Cline
Autonomous coding agent inside VS Code that asks before it acts.
- Stars
- 70.3K
- Forks
- 7.7K
- Open issues
- 1.7K
- Last commit
- 2026-10-15
Live from the GitHub API · updated 2026-10-15
What is Cline?
Cline plans and executes multi-step coding tasks — creating and editing files, running terminal commands, using a browser — with human approval at each step. It supports many model providers and MCP tools.
Key features
- Plan/Act modes
- File edits with diff approval
- Terminal and browser use
- MCP server integration
System requirements
- Platforms
- Windows · macOS · Linux
- Notes
- VS Code (or compatible editors) and an API key or local model.
How to install Cline
Summarized from the project’s README. Projects change quickly — check the GitHub page for the latest instructions.
VS Code extension
- 1Install “Cline” from the VS Code Marketplace and choose a model provider in its settings.
Strengths
- Capable agentic workflows
- Transparent approvals
Limitations
- Token usage can be high
Cline alternatives compared
| Software | Stars | License | Platforms | VRAM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cline Autonomous coding agent inside VS Code that asks before it acts. | 70.3K | Apache-2.0 | — | |
| Roo Code A team of AI coding agents in your editor, with custom modes. | 24.3K | Apache-2.0 | — | |
| Continue Open-source AI code assistant for VS Code and JetBrains. | 36.2K | Apache-2.0 | — | |
| Aider AI pair programming in your terminal, with automatic git commits. | 49.6K | Apache-2.0 | — | |
| OpenHands Open platform for autonomous software development agents. | 90.9K | MIT | — | |
| opencode Open-source AI coding agent built for the terminal. | 213.6K | MIT | — |
FAQ
Is Cline free?
Yes — Cline is open-source software released under the Apache-2.0 license. Check the license (and any model weight licenses) before commercial use.
Does Cline run on Windows, Mac and Linux?
Cline supports: Windows, macOS, Linux.
How do I install Cline?
1. Install “Cline” from the VS Code Marketplace and choose a model provider in its settings.
What are the best Cline alternatives?
Popular alternatives include Roo Code, Continue, Aider, OpenHands. See the comparison table on this page.