🌟✍️ Editor’s Note
Welcome to another exciting shift in the dev world! This week, we explore how developers are moving away from GUI-heavy IDEs like Cursor and Windsurf — and embracing open-source, terminal-first tools like Qwen CLI. Whether you're a solo hacker, indie builder, or AI tinkerer, this one’s for you.
🗓️ Upcoming Drops & Releases
🧠 Qwen CLI (by Alibaba)
A lightweight, open-source CLI toolkit built for local LLM interactions, automation, and dev workflows.
Why it's hot:
Works offline
Scriptable and fast
Designed for power users and terminal lovers
Try it with:
bash qwen init
qwen chat
qwen devWhere it’s buzzing: GitHub, Reddit, Twitter Dev
🛠️ DevTool Migration Trends
Developers are shifting away from bloated GUIs like Cursor to lighter CLI-first setups.
CLI tools are faster, customizable, and give you complete control.
Popular combos:
qwen+tmux+ripgrepollamafor local LLMsnaviorfzffor shell command memory boosts
🚀 Stay Inspired
The Rise of Terminal-First Workflows
Why it’s happening:
GUIs like Cursor are increasingly seen as slow or overly abstracted
Terminal tools offer simplicity, extensibility, and raw speed
The new wave of AI/CLI mashups (like Qwen) are built for hackers
Interesting Stat:
38% of surveyed devs in June 2025 now prefer a CLI-based AI assistant over Copilot or Cursor.
Unexpected CLI Use Cases
Using
qwen chatfor generating code snippets and debugging inlineDevelopers building full-stack MVPs without opening a browser
GitHub workflows being triggered entirely from custom terminal scripts
🦄 Tool Spotlight
qShell: The Minimalist Dev Environment That Talks Back
A side project turned trend: qShell wraps Qwen CLI, Git, and AI-enhanced bash into a single lightweight terminal interface.
Backstory: Built by a solo indie dev tired of slow Electron apps.
Key Feature: Inline AI code review + autofix
Funding: Just hit #1 on Product Hunt, now being used at 20+ YC startups
🔥 In Case You Missed It…
Notable DevTool News
Windsurf loses traction as more devs switch to native shell workflows
Cursor users cite memory issues & pricing updates as reasons for leaving
Open-source CLI tools gain momentum: Qwen, Ollama, Cody Lite
🏆 Dev of the Week
Amrita Mehra: Fullstack Builder, Terminal First Thinker
🌍 Background: Indie hacker building dev tooling from Kochi, India
🚀 Project: Migrated her entire workflow to CLI tools and published a full Qwen-based starter template
🛠️ Setup: Uses qwen, tmux, and zellij for everything from ideation to deployment
🧠 Quote:
“The terminal feels like home. Qwen gave me the flexibility I never had in Cursor.”
💡 Did You Know?
Alibaba's Qwen models are optimized to run even on mid-tier hardware with no GPU — making it one of the most accessible LLM setups for indie devs.
Till next time,
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