Exploring Droid CLI with GLM-4.6 and Free Sonnet for Enhanced Coding Performance
Exploring Droid CLI with GLM-4.6 and Free Sonnet for Enhanced Coding Performance
Introduction
With the rapid evolution of AI tools, the emergence of Droid CLI has sparked considerable interest among developers and tech enthusiasts alike. Although not open source, Droid offers a free command-line interface (CLI) tool that allows users to configure their own API keys and base URLs, similar to how Claude Code operates. This article delves into my exploration of Droid, its integration with various models, and how it performs against established counterparts like Claude Code and GPT-5.
Getting Started with Droid CLI
Droid CLI stands out for its user-friendly setup process, providing a free pro trial without requiring any credit card information. Here are some essential features that make it interesting:
- Custom API Integration: Users can configure Droid with any custom API, enhancing flexibility.
- Trial Tokens: Like other platforms, Droid offers a generous token limit for models such as Sonnet and GPT-5, allowing users to explore its capabilities without financial commitment.
- Sub-agents Support: Similar to Claude Code, Droid allows the creation of sub-agents that can assist in various tasks.
- IDE Integration: This feature facilitates the selection of code snippets and quick references within the CLI, enhancing productivity.
To install Droid, users simply run a command to initiate the installation process, followed by account setup. Once installed, users can access numerous features, including model switching and token usage tracking.
Performance Testing
After installation, I began testing the performance of Droid CLI by prompting it to develop a movie tracker app using Expo. Although the initial setup was seamless, the results were underwhelming:
- The generated code included a dependency on Radix UI without installing the package, leading to errors.
- While the calendar UI was satisfactory, the overall project lacked the polish seen in outputs from Claude Code or Open Code.
I also tested a Go Tui calculator and attempted to edit a Godo FPS game, but the performance was disappointing. The tool struggled with implementing features like a step counter and life bar, often failing to deliver a one-shot solution.
Exploring GLM-4.6 Integration
Curious about whether the performance issues stemmed from the Sonnet model, I decided to integrate GLM-4.6 with Droid CLI. The results were significantly better:
- The movie tracker app generated more appealing code with a light theme and an enhanced calendar feature.
- The calculator application met expectations, performing comparably to Claude Code.
- The Godo example worked effectively, with functional UI elements.
While these improvements were promising, they did not elevate Droid’s capabilities beyond what competitors like Claude Code and Kilo Code offer. The integration with GLM-4.6 proved beneficial, yet it did not compensate for the model’s raw output limitations.
Conclusion
In summary, while Droid CLI presents an intriguing option for developers with its free trials and customizable integrations, it currently falls short of the performance benchmarks set by established tools like Claude Code and GPT-5. The excitement surrounding Droid may be overstated, as its capabilities often lag behind its competitors.
For those curious about the tool, it’s worth exploring, but I would recommend sticking with more proven solutions for serious coding tasks. Share your thoughts on Droid CLI and whether you’ve had different experiences. Don’t forget to subscribe for more insights and updates in the evolving landscape of AI tools.