> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/QwenLM/qwen-code/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # --model Option > Specify the AI model to use for the session ## Overview The `--model` (or `-m`) option allows you to specify which AI model Qwen Code should use for the session. Different models offer different capabilities, speeds, and costs. ## Syntax ```bash theme={null} qwen --model qwen -m ``` ## Available Models ### Qwen Models (Dashscope) **Best for complex coding tasks** ```bash theme={null} qwen --model qwen-coder-plus ``` **Specifications:** * Context: 256K tokens * Quality: Highest * Speed: Medium * Cost: \$\$\$ **Use for:** * Multi-file refactoring * Complex algorithms * Architecture decisions * Large codebase navigation **Balanced performance** ```bash theme={null} qwen --model qwen-max ``` **Specifications:** * Context: 200K tokens * Quality: High * Speed: Medium * Cost: \$\$ **Use for:** * General development * Feature implementation * Code reviews * Documentation **Fastest responses** ```bash theme={null} qwen --model qwen-turbo ``` **Specifications:** * Context: 128K tokens * Quality: Good * Speed: Fast * Cost: \$ **Use for:** * Quick questions * Simple code generation * Explanations * Rapid iteration ### OpenAI Models When using OpenAI authentication: ```bash theme={null} # GPT-4 Turbo qwen --model gpt-4-turbo --auth-type openai # GPT-4 qwen --model gpt-4 --auth-type openai # GPT-3.5 Turbo qwen --model gpt-3.5-turbo --auth-type openai ``` ### Anthropic Models When using Anthropic authentication: ```bash theme={null} # Claude 3 Opus (most capable) qwen --model claude-3-opus-20240229 --auth-type anthropic # Claude 3 Sonnet (balanced) qwen --model claude-3-sonnet-20240229 --auth-type anthropic # Claude 3 Haiku (fastest) qwen --model claude-3-haiku-20240307 --auth-type anthropic ``` ## Basic Usage ### Specify Model at Launch ```bash theme={null} qwen --model qwen-coder-plus ``` ### With Other Options ```bash theme={null} # Headless mode with specific model qwen --model qwen-turbo --prompt "Quick question" # YOLO mode with powerful model qwen --model qwen-coder-plus --yolo --prompt "Refactor entire project" # JSON output with balanced model qwen --model qwen-max --prompt "Generate code" --output-format json ``` ## Model Selection Strategy ### For Development Tasks ```bash theme={null} # Complex refactoring qwen --model qwen-coder-plus --prompt "Refactor authentication system" # Quick fixes qwen --model qwen-turbo --prompt "Fix this type error" # Code review qwen --model qwen-max --prompt "Review these changes" ``` ### For Different Project Sizes ```bash theme={null} # Large monorepo (needs large context) cd large-project qwen --model qwen-coder-plus # Small utility (fast model is fine) cd small-util qwen --model qwen-turbo # Medium project (balanced) cd medium-app qwen --model qwen-max ``` ## Model Comparison | Model | Context | Speed | Quality | Cost | Best For | | --------------- | ------- | ----- | ------- | -------- | ------------------ | | qwen-coder-plus | 256K | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | \$\$\$ | Complex coding | | qwen-max | 200K | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | \$\$ | General purpose | | qwen-turbo | 128K | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | \$ | Quick tasks | | gpt-4-turbo | 128K | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | \$\$\$\$ | Advanced reasoning | | claude-3-opus | 200K | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | \$\$\$\$ | Complex analysis | | claude-3-haiku | 200K | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | \$ | Fast responses | ## Configuration ### Via Settings File Set a default model: ```json theme={null} // settings.json { "ai": { "model": "qwen-coder-plus", "provider": "dashscope" } } ``` ### Via Environment Variable ```bash theme={null} export QWEN_MODEL="qwen-coder-plus" qwen ``` ### Project-Specific Defaults ```json theme={null} // .qwen/settings.json { "ai": { "model": "qwen-max", // Override global default "provider": "dashscope" } } ``` ### Precedence Order 1. Command-line `--model` flag (highest priority) 2. Environment variable `QWEN_MODEL` 3. Project settings `.qwen/settings.json` 4. Global settings `~/.qwen/settings.json` (lowest priority) ## Advanced Usage ### Switch Models Mid-Session In interactive mode: ```bash theme={null} qwen --model qwen-turbo > Ask quick questions > /model # Switch to qwen-coder-plus > Now do complex refactoring ``` ### Model-Specific Prompts ```bash theme={null} # Use fast model for exploration qwen --model qwen-turbo --prompt "Explore the codebase and summarize" # Then use powerful model for implementation qwen --model qwen-coder-plus --continue --prompt "Implement the feature" ``` ### Cost Optimization ```bash theme={null} #!/bin/bash # Use appropriate model based on task complexity TASK_COMPLEXITY=$1 PROMPT=$2 if [ "$TASK_COMPLEXITY" = "simple" ]; then MODEL="qwen-turbo" elif [ "$TASK_COMPLEXITY" = "complex" ]; then MODEL="qwen-coder-plus" else MODEL="qwen-max" fi qwen --model "$MODEL" --prompt "$PROMPT" ``` ## Custom Models ### OpenAI-Compatible APIs Use custom or self-hosted models: ```bash theme={null} qwen --model custom-model \ --openai-base-url https://your-api.com/v1 \ --openai-api-key your-key ``` ### Configuration for Custom Models ```json theme={null} { "ai": { "provider": "openai", "model": "custom-model", "baseUrl": "https://your-api.com/v1", "apiKey": "${CUSTOM_API_KEY}" } } ``` ## Model Capabilities ### Tool Support All models support Qwen Code tools: ✅ File operations (read, write, edit)\ ✅ Shell commands\ ✅ Code search\ ✅ Git operations\ ✅ Web search ### Feature Comparison | Feature | qwen-coder-plus | qwen-max | qwen-turbo | | ---------------- | --------------- | --------- | ---------- | | Multi-file edits | Excellent | Good | Basic | | Code generation | Excellent | Good | Good | | Explanations | Excellent | Excellent | Good | | Debugging | Excellent | Good | Basic | | Speed | Medium | Medium | Fast | | Context size | 256K | 200K | 128K | ## Real-World Examples ### Web Development ```bash theme={null} # Frontend (fast iteration) qwen --model qwen-turbo --prompt "Add a button to the navbar" # Backend (complex logic) qwen --model qwen-coder-plus --prompt "Implement OAuth flow" # Full-stack (balanced) qwen --model qwen-max --prompt "Build user profile page" ``` ### Data Science ```bash theme={null} # Quick analysis qwen --model qwen-turbo --prompt "Plot this data" # Complex ML model qwen --model qwen-coder-plus --prompt "Build gradient boosting model" ``` ### DevOps ```bash theme={null} # Simple scripts qwen --model qwen-turbo --prompt "Write deploy script" # Complex infrastructure qwen --model qwen-coder-plus --prompt "Design Kubernetes architecture" ``` ## Performance Tips ### Match Model to Task ```bash theme={null} # Don't use powerful model for simple tasks # Bad: qwen --model qwen-coder-plus --prompt "What's 2+2?" # Good: qwen --model qwen-turbo --prompt "What's 2+2?" ``` ### Use Fast Models for Iteration ```bash theme={null} # Iterate quickly with turbo for i in {1..5}; do qwen --model qwen-turbo --prompt "Try approach $i" done # Then implement with coder-plus qwen --model qwen-coder-plus --prompt "Implement best approach" ``` ### Monitor Token Usage ```bash theme={null} # Check context usage qwen --model qwen-coder-plus --prompt "Task" --output-format json | \ jq '.usage.totalTokens' # Switch model if approaching limit if [ $TOKENS -gt 200000 ]; then # Context nearly full, compress or switch model qwen --prompt "/compress" fi ``` ## Troubleshooting ### Model Not Available ``` Error: Model 'qwen-coder-plus' is not available ``` **Solutions:** 1. Check authentication: ```bash theme={null} qwen --auth-type dashscope --dashscope-api-key "$KEY" ``` 2. Verify model name: ```bash theme={null} # List available models qwen --model invalid 2>&1 | grep "Available models" ``` 3. Check API access: ```bash theme={null} # Test with curl curl -H "Authorization: Bearer $DASHSCOPE_API_KEY" \ https://dashscope.aliyuncs.com/api/v1/models ``` ### Authentication Issues ``` Error: Authentication type not available ``` **Solution:** ```bash theme={null} # Set auth type matching the model qwen --model qwen-coder-plus --auth-type dashscope # Or for OpenAI models qwen --model gpt-4 --auth-type openai ``` ### Invalid Model Name ``` Error: Unknown model: 'qwen-coder' ``` **Correct names:** * ✅ `qwen-coder-plus` (not `qwen-coder`) * ✅ `qwen-turbo` (not `qwen-fast`) * ✅ `qwen-max` (not `qwen-large`) ## Best Practices Begin with fast models, upgrade as needed: ```bash theme={null} # Explore with turbo qwen --model qwen-turbo > Understand the codebase # Switch to coder-plus for implementation > /model # Select qwen-coder-plus > Implement the feature ``` Set appropriate defaults per project: ```json theme={null} // Large enterprise app { "ai": { "model": "qwen-coder-plus" // Need large context } } // Small utility { "ai": { "model": "qwen-turbo" // Speed matters more } } ``` Monitor costs and adjust: ```bash theme={null} # Track usage qwen --prompt "Task" --output-format json | \ jq '.stats.estimatedCost' # Switch to cheaper model if budget-conscious qwen --model qwen-turbo ``` Choose models with appropriate context: ```bash theme={null} # Large codebase, many files qwen --model qwen-coder-plus # 256K context # Small, focused task qwen --model qwen-turbo # 128K sufficient ``` ## See Also Switch models in interactive mode Set up model provider authentication Detailed model benchmarks and comparison Configure default models and settings