Poolside — AI for Software Development

Build with open-weight agentic coding models that can run on-device or scale via API for complex software development tasks.

Leverage Poolside's Laguna model family to automate and refine your coding workflows with research-backed AI agents.

Best forAI for Developers

DifferentiatorOpen-weight agentic models with on-device capability.

ProofLaguna XS 2.1 (33B params) is downloadable; Laguna M.1 (225B params) is available via API.

Try Poolside

Free Plan Pricing on request

Free plan verified · free AI tools for Developers

7.5 Zekai

Agentic Coding Powerhouse

AI for Software Development

Ease of Use

6.2

Accuracy

8.4

Value

8.0

Time Saving

7.4

Agentic CodingOpen-Weight ModelsOn-Device CapableAPI AccessResearch-Backed

📊 Independently reviewed and scored. How we score →

✍️ Reviewed by Zekai Editorial Team · Updated August 7, 2026

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Zekai Verdict

What is it?: Poolside provides open-weight foundation models for agentic coding.
Best for: It's best for developers and researchers who require transparent, powerful, and adaptable agentic models for automating…
Not ideal for: Lacks a user-friendly interface or IDE plugin out-of-the-box.
Price: Free plan
Zekai Score: 7.5/10

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⚡ Quick answer

For AI Software Development, Poolside is a top choice for professionals seeking direct access to powerful agentic coding models. It provides the Laguna family of models, including a version for secure, on-device execution and a larger API-accessible model for complex tasks, giving developers unparalleled flexibility and control over their AI-driven workflows.

CategoryCode Automation

Best ForDevelopers wanting to build with agentic coding models.

Price FromFree (on-device)

FreeYes (Downloadable Model)

DifferentiatorOpen-weight agentic models with on-device capability.

ProofLaguna XS 2.1 (33B params) is downloadable; Laguna M.1 (225B params) is available via API.

Rating7.5/10

📖 About Poolside

Poolside provides open-weight foundation models for agentic coding. It offers the Laguna family of models, including a lightweight version for on-device execution and a larger, more capable model accessible via API for advanced software development.

Real Impact

Before & After

❌ Before

Stuck performing tedious, multi-step coding tasks and refactoring manually.

Hours of manual coding

✅ After

Automate entire software development workflows with an AI agent.

AI-driven task execution

Prompt Templates

Try it with these prompts

Copy any prompt and paste it directly into the tool.

Debug code with agentic model

Analyze the following code snippet for potential bugs or errors. Explain the issues found and suggest specific corrections to improve its functionality and reliability. [CODE SNIPPET] Focus on common programming mistake…

Refactor code for efficiency

Review the provided code and identify areas for optimization. Suggest refactoring strategies to enhance performance, reduce resource consumption, and improve readability. [CODE SNIPPET] Consider algorithmic improvements…

Generate documentation from code

Examine the given code and generate comprehensive documentation. Include explanations of functions, parameters, return values, and overall logic. [CODE SNIPPET] Ensure the documentation is clear, concise, and useful for…

AI Prompts

Prompts for Developers

Prompt 01 Sample Prompt for AI App Prototyping

Generate a functional prototype for a mobile app called 'PlantPal'. It's for new plant owners. Key Screens: - **Onboarding:** A simple 3-step intro to the app's features. - **Login/Sign-up:** Email and password authentication. - **My Plants…

Prompt 02 Generate a Function Docstring

Analyze the following TypeScript function. Write a complete TSDoc comment for it. Explain what the function does, describe each parameter (including its type and purpose), and describe the return value. [[Paste your code here]]

Prompt 03 React Component Refactor with Context

I need to refactor a React component located at `src/components/OldProfile.tsx`. **Goal:** Create a new component `src/components/ProfileHeader.tsx` by extracting the header logic from `OldProfile.tsx`. **Context:** - The new `ProfileHead…

See all 29 AI prompts for Developers →

Social Proof

Trusted by professionals

Ease of Use

6.2

Accuracy

8.4

Value

8.0

Time Saving

7.4

"The on-device capability of Laguna XS is a game-changer for us. We get powerful agentic assistance without any data leaving our network. Incredible performance."

David R., Principal Engineer · June 2026

"Poolside's 'The Model Factory' blog is as valuable as the models themselves. Understanding their methodology helps us build better systems on top of their work."

Sophie M., AI Researcher · May 2026

"Laguna M.1 is incredibly powerful for complex tasks, but the API documentation could be more comprehensive. It took some trial and error to get our first major agent running."

Chen L., Backend Developer · June 2026

"Being able to use this via OpenRouter made integration into our existing CI/CD pipeline almost trivial. We're automating entire test suites now."

Alex B., Startup CTO · April 2026

Start Free Today →

Connects With

Poolside integrations

OpenRouter

Setup complexity: Advanced

Comparison

Best Poolside alternatives

Poolside vs. GitHub Copilot: Choose GitHub Copilot for its seamless integration into IDEs like VS Code and its strength in line-by-line code completion and function generation; it's optimized for developer productivity in the flow of work. Choose Poolside when your goal is to automate complex, multi-step 'agentic' tasks that go beyond simple completion. Poolside's open-weight models, especially the on-device Laguna XS, offer greater control, transparency, and the ability to build custom automation agents, making it ideal for researchers and teams building bespoke AI-driven development tools rather than just using one.

The decision

Is Poolside worth it?

Return on investment

By automating complex, multi-day refactoring tasks with the Laguna M.1 API, a development team could save dozens of engineering hours per project.

Built for

AI researchers, software engineers, and development teams interested in building with or leveraging agentic coding models.

Effort to adopt

Advanced

Compliance

Compliance posture not publicly documented — verify with vendor.

Who It's For

Why Software Development choose this tool

🎯

Built for

It's best for developers and researchers who require transparent, powerful, and adaptable agentic models for automating complex coding tasks.

In-Depth Overview

For software developers focused on AI-driven automation, Poolside offers a distinct advantage with its 'open-weight' agentic coding models. Unlike closed-source alternatives, Poolside provides direct access to its Laguna model family. The Laguna XS 2.1 is a 33B parameter model optimized to run on-device, giving you local, private, and fast coding assistance without relying on cloud APIs. For more complex, long-horizon tasks, the Laguna M.1 offers 225B parameters of power, accessible via API and through platforms like OpenRouter. The company's 'work in the open' philosophy is backed by an extensive blog series, 'The Model Factory,' detailing their research on training, evaluation, and reinforcement learning from code execution. This transparency allows developers to understand the engineering behind the models, providing deeper insight than a typical black-box tool. This makes Poolside a strong choice for developers who want to not just use AI for coding, but to build with, understand, and even refine the underlying models themselves.

Key Use Cases

🤖

Train and Evaluate Custom Agents

AI Researcher

Use the provided runtime and open-weight models as a foundation for experimenting with new agentic architectures and training methodologies.

Faster research iteration

💻

Automate Complex Refactoring

Backend Developer

Leverage the Laguna M.1 API to script and execute long-horizon coding tasks, like refactoring a legacy service or migrating a database schema.

Reduced manual coding hours

🔒

Run a Powerful Coding AI Locally

Security-Conscious Engineer

Download and run the Laguna XS 2.1 model on-device to get AI coding assistance without sending proprietary code to a third-party cloud service.

100% on-premise code processing

✓ Pros

Provides open-weight models, offering transparency and flexibility.

Includes a lightweight model (Laguna XS) that can run on-device.

Offers a highly capable large model (Laguna M.1) for complex agentic tasks.

Research-first approach with public documentation on training and methodology.

Direct download and API access provide multiple integration paths.

· Cons

Lacks a user-friendly interface or IDE plugin out-of-the-box.

Pricing for API access is not publicly available.

Primarily for developers comfortable with APIs and model implementation, not beginners.

⚡ Editorial Verdict

Poolside is a powerful, research-forward platform for developers wanting to go beyond simple code completion. Its open-weight models offer flexibility, but the lack of a traditional GUI or IDE integration means it's best suited for those comfortable working with APIs and command-line tools.

See all 445 AI tools for Developers → Browse the AI Directory →

Questions & Answers

Frequently asked questions

Can I use Poolside's models for free?

Yes, Poolside offers 'open-weight' models. The Laguna XS 2.1 model is available for download to run on your own hardware. The larger Laguna M.1 model is available via API, which may have associated costs.

What is 'agentic coding'?

Agentic coding refers to using AI models that can perform complex, multi-step software development tasks autonomously, like planning, writing, and debugging code over a long horizon, rather than just completing a single line or function.

How do I access the Laguna models?

The Laguna XS 2.1 model can be downloaded directly from the Poolside website to run locally. The Laguna M.1 model is accessible via API and can also be used through platforms like OpenRouter.

Is Poolside suitable for beginners?

Poolside is geared towards experienced developers and AI researchers comfortable working with models, APIs, and command-line interfaces. It does not currently offer a simple GUI or IDE plugin for beginners.

Does Poolside work for developers in Europe?

Yes, as a downloadable model and API-based service, Poolside's models can be accessed and used by developers globally, including in Europe.

Is Poolside available for teams in the USA?

Yes, Poolside is available for use in the USA. They also have a specific offering for US government entities.

Last reviewed: June 2026 — Assessed Laguna model specifications and developer resources.

Plans & Pricing

Poolside pricing and plans

Free

Get Started Free

Pro

Pricing on request

Pricing for Laguna M.1 API access is not public. The Laguna XS 2.1 model is free to download and run locally.

Start Pro Plan

Prices and features are updated regularly but can change at any time — always confirm on the official website. Some links on this page are affiliate links.

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Poolside Alternatives (2026)

The best alternatives to Poolside — every tool below is reviewed and scored by Zekai.

Compare	Poolside	CSVBox	Cursor AI Code Editor
Zekai Score	7.5/10	9.5/10	9.4/10
Rating	4.0/5	4.5/5	4.5/5
Pricing	Pricing on request	$0/mo	Free
Free tier	Yes	Yes	No
Best for	It's best for developers and researchers who requi…	Best for developers building SaaS applications who…	Full-stack developers benefit most, as the tool's …

CSVBox Cursor AI Code Editor GitHub Copilot n8n Hugging Face Mistral AI Applitools Visual Testing with AI CodeRabbit

Free guide

Take it with you

**Understanding Agentic Coding:** What it is and why it's the next step after code completion.
**The Poolside Ecosystem:** A breakdown of the Laguna XS (on-device) and Laguna M.1 (API) models.
**Choosing Your Model:** When to use the local model vs. the cloud API.

**Use Case Deep Dive:** Automating a database migration with a Poolside agent.
**Reading the Research:** How to leverage Poolside's 'Model Factory' blog for deeper insights.

+4 more steps inside the guide

Send me the full guide

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Disclaimer

Zekai is an independent AI tools directory. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to Poolside unless clearly stated. All product names, logos, and brands are the property of their respective owners and are used for identification purposes only. The information on this page — including pricing, features, and availability — is general information, may have changed since our last review, and is not professional advice. Zekai Scores and verdicts are our editorial opinion. Some outbound links are affiliate links that may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. Spotted outdated or incorrect information? Request a correction →

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Poolside — AI for Software Development

Top AI for Software Development picks

Before & After

Try it with these prompts

Prompts for Developers

Trusted by professionals

Poolside integrations

Best Poolside alternatives

Is Poolside worth it?