Cline is an open-source coding agent inside VS Code-style editors, working much like a person: read files, list a plan, run terminal commands and fix errors. It is not tied to one model service: whichever key you supply decides the model, including local ones. Because it really touches your directory and terminal, key actions need step-by-step approval, which suits experiments on a revertible branch and people who care where data goes.
What it does
- Agent flow: plan, edit file by file, run commands, read results
- Your own model and key, cloud or local
- Open-source plugin with adjustable behavior and prompts
- Key actions need approval instead of running to the end
- Visible records of file and terminal actions
Who it is for
- An existing service key and only a new interface needed
- Running an agent in a restricted environment with a chosen model
- Watching each agent step instead of only the result
- Testing agentic coding on a small project before team adoption
How to get started
- Open a task on a revertible branch and approve step by step, watching file choices
- State acceptance criteria so it does not expand scope
- Read commands before approving, especially installs and deletions
