I tested 5 AI CLI tools: Here’s how they stack up

AI coding CLIs have become essential tools for developers, yet their utility varies significantly. The article examines five AI CLI tools—Gemini, Qwen, Crush, Kilocode, and Codex—by testing them on creating a Todo application using React and TypeScript. Each tool was evaluated on code quality, speed, ease of use, and reliability, with tasks such as adding todos, toggling completion, and deleting items. Gemini demonstrated rapid code generation but lacked user-friendly features like Enter key support. Qwen provided excellent code and UX enhancements like checkboxes and empty-state messages, though it was slower. Crush offered good code quality and speed but missed Enter key support. Kilocode showcased fast code generation with a checkbox feature but lacked some UX details. Codex, while the slowest, delivered superior UX with features like a completion summary. The article concludes that the choice of CLI depends on developers' priorities, whether speed, usability, or feature depth, and emphasizes reviewing AI-generated code before deploying it in production.