A free AI coding tool failed to replace a popular paid service.
A free AI coding assistant promised big savings but wasted time and broke code.
Deep Dive
A developer tested a free, local AI coding setup using Goose, Ollama, and Qwen3-coder as a replacement for the paid Claude Code service. While it worked on a small test, it failed completely on a larger project to build an iPad app. The AI made random, worsening edits to the code and created frustrating errors, ultimately costing more in wasted time than the $1,200 annual subscription it was meant to save.
Why It Matters
It shows that free AI tools can be more costly in time and frustration than paid, reliable services.