01What is Ling 3.1 Flash and How It Works
Ling 3.1 Flash is a free AI model you can run inside OpenCode, a coding assistant. It gives your AI agents a new brain that thinks fast, remembers a lot, and works for free. In this episode, Julian Goldie shows how to grab it, set it up, and build a full website from one prompt.
The model works like other AI coding agents. You give it a task, and it writes code, creates files, and builds projects. It is not a frontier model like Claude 5.5, but it is free and useful for subagents or running your agents.
It also works in different harnesses, which are like bodies that take actions for the brain.
You can use Ling 3.1 Flash across multiple places for free. It has a weekly token usage tracker that shows how popular it is. The model is simple to switch between build and plan modes, and you can choose low, medium, or high thinking.
That flexibility makes it easy to use for many tasks.
02Main Features of Ling 3.1 Flash
Ling 3.1 Flash comes with several useful features that make it stand out as a free model. First, it is fast, scoring 210 output tokens per second. That is close to ultra-fast models like GPT Astra 6, which hits up to 300 tokens per second.
Speed matters when building projects.
It also has a high intelligence index score. It scores 41 on the Artificial Analysis intelligence index. That shows it can handle complex tasks well for a free model.
It outperforms DeepSeek V4.1 Flash Max, which scores 39. It is faster than Grok 4.7 and GLM 5.3 Max.
- Build mode and plan mode for different tasks.
- Low, medium, or high thinking modes.
- Free to use in OpenCode and other harnesses.
- Works with multiple apps like Cloud Code, Kilo Code, and Hermes Agent.
- Weekly token usage tracker to see popularity.
These features make Ling 3.1 Flash a solid choice for everyday AI development. It is not at Opus level, but it is free and gets the job done.
03How to Set Up Ling 3.1 Flash in OpenCode
Setting up Ling 3.1 Flash in OpenCode is simple and takes just a few clicks. Julian shows the exact steps in this episode. First, make sure you have OpenCode installed.
If not, go to the OpenCode website and download it for free.
- Open OpenCode on your computer.
- Go to the model list and look for Ling 3.1 Flash Free.
- If you cannot see it, click on 'check for updates' and make sure OpenCode is updated.
- After updating, select Ling 3.1 Flash Free from the list.
- Choose your thinking mode: low, medium, or high. The default is fine.
- Start a new project or open an existing one.
That is all you need to do. Once selected, you can start giving tasks. The model will begin working right away.
If you run into errors, do not worry. The free server can be down briefly sometimes, but it retries and usually works after a few attempts.
04How to Use Ling 3.1 Flash to Build a Website
To use Ling 3.1 Flash, you give it a prompt and it builds. Julian demonstrates by creating a new website for airprofitborn.com. He pastes information from the page into the chat and asks for a more beautiful version.
First, create a new project folder and name it, like 'new website for the AI profit boardroom'. Then open it and hit enter. Select an agent model, and the AI starts working.
You can watch the progress on the side.
You can switch between build and plan mode. Build mode creates the actual files, while plan mode helps you think through the steps. You can also choose your thinking level: low, medium, or high.
For a simple site, low might be enough. For complex apps, use high.
Here is a quick example of the steps Julian shows:
- Paste the content or description of the site you want.
- Ask for a more beautiful or interesting version.
- Let the model run and generate the code.
- Wait for it to finish—it may take several attempts if the server is busy.
That is how you build a full website from one prompt. The model writes all the code for you.
05Results, Tests, and Benchmarks Shown in the Episode
Julian shows real benchmarks for Ling 3.1 Flash from Artificial Analysis. The model outperforms DeepSeek V4.1 Flash Max, which scores 39, while Ling 3.1 Flash scores higher. It is not at the same level as Opus, though.
In terms of speed, Ling 3.1 Flash is impressive. It scores 210 output tokens per second. Julian compares this to ultra-fast models from ChatGPT that reach 300 tokens per second.
So Ling 3.1 Flash is not far off.
- Intelligence index score: 41.
- Output speed: 210 tokens per second.
- Faster than Grok 4.7 and GLM 5.3 Max.
- Outperforms DeepSeek V4.1 Flash Max.
These results show that Ling 3.1 Flash is a competitive free model. It is not for frontier tasks, but it is great for daily use. Julian also notes that it is popular, with weekly token usage growing.
06Tips, Limits, and Mistakes to Avoid with Ling 3.1 Flash
There are a few important tips and limits to know when using Ling 3.1 Flash. Julian is transparent about one issue: the free server from OpenCode sometimes does not work the first time. It will keep retrying, and it worked on the fourth attempt in the episode.
Do not panic if it fails.
A common mistake is not updating OpenCode. If you cannot find Ling 3.1 Flash, you need to check for updates first. Another mistake is expecting frontier-level performance.
Ling 3.1 Flash is not Claude 5.5 level, so do not use it for very complex tasks.
- Always update OpenCode to see the latest free models.
- Expect occasional server errors; retries usually work.
- Do not treat it as a frontier model; use it for subagents and everyday tasks.
- You can plug it into other harnesses like DeepSeek via settings.
By following these tips, you can avoid frustration and get the most out of Ling 3.1 Flash.
07Who Should Use Ling 3.1 Flash and Why It Matters
Ling 3.1 Flash is for anyone who wants a free, fast AI coding model. It is perfect for developers, hobbyists, and businesses that want to build websites or apps without paying for expensive tools. Julian uses it as a subagent model, which means it handles background tasks while other models do the main work.
It matters because it gives you a powerful tool for free. You can experiment, build projects, and learn without cost. You can also integrate it into various harnesses like Cloud Code, Kilo Code, and Hermes Agent.
That flexibility makes it valuable.
Julian also highlights that it is great for automating tasks. Whether you are building a site from a single prompt or creating AI agents, Ling 3.1 Flash can help. It is not the best, but it is free and reliable enough for many jobs.
If you want to learn more, Julian mentions his community, the AI Profit Boardroom, where you can get training and support.
