Cline¶
Cline is an open source AI coding agent that runs as a VS Code extension with bring-your-own-key provider support.
At a Glance¶
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Developer | Cline (open source community) |
| License | Apache 2.0 |
| Interface | VS Code Extension |
| Pricing | Free (Bring Your Own Keys) |
How It Works¶
Cline shows every file read, command, and edit before executing. You approve each action individually.
The extension supports multiple AI providers: Claude, GPT, Gemini, DeepSeek, Qwen, and local models via Ollama.
Key Characteristics¶
Plan & Act mode separates exploration from implementation. In Plan mode, Cline analyzes and creates a plan. In Act mode, it executes step by step.
Rules customize behavior via .clinerules/ folder, .clinerules file, or AGENTS.md.
Other features:
- MCP integration for external tools and data sources
- Checkpoints for git-based project state snapshots
- Hooks for pre/post tool execution scripts
- Auto-approve for read operations you trust
Learn More¶
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| Official Website | cline.bot |
| Documentation | docs.cline.bot |
| GitHub Repository | github.com/cline/cline |
| VS Code Marketplace | marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=saoudrizwan.claude-dev |
| Rules | docs.cline.bot/features/cline-rules |
| MCP | docs.cline.bot/mcp/mcp-overview |