Cline

Open-source autonomous AI coding agent for your editor.

Open Source Coding & Development
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What is Cline?

Cline is an open-source AI coding agent that works inside your editor as an autonomous collaborator. It plans multi-step tasks, reads and edits your codebase, runs terminal commands, and can even drive a browser when a task requires it. Unlike autocomplete tools, it shows every action it takes and keeps you in control of approvals. It plugs into major AI models, including local ones, and is extensible for enterprise workflows.

Key features

  • Autonomous coding agent inside VS Code and other editors
  • Reads, edits, and refactors entire codebases
  • Runs terminal commands and automates browser tasks
  • Full visibility and approval control over every action
  • Works with major AI models including local models

Watch: Cline tutorial

Ideal Setup for Cline Ideal Setup for Cline — Cline

Video by Cline on YouTube — plays here without leaving this page.

Pros

  • Fully open source and auditable
  • Transparent — you see and approve every action
  • Model-agnostic, including local models

Cons

  • Model API costs apply on top for heavy use
  • Autonomous actions need careful permission settings
  • Can be overwhelming for beginners new to agents

Cline at a glance

PricingOpen Source
CategoryCoding & Development
Platformswindows, macos, linux, chrome-extension, api
Official websitecline.bot
coding-agentopen-sourcevscodeautonomousdeveloper-tools

How to choose the right Coding & Development tool

The right coding tool depends on where you write code and how much of your codebase it can understand. IDE integration is the first filter — a tool that lives in your editor, sees your project files and respects your stack will help far more than a general chatbot you paste snippets into. Look for accurate completions, clear explanations of suggested changes, and strong refactoring and debugging support for your main languages. Privacy deserves real attention: check whether your code is used for training, and whether a self-hosted or enterprise option exists for sensitive projects. Price against the hours it actually saves — most developers feel the difference within the first week of real use.

Compare all Coding & Development tools →

Cline FAQs

What is Cline?

Cline is an open-source AI coding agent that works inside your editor as an autonomous collaborator. It plans multi-step tasks, reads and edits your codebase, runs terminal commands, and can even drive a browser when a task requires it. Unlike autocomplete tools, it shows every action it takes and keeps you in control of approvals. It plugs into major AI models, including local ones, and is extensible for enterprise workflows.

What are the main features of Cline?

Cline offers Autonomous coding agent inside VS Code and other editors, Reads, edits, and refactors entire codebases, Runs terminal commands and automates browser tasks, Full visibility and approval control over every action and Works with major AI models including local models.

How much does Cline cost?

Cline is open source, so the software itself is free to download, use and self-host. Your only costs are the infrastructure you run it on and any paid services you connect to it.

What are the pros and cons of Cline?

Strengths of Cline include Fully open source and auditable; Transparent — you see and approve every action; Model-agnostic, including local models. On the downside, Model API costs apply on top for heavy use; Autonomous actions need careful permission settings; Can be overwhelming for beginners new to agents.