---
slug: "cline"
name: "Cline"
effect: "Runs an approval-based coding agent in VS Code, JetBrains, the terminal or a desktop app with any model"
category: "coding-agent"
url: "https://cline.bot/"
github: "cline/cline"
pricing: "open-source"
license: "Apache-2.0; the JetBrains plugin is not open source"
tags: ["vscode", "jetbrains", "cli", "mcp", "bring-your-own-model"]
platforms: ["vscode", "jetbrains", "macos", "windows"]
install_kind: "npm"
date_added: "2026-10-14"
drop_score: 78
stars: 70336
pushed_at: "2026-10-15T01:15:30Z"
signals_status: "ok"
signals_fetched_at: "2026-10-15T01:18:55.371Z"
page: "https://agenttooldrop.com/tools/cline"
---

# Cline

Runs an approval-based coding agent in VS Code, JetBrains, the terminal or a desktop app with any model

Category: Coding agents. Pricing: Open source. License: Apache-2.0; the JetBrains plugin is not open source.

Platforms: vscode, jetbrains, macos, windows.

## Why you would want it

Cline edits files across a project, runs terminal commands and reacts to their output, and in VS Code and JetBrains each edit appears as a diff with checkpoints so you can undo its work. Plan mode explores the codebase and proposes a strategy before Act mode carries it out, and every edit and command needs your approval unless you turn on auto-approve. It works with Anthropic, OpenAI, Gemini, OpenRouter, Bedrock, Ollama, LM Studio and any OpenAI-compatible API, and extends through MCP servers, SDK plugins and .clinerules files.

## Best for

- VS Code and JetBrains users
- Developers who want to approve each action
- Bring-your-own-model or local-model setups

## Use it when

You want an agent inside your editor that asks before each change, and you want to pick the model provider yourself.

## Skip it if

You need every client to be open source (the JetBrains plugin is not), or you want an agent that runs without per-step approvals by default.

## Install

Install the CLI with npm:

```sh
npm i -g cline
```

Source: https://github.com/cline/cline#readme

## Live signals

Fetched 2026-10-15T01:18:55.371Z (status: ok).

- Repository: cline/cline
- Stars: 70,336
- Forks: 7,658
- Open issues and PRs: 1,662
- License (GitHub): Apache-2.0
- Last push: 2026-10-15
- Latest release: desktop-v0.0.46 (2026-10-13)

## Links

- Website: https://cline.bot/
- GitHub: https://github.com/cline/cline
- Install instructions verified at: https://github.com/cline/cline#readme
- Source for this entry: https://github.com/cline/cline#readme
- AgentToolDrop page: https://agenttooldrop.com/tools/cline
- Full catalog (JSON): https://agenttooldrop.com/tools.json