====== Cline ======

**Cline** is a model-agnostic autonomous coding agent that operates directly inside VS Code and the terminal(([[https://github.com/cline/cline|Cline GitHub Repository]])). It can create and edit files, execute commands, use a browser, and interact with any API — all with explicit user approval at every step. With over **59,000 GitHub stars**, Cline is one of the most popular open-source AI coding assistants available.

GitHub: [[https://github.com/cline/cline|cline/cline]] | Website: [[https://cline.bot]]

===== Key Features =====

  * **Plan and Act Modes** — Plan Mode performs read-only analysis; Act Mode executes changes with full tool access
  * **Model Agnostic** — Works with Anthropic, OpenAI, Google Gemini, AWS Bedrock, Azure, Groq, Cerebras, and local models via Ollama or LM Studio
  * **File Management** — Creates and edits files with diff views, auto-fixes linter/compiler errors, tracks changes in VS Code Timeline
  * **Command Execution** — Runs terminal commands in real-time, monitoring output for package installs, builds, deploys, and tests
  * **Browser Integration** — Launches headless browser to click, type, scroll, capture screenshots and console logs for debugging
  * **Checkpoints** — Takes workspace snapshots at each step for easy comparison and rollback
  * **MCP Integration** — Extends capabilities through Model Context Protocol tools and a built-in MCP Marketplace(([[https://docs.cline.bot/getting-started/what-is-cline|Cline Official Documentation]]))
  * **Rules System** — Global and workspace-specific rules for consistent AI behavior across teams
  * **Cost Tracking** — Monitors token usage and API costs per task and per request

===== Architecture =====

Cline is built in TypeScript as a VS Code extension with a modular architecture:

  * **Agent Loop** — Iterative planning and execution cycle with human-in-the-loop approval
  * **Tool System** — File operations, terminal execution, browser automation, and MCP bridges
  * **Context Providers** — @url, @problems, @file, @folder for flexible context injection
  * **Checkpoint Engine** — Git-based workspace snapshots for state management and rollback
  * **API Abstraction** — Unified interface supporting 10+ LLM provider APIs

===== Usage Example =====

<code bash>
# Install via VS Code Extensions marketplace
# Search for "Cline" (formerly "Claude Dev")

# Or use via CLI
npx cline "add authentication middleware to the Express app"

# In VS Code, open the Cline sidebar and type:
# "Refactor the database module to use async/await"
# Cline will plan, show diffs, and ask for approval
</code>

===== How It Works =====

<mermaid>
graph TD
    A[User Task Description] --> B{Mode Selection}
    B -->|Plan Mode| C[Read-Only Analysis]
    C --> D[Action Plan Generation]
    D --> E[User Review]
    E --> F{Approved?}
    F -->|Yes| G[Switch to Act Mode]
    F -->|No| C
    B -->|Act Mode| G
    G --> H[Tool Selection]
    H --> I[File Create/Edit]
    H --> J[Terminal Command]
    H --> K[Browser Action]
    H --> L[MCP Tool Call]
    I --> M[Show Diff for Approval]
    J --> M
    K --> M
    L --> M
    M --> N{User Approves?}
    N -->|Yes| O[Apply Change]
    N -->|No| P[Revise Approach]
    O --> Q[Checkpoint Snapshot]
    Q --> R{Task Complete?}
    R -->|No| H
    R -->|Yes| S[Summary Report]
    P --> H
</mermaid>

===== Notable Characteristics =====

  * Originally released as "Claude Dev" by Saoud Rizwan, later renamed to Cline to reflect model-agnostic support.((Cline Official Website. [[https://cline.bot|cline.bot]]))
  * Pioneered the human-in-the-loop approval pattern for AI coding agents in IDEs
  * Forked into [[roo_code|Roo Code]] which added multi-mode agent architecture
  * Over 6,000 forks on GitHub, one of the most forked AI coding tools
  * Active community with regular releases and extensive marketplace of MCP extensions(([[https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=saoudrizwan.claude-dev|VS Code Marketplace]]))

===== See Also =====

  * [[roo_code|Roo Code]] — Multi-mode agent forked from Cline
  * [[gemini_cli|Gemini CLI]] — Google's terminal agent
  * [[trae_agent|Trae Agent]] — ByteDance's research-friendly CLI agent
  * [[devon|Devon]] — Open-source pair programmer with TUI
  * [[droid_factory|Droid (Factory)]] — Factory's multi-model CLI coding agent

===== References =====