Cline — Autonomous AI Coding Agent for VS Code

What is Cline?

Cline is an autonomous AI coding agent that runs inside VS Code. Unlike simple code-completion tools, Cline can create and edit files, run terminal commands, use MCP servers, and browse the web — with your approval at each step.

In one sentence: Cline is an autonomous AI coding agent in VS Code supporting file operations, terminal commands, and MCP servers, with 100k+ installs and 30k+ GitHub stars.

For: Developers who want a full-featured AI agent inside their IDE. Supported models: Claude, GPT-4o, Gemini, DeepSeek, Ollama.

Core Features

1. File Operations

Create and edit files — each change is shown as a diff for approval.

2. Terminal Integration

Run commands directly in the VS Code terminal, read output, and auto-fix errors.

3. MCP Server Support

Extend capabilities by connecting any MCP server.

4. Browser Integration

Launch a browser, take screenshots, and interact for testing.

5. Multi-Model Support

Full coverage of Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, local models, and gateways.

FAQ

Q: How does it compare to Claude Code? A: Cline is a native VS Code GUI; Claude Code is a terminal CLI. They're complementary — many developers use both.

Q: Is it free? A: The extension is free and open source; LLM API calls are pay-as-you-go (bring your own API key).