# Kodus By **kodustech** ยท Software & Tools Open-source AI code reviewer with bring-your-own-model, custom rule enforcement, and zero LLM markup for engineering teams. - Source: https://kodus.io - Repository: https://github.com/kodustech/kodus-ai - Tags: open-source, code-review, ai, cli, self-hosted, pull-request, agplv3, devtools - Pricing: freemium - Upvotes: 0 ## Features - Model-agnostic: Claude, GPT-4/5, Gemini, Llama, GLM, Kimi, or any OpenAI-compatible endpoint - Custom rules in plain-English markdown with YAML frontmatter, scoped by path glob or PR shape - Auto-detects .cursorrules, CLAUDE.md, .windsurfrules, and Copilot instruction files - Inline PR comments on GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, and Azure DevOps - MCP plugin support: connect Jira, Notion, Linear for spec-aware reviews - Technical debt cockpit: unimplemented suggestions become tracked issues - Engineering metrics dashboard: deploy frequency, cycle time, bug ratio, PR sizes - CLI for local runs and CI/CD pipeline integration --- ## Why it matters Generic AI reviewers apply the same checks to every codebase. They miss the rules that actually matter to your team: where the domain boundary sits, which decorators are required on PII endpoints, what naming convention repository methods follow. Those rules live in senior engineers' heads and never make it into automated tooling. ## The big picture Kodus is an open-source AI code review platform (licensed AGPLv3) that lets teams encode their standards as plain-English markdown files, attach scope via YAML frontmatter, and have those rules enforced on every pull request automatically. It launched as the explicit open-source alternative to CodeRabbit, and its differentiation rests on three pillars: model freedom, zero LLM markup, and policy-as-code. ## How it works Kody, the reviewing agent, reads the PR diff, loads your rule files, and posts inline comments directly inside the pull request. Rules live in version control like any other engineering artifact: a `## Instructions` block in plain English, a YAML header for path globs and severity, nothing else. Kodus also auto-detects existing IDE rule files (.cursorrules, CLAUDE.md, .windsurfrules, .github/copilot-instructions.md), so whatever your team already wrote for Cursor or Claude Code transfers automatically. ## Zoom in Four capabilities ship beyond the review comment itself. A Tech Debt Cockpit turns unimplemented suggestions into tracked issues. An engineering metrics dashboard surfaces deploy frequency, cycle time, bug ratio, and PR sizes. MCP server connections (Jira, Notion, Linear) let Kody cross-reference specs while reviewing code. And a Quality Radar flags issues consistently over time rather than only at merge. ## By the numbers Community (self-hosted or cloud) is free with unlimited PRs when you bring your own API key, up to 10 Kody Rules, and up to 3 active plugins. Teams tier is $10 per developer per month (or $8 annually) and unlocks unlimited rules, plugins, and the engineering metrics cockpit. Enterprise adds SSO, RBAC, audit logs, and SOC 2 compliance at custom pricing. A 14-day free trial with up to 35 PR reviews requires no credit card. ## Yes, but Self-hosted instances send one anonymous heartbeat per day (aggregated counters only, no code or identifiers). Per the README, you can opt out by setting `KODUS_TELEMETRY_DISABLED=true`. The Community tier also caps Kody Rules at 10 and active plugins at 3, which may feel tight on larger, rule-heavy teams. ## The bottom line Kodus is the right call when your team has coding standards that no generic reviewer will ever know. If you are already paying a markup on LLM tokens or locked into one model vendor, the math for switching is direct: bring your own key, pay the provider's listed price, write your rules once in markdown, and let them run on every PR. ## FAQ ### What is Kodus? Kodus is an open-source (AGPLv3) AI code review platform built around two core ideas: you choose the LLM, and you write the rules. The reviewing agent, Kody, reads pull request diffs, applies your team's custom policies (written as plain-English markdown files with YAML scope headers), and posts inline comments inside your existing Git workflow. It supports GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, and Azure DevOps. ### How do I get started with Kodus? The fastest path is the cloud edition: create a free account at app.kodus.io and connect your Git provider, which takes under five minutes per the documentation. For self-hosting, Kodus provides a one-click Railway template, Docker and generic VM installation guides, and a CLI for local and CI/CD use. The install command for the CLI skill is `curl -fsSL https://review-skill.com/install | bash`. ### Is Kodus free or open source? Kodus is open-source under the AGPLv3 license, and a Community tier is available for free with unlimited PRs when you bring your own API key, up to 10 Kody Rules, and up to 3 active plugins. The Teams tier costs $10 per developer per month ($8 billed annually) and adds unlimited rules, plugins, and the engineering metrics cockpit. A 14-day free trial with up to 35 PR reviews is available with no credit card required. ### What is Kodus best for? Kodus excels when a team has coding standards, architecture constraints, or compliance requirements that generic AI reviewers will never know about. By encoding those rules as markdown files in version control and scoping them to specific paths or PR shapes, teams get consistent enforcement on every pull request regardless of who is online. It is also the right fit for orgs that want to bring their own LLM key and avoid paying a markup on AI token costs. ### How does Kodus compare to CodeRabbit? Kodus positions itself as the open-source alternative to CodeRabbit, and the key differences are model choice, cost structure, and rule portability. Per the Kodus FAQ, CodeRabbit locks teams into its own model choices and bundles AI costs into opaque pricing, while Kodus lets you use any OpenAI-compatible model and pays providers directly at their listed price with zero markup. Kodus also auto-detects existing IDE rule files (Cursor, Claude Code, Copilot, Windsurf), so standards already written for your editor carry over to PR review without rework. ### What are Kodus's limits or risks? The Community (free) tier caps Kody Rules at 10 and active plugins at 3, which may constrain larger teams with many standards to enforce. The engineering metrics cockpit and priority agent queue are only available on the paid Teams tier. Self-hosted instances send one anonymous aggregated heartbeat per day by default; you can disable this with the `KODUS_TELEMETRY_DISABLED=true` environment variable. SSO, RBAC, audit logs, and SOC 2 compliance are exclusive to the Enterprise tier. --- [View on Analog](https://analoghq.ai/kodustech/software-tools/kodus)