Battle of the AI CLIs: Jack Tests Them All

Key takeaways

AI CLI tools are evolving rapidly and can significantly enhance developer efficiency.
Mozilla raises crucial concerns about AI interoperability in the browser environment.
Figma's acquisition of Payload signals a push toward integrating more comprehensive CMS functionalities into design workflows.
Technology updates like the Firefox vertical tabs reflect user demand for innovative features.
Personal anecdotes in tech discussions provide lighter moments and relatable content.

Summary

AI CLI Tool Roundup

Jack shares his findings from testing a variety of AI command-line interface (CLI) tools, including notable tools like Codex from OpenAI, Gemini Code from Google, and Claude Code from Anthropic. He highlights the functionality of these tools, which offer project analysis and coding capabilities, emphasizing their potential to enhance developer productivity. Jack also discusses the open-source alternatives and their local usage options.

Mozilla vs. Google: AI in Chrome

TJ discusses the emerging conflict between Mozilla and Google regarding AI APIs in Chrome. Mozilla expresses concerns that Google’s implementation of APIs tied to LLMs (large language models) like Gemini Nano could hinder browser interoperability. This raises questions about the future of web standards and how browsers might adapt to new technologies.

Figma Acquires Payload CMS

Figma's acquisition of Payload, an open-source CMS, is announced, as part of Figma's effort to extend its suite of tools for designers and developers. The integration aims to simplify processes for marketers and designers, enabling them to manage content more effectively within the Figma ecosystem.

Lightning News and Updates

The hosts share a variety of quick updates, including Firefox version 140 introducing vertical tabs, Jack's troublesome experience with macOS 26, and the uproar surrounding Anthropic’s approach to training AI models by scanning physical books.

What Makes Us Happy

The episode wraps up with each host sharing personal highlights from their week, from enjoying nature at Watkins Glen State Park to binge-watching the Final Destination movie series, showcasing the simple joys they found amidst their tech-focused discussions.

Show notes

The field of AI coding agent CLIs is crowded and getting more so by the day, and our co-host Jack has tried them all so you don’t have to. The big four are: OpenAI’s Codex, Anthropic’s Claude Code, Google’s Gemini Code, and Amazon Q, along with some lesser known CLIs like AmpCode, OpenCode, and (the already shut down) Anon Kode. After trying everything, Jack says Anthropic’s Sonnet models and Claude Code are still the best.

Google’s quietly been working on new LLM-powered web APIs that rely on Google’s Gemini Nano model to power browser features like language detection and translation, and writing and proofreading, and Mozilla is concerned devs will create apps based on Gemini’s behavior.

Less than two months after Figma’s big Config conference, it shared it's acquired OS headless CMS Payload. Continuing the effort to make Figma a central hub for digital product creation, Figma’s adding a CMS to the mix so marketers and designers can more easily update website content as needed.

Timestamps:

1:01 - Jack’s AI tool roundup
10:34 - Mozilla’s concerns about Google building AI into Chrome
19:16 - Figma buys Payload
24:22 - Firefox gets vertical tabs
27:15 - Jack’s macOS 26 experiment goes wrong
30:36 - Anthropic destroys millions of print books
38:06 - What’s making us happy

Links:

Paige - Figma buys CMS Payload
Jack - State of the AI CLIs: Codex, OpenCode, AmpCode, Gemini Code, Claude Code, Amazon Q
TJ - Mozilla’s concerns about Google building AI into Chrome

Lightning News:

Firefox v140
Jack's MacOS 26 upgrade gone wrong
Anthropic destroyed millions of print books to build its AI models

What Makes Us Happy this Week:

Paige - Rock Paper Scissors novel
Jack - Tamolitch Falls and Final Destination movie series
TJ - Watkins Glen State Park

Thanks as always to our sponsor, the Blue Collar Coder channel on YouTube. You can join us in our Discord channel, explore our website and reach us via email, or talk to us on X, Bluesky, or YouTube.