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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.

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Syntax

qwen --model <model-name>
qwen -m <model-name>

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Available Models

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Qwen Models (Dashscope)

Best for complex coding tasks
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

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OpenAI Models

When using OpenAI authentication: 
# 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

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Anthropic Models

When using Anthropic authentication: 
# 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

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Basic Usage

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Specify Model at Launch

qwen --model qwen-coder-plus

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With Other Options

# 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

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Model Selection Strategy

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For Development Tasks

# 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"

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For Different Project Sizes

# 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

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Model Comparison

ModelContextSpeedQualityCostBest For
qwen-coder-plus256K⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐$$$Complex coding
qwen-max200K⭐⭐⭐⭐$$General purpose
qwen-turbo128K⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐$Quick tasks
gpt-4-turbo128K⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐$$$$Advanced reasoning
claude-3-opus200K⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐$$$$Complex analysis
claude-3-haiku200K⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐$Fast responses

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Configuration

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Via Settings File

Set a default model: 
// settings.json
{
  "ai": {
    "model": "qwen-coder-plus",
    "provider": "dashscope"
  }
}

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Via Environment Variable

export QWEN_MODEL="qwen-coder-plus"
qwen

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Project-Specific Defaults

// .qwen/settings.json
{
  "ai": {
    "model": "qwen-max",  // Override global default
    "provider": "dashscope"
  }
}

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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)

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Advanced Usage

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Switch Models Mid-Session

In interactive mode: 
qwen --model qwen-turbo
> Ask quick questions
> /model  # Switch to qwen-coder-plus
> Now do complex refactoring

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Model-Specific Prompts

# 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"

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Cost Optimization

#!/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"

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Custom Models

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OpenAI-Compatible APIs

Use custom or self-hosted models: 
qwen --model custom-model \
     --openai-base-url https://your-api.com/v1 \
     --openai-api-key your-key

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Configuration for Custom Models

{
  "ai": {
    "provider": "openai",
    "model": "custom-model",
    "baseUrl": "https://your-api.com/v1",
    "apiKey": "${CUSTOM_API_KEY}"
  }
}

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Model Capabilities

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Tool Support

All models support Qwen Code tools: ✅ File operations (read, write, edit)
✅ Shell commands
✅ Code search
✅ Git operations
✅ Web search

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Feature Comparison

Featureqwen-coder-plusqwen-maxqwen-turbo
Multi-file editsExcellentGoodBasic
Code generationExcellentGoodGood
ExplanationsExcellentExcellentGood
DebuggingExcellentGoodBasic
SpeedMediumMediumFast
Context size256K200K128K

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Real-World Examples

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Web Development

# 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"

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Data Science

# Quick analysis
qwen --model qwen-turbo --prompt "Plot this data"

# Complex ML model
qwen --model qwen-coder-plus --prompt "Build gradient boosting model"

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DevOps

# Simple scripts
qwen --model qwen-turbo --prompt "Write deploy script"

# Complex infrastructure
qwen --model qwen-coder-plus --prompt "Design Kubernetes architecture"

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Performance Tips

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Match Model to Task

# 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?"

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Use Fast Models for Iteration

# 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"

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Monitor Token Usage

# 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

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Troubleshooting

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Model Not Available

Error: Model 'qwen-coder-plus' is not available
Solutions:
  1. Check authentication: 
    qwen --auth-type dashscope --dashscope-api-key "$KEY"
  2. Verify model name: 
    # List available models
qwen --model invalid 2>&1 | grep "Available models"
  3. Check API access: 
    # Test with curl
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer $DASHSCOPE_API_KEY" \
     https://dashscope.aliyuncs.com/api/v1/models

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Authentication Issues

Error: Authentication type not available
Solution: 
# 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

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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)

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Best Practices

Begin with fast models, upgrade as needed:
# 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:
// Large enterprise app
{
  "ai": {
    "model": "qwen-coder-plus"  // Need large context
  }
}

// Small utility
{
  "ai": {
    "model": "qwen-turbo"  // Speed matters more
  }
}
Monitor costs and adjust:
# 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:
# Large codebase, many files
qwen --model qwen-coder-plus  # 256K context

# Small, focused task
qwen --model qwen-turbo  # 128K sufficient

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See Also

/model Command

Switch models in interactive mode

Authentication

Set up model provider authentication

Model Comparison

Detailed model benchmarks and comparison

Configuration

Configure default models and settings