I honestly look forward to the end of these platforms like Claude. Self-hosting models and using them locally is the way to go, assuming you have the hardware to match it. Plus, there are lighter models like Qwen that can suffice for low-level machines.

In the long run, as expensive computer hardware becomes accessible, Claude Code, Windsurf, Cursor and other companies playing this same token game will end up obsolete.

Beyond that, this obsession with AI for everything just speaks of the luxury of laziness which many developers in lesser parts of the world can’t afford.

How is this man capable of saying what’s in my mind?

Hi @gfqdjb. I’ve used a low-level Qwen model locally via VSCode and a bunch of extensions like Cline and Continue, but that’s about it.

If you want to go down the same path, I’d recommend this video to help you get started. Beyond that, hardware limitations mean most of the higher models are off limits to me except via the browser or paid API tokens.

I’m on a Mac, an older model, but people with M5 MacBooks still can’t run some of these models.

Let me know if this helps or if you need something else.