Cline is an AI-powered coding assistant designed for VS Code, enabling autonomous software development tasks. It empowers developers to create and edit files, execute terminal commands, and interact with web browsers, all under user supervision. The primary benefit is leveraging advanced AI models like Claude 3.5 Sonnet for complex coding challenges, moving beyond simple code completion.

How It Works

Cline integrates directly into the IDE, analyzing project structure and code via ASTs and file reads to build context. It offers a human-in-the-loop interface, requiring user approval for every file modification and terminal command execution, ensuring safety. Its capabilities include proactive error fixing (linters, compilers), terminal command execution with output monitoring, and browser interaction for debugging visual and runtime issues. Cline can also extend its functionality by creating new tools using the Model Context Protocol (MCP).

Quick Start & Requirements

• Install: VS Code extension.
• Prerequisites: VS Code, API keys for supported providers (OpenRouter, Anthropic, OpenAI, Google Gemini, AWS Bedrock, Azure, GCP Vertex) or local models (LM Studio/Ollama).
• Setup: Minimal, primarily involves configuring API keys.
• Docs: Getting Started

Highlighted Details

• Supports a wide range of LLM providers and local models.
• Tracks API usage costs and token counts.
• Utilizes VS Code's shell integration for terminal command execution.
• Features a "Compare and Restore" functionality for workspace snapshots.
• Extensible via the Model Context Protocol (MCP) for custom tools.

Maintenance & Community

• Active development with a Discord server and subreddit for community engagement.
• Open positions available for full-time work.
• Uses changeset for version management and contribution tracking.

Licensing & Compatibility

• License: Apache 2.0
• Compatibility: Suitable for commercial use and integration with closed-source projects.

Limitations & Caveats

Local development requires git-lfs and potentially an additional VS Code extension for build problem matching. The project is actively developed, implying potential for breaking changes or evolving features.