Qwen Code 0.25.1 adds background shells and side tasks
Updated Qwen Code
Summary
Qwen Code 0.25.1 introduces durable background shells, Web Shell side tasks, and an experimental Kubernetes CSI-backed runtime for managed sessions.
- Tool
- Qwen Code
- Category
- Coding agents
- Date
- Open source
- Yes
- License
- Apache-2.0
- MCP
- Yes
- Pricing
- Not stated in the sources we cited.
On October 11, 2026, QwenLM released version 0.25.1 of qwen-code, an open-source AI coding agent that runs inside developer terminals. According to the release notes, this update enhances the Managed Agent runtime with durable background shell sessions, introduces side-task conversations in secondary workspaces, and adds an experimental Kubernetes CSI-backed runtime for managed sessions.
Release facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Product | qwen-code |
| Version | v0.25.1 |
| Release date | October 11, 2026 |
| License | Apache-2.0 |
| Where to get it | GitHub release v0.25.1 |
What changed
- Background Shell and Monitor capabilities: The Managed Agent runtime now supports background Shell and Monitor features, enabling durable background shell sessions and task event reporting (#13265).
- Web Shell side-task conversations: In Web Shell, the
/btwside command can now spawn independent side-task conversations in a parent session's secondary workspace, even while the parent turn is actively generating a response (#13468). - Deferred coordination tools: Agent and Goal coordination tools are now deferred by default and discovered on demand, which the release notes state reduces unnecessary tool declarations during ordinary tool-call sessions (#13033).
- Experimental Kubernetes CSI runtime: An experimental Kubernetes CSI-backed runtime validates workspaces, persists pod identity, and records durable worker acknowledgements for managed sessions (#13289).
- Durable tool execution recording: Local Managed Agent runtime tool outcomes—including execution parameters, receipts, and checkpoints—are now durably recorded before results are returned to the model (#13291).
- Hosted approval request previews: Hosted approval requests can now include bounded previews of file and shell inputs with truncation metadata across public and WebShell APIs (#13400).
Questions
Does the v0.25.1 release introduce any breaking changes? According to the GitHub release notes, there are no known breaking changes in this release.
How does Web Shell handle side tasks during active turns?
The release notes report that the /btw side command creates independent side-task conversations in a secondary workspace while the parent session is actively responding.
How are coordination tools loaded in ordinary tool sessions? According to the release notes, Agent and Goal coordination tools are now deferred by default and discovered on demand, reducing unnecessary tool declarations in ordinary tool-call sessions.
To track future releases, visit the qwen-code hub, or browse comparable tools such as OpenCode in the coding agents directory.
Alternatives
| Tool | License | Pricing note |
|---|---|---|
Qwen CodeThis launchAn open-source AI coding agent that lives in your terminal to turn ideas into code. | Apache-2.0 | Not stated |
AiderApache-2.0 terminal pair programmer. The project describes Aider as AI pair programming in your terminal. | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 software. Model access is separate. |
ClineApache-2.0 coding agent published as an SDK, IDE extension, or CLI assistant in the cline/cline repository. | Apache-2.0 | The repository license is Apache-2.0. Model access is separate. |
GooseApache-2.0 agent from Block. The repository describes Goose as an open-source, extensible AI agent that goes beyond code suggestions. | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 client. Provider access is separate. |
OpenCodeOpen-source coding agent from the anomalyco/opencode repository, MIT-licensed, with a terminal client and a site at opencode.ai. | MIT | The client is MIT-licensed. Model access is separate; this page does not quote a hosted plan. |
Questions
What is Qwen Code?
According to the official documentation and repository description, Qwen Code is an open-source agentic coding tool that runs in your terminal and helps turn ideas into code.
Is Qwen Code open source?
Yes, according to the GitHub repository, Qwen Code is open source under the Apache-2.0 license.
Which model providers can Qwen Code use?
According to the overview documentation, Qwen Code can connect to Alibaba ModelStudio (via Token Plan or API key), third-party providers such as DeepSeek, MiniMax, Z.AI, Kimi, and OpenRouter with an API key, or custom local servers and proxies.
Filed on Agent Radar. Claims in this note are limited to the sources above.