ChatDev

Open-source multi-agent framework that simulates a software company

Open Source Coding & Development
Visit Website ↗ by OpenBMB

What is ChatDev?

ChatDev is an open-source research framework by OpenBMB that simulates a virtual software company using collaborating LLM agents. Agents take roles such as CEO, CTO, programmer, code reviewer, and tester, and work through designing, coding, testing, and documenting phases via structured multi-turn dialogue. The 2.0 release evolved it into a zero-code multi-agent orchestration platform for building custom agent workflows.

Key features

  • Virtual software company with role-based agents
  • Full SDLC automation: design, code, test, document
  • Zero-code multi-agent orchestration in 2.0
  • Customizable agents, workflows, and phases
  • Web UI and command-line interfaces
  • Academic research foundation with published paper

Pros

  • Fully open source and actively maintained
  • Pioneering multi-agent collaboration paradigm
  • Highly customizable for research and experimentation

Cons

  • Research-grade tool, not a polished product
  • Requires API keys and technical setup
  • Agent output quality varies with the underlying model

ChatDev at a glance

PricingOpen Source
CategoryCoding & Development
Platformswindows, macos, linux, web
CompanyOpenBMB
Official websitegithub.com
multi-agentautonomous agentssoftware developmentopen sourceresearchAI orchestrationPython

How to choose the right Coding & Development tool

The right coding tool depends on where you write code and how much of your codebase it can understand. IDE integration is the first filter — a tool that lives in your editor, sees your project files and respects your stack will help far more than a general chatbot you paste snippets into. Look for accurate completions, clear explanations of suggested changes, and strong refactoring and debugging support for your main languages. Privacy deserves real attention: check whether your code is used for training, and whether a self-hosted or enterprise option exists for sensitive projects. Price against the hours it actually saves — most developers feel the difference within the first week of real use.

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ChatDev FAQs

What is ChatDev?

ChatDev is an open-source research framework by OpenBMB that simulates a virtual software company using collaborating LLM agents. Agents take roles such as CEO, CTO, programmer, code reviewer, and tester, and work through designing, coding, testing, and documenting phases via structured multi-turn dialogue. The 2.0 release evolved it into a zero-code multi-agent orchestration platform for building custom agent workflows.

What are the main features of ChatDev?

ChatDev offers Virtual software company with role-based agents, Full SDLC automation: design, code, test, document, Zero-code multi-agent orchestration in 2.0, Customizable agents, workflows, and phases, Web UI and command-line interfaces and Academic research foundation with published paper.

How much does ChatDev cost?

ChatDev is open source, so the software itself is free to download, use and self-host. Your only costs are the infrastructure you run it on and any paid services you connect to it.

What are the pros and cons of ChatDev?

Strengths of ChatDev include Fully open source and actively maintained; Pioneering multi-agent collaboration paradigm; Highly customizable for research and experimentation. On the downside, Research-grade tool, not a polished product; Requires API keys and technical setup; Agent output quality varies with the underlying model.