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How to Use Roo Code with Quasar-Alpha for FREE as Your Agentic Coding Team

By puppetto
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Set up a powerful, zero-cost AI coding assistant team inside VS Code using Roo Code and Quasar-Alpha via OpenRouter.

How to Use Roo Code with Quasar-Alpha for FREE as Your Agentic Coding Team

Introduction

Imagine having a powerful AI coding assistant team inside your VS Code environment — completely free. With Roo Code, an open-source AI assistant, and Quasar-Alpha, a capable large language model currently free via OpenRouter, you can create a zero-cost, agentic coding setup that boosts your productivity without breaking the bank.

What is Roo Code?

Roo Code is an open-source AI assistant designed to work seamlessly within Visual Studio Code. It helps you:

  • Generate and refactor code
  • Understand complex codebases
  • Automate repetitive coding tasks
  • Customize workflows to fit your needs

Because it’s open-source, you have full control over your data and can tailor the assistant to your preferences.

What is Quasar-Alpha?

Quasar-Alpha is a large language model (LLM) accessible through OpenRouter. It offers:

  • Strong coding capabilities
  • Fast, reliable responses
  • Currently free access (subject to change)

By connecting Roo Code to Quasar-Alpha, you unlock a powerful AI coding partner at zero cost.

How to Set Up Roo Code with Quasar-Alpha

Step 1: Install Roo Code

  • Visit the Roo Code GitHub repository or search for "Roo Code" in the VS Code Marketplace.
  • Install the extension following the instructions.

Step 2: Sign Up for OpenRouter

  • Go to OpenRouter.ai.
  • Create a free account.
  • Navigate to the API section and generate your API key for Quasar-Alpha.

Step 3: Configure Roo Code to Use Quasar-Alpha

Create or edit the Roo Code configuration file, typically located at:

~/.roocode/config.json (Linux/macOS) or %USERPROFILE%\.roocode\config.json (Windows)

Add the following configuration, replacing "YOUR_OPENROUTER_API_KEY" with your actual key:

{
  "provider": "openrouter",
  "model": "quasar-alpha",
  "api_key": "YOUR_OPENROUTER_API_KEY",
  "api_base": "https://openrouter.ai/api/v1"
}

Step 4: Verify the Integration

  • Restart VS Code.
  • Open the Roo Code panel or command palette.
  • Run a sample prompt or code generation task.
  • You should see responses powered by Quasar-Alpha.

Benefits

  • Zero Cost: Both Roo Code and Quasar-Alpha are currently free.
  • Enhanced Productivity: Automate coding tasks, get instant code suggestions, and refactor faster.
  • Flexible & Open: Customize your AI assistant and choose your preferred LLM backend.
  • Privacy-Conscious: Open-source means more control over your data.

Considerations

  • Data Collection: OpenRouter may collect prompt data for service improvement. Review their privacy policy.
  • Pricing Changes: Quasar-Alpha is free now, but this may change in the future.
  • API Limits: Free tiers may have usage limits or rate restrictions.

Conclusion

By combining Roo Code with Quasar-Alpha, you can build a powerful, agentic AI coding environment inside VS Code — entirely for free. The setup is straightforward, flexible, and designed to supercharge your development workflow. Give it a try and experience the future of AI-assisted coding today!

Enjoy your new AI coding team!