_node_detail and list_rpg_tree tools queries the graph. The repository also holds the research code of two papers: ZeroRepo builds a project from requirements, RPG-Encoder rebuilds the graph from code.
Who it is for. Developers using Claude Code or GitHub Copilot CLI who give the agent repository-level jobs: a new project, understanding unfamiliar code or an edit across many files.
Good fit when
- You need a new repository from written requirements and the agent should plan the architecture first
- You have to get into a large unfamiliar repository and want to search and ask questions through a graph
- An edit touches many files and you must not miss hidden dependencies
- The agent forgets requirements on a long task and the decisions should live in a project file
Not a fit when
- The job is editing one function: building the graph costs more than the edit
- You use Cursor, Codex or another agent: CoderMind targets only Claude Code and GitHub Copilot
- You need a stable release: the authors warn this is an early 0.1.x version and interfaces may change
Example request
Initialize CoderMind in this repository, build the graph with /cmind.encode and explain which modules replacing the storage layer would touchLimitations
- Version 0.1.x, interfaces may change.
- Needs Python 3.12 or newer, uv, Git and an installed, authenticated Claude Code or GitHub Copilot CLI.
- /cmind.design_interfaces and /cmind.code_gen take long on a big project: about 30 minutes per 100 features.
- The optional initial encoding with --encode may call AI services and needs network access, while template setup by cmind init works offline since version 0.1.3.
How to disable. Remove the program with uv tool uninstall cmind-cli. Files cmind init put into the project, including the .cmind folder, slash command templates and the optional post-commit graph sync hook, are deleted by hand.
FAQ
How do I install CoderMind for Claude Code?
Run uv tool install cmind-cli --from "git+https://github.com/microsoft/RPG-ZeroRepo.git#subdirectory=CoderMind", then cmind check. Use `cmind init my-project --ai claude` for a new project, or cmind init in an existing project's folder.
What is a Repository Planning Graph?
A graph in rpg.json that links requirements, features, architecture, files, code entities and dependencies. The agent reads and updates it instead of relying on chat history, so decisions persist across sessions.
How do I explore an existing repository with CoderMind?
Run cmind init in the repository, then /cmind.encode. The command builds the graph and the report opens at .cmind/reports/rpg.html. After that the agent searches it with search_rpg and explore_rpg.
Does CoderMind work with Cursor or Codex?
No. The authors support Claude Code and GitHub Copilot, and the --ai flag accepts claude and copilot.
How long does code generation take?
About 30 minutes for a 100-feature project on the /cmind.design_interfaces and /cmind.code_gen steps. Bigger projects take longer, so start these steps deliberately.
Discussion
No questions or reviews yet.
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Comparison with similar tools
Cards that share the main search query, and how they differ.
| Tool | Official | Authentication | Repository stars | Main difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CoderMind (RPG-ZeroRepo) (this card) | yes | 552 | ||
| codebase-memory-mcp | no | not required | 48,598 | indexes code for search, while CoderMind adds planning and building a new repository from requirements |
| Superpowers | no | 316,679 | a broad set of development practices, whereas CoderMind keeps a repository graph in a project file |
README in short
The CoderMind README warns about the early version, explains the three workflows and gives a chooser table. It then shows the pipeline diagram from requirements to code and back, install prerequisites and two quick starts: for a new and for an existing repository.