Cline
Open-source autonomous coding agent for VS Code with Plan and Act modes.
What is Cline?
Cline is a fully open-source (Apache 2.0) autonomous AI coding agent that runs as a sidebar inside VS Code and other editors. It can read and edit files, run terminal commands, and use the browser, asking for your approval at each step.
Who is Cline best for?
Developers who want an agentic coding workflow without being locked into one model provider or hosted service. Ideal for BYOK users who want full control over cost and tooling.
How does Cline work?
Plan mode explores your codebase and drafts a strategy, then Act mode executes it with each file edit and command gated behind your approval. It connects to Claude, GPT, Gemini, or local models and plugs into MCP servers.
Pros
- 100% open source, no vendor lock-in
- Works with any LLM including local models
- Human-in-the-loop approval on every action
- Extensible via MCP servers
Cons
- BYOK only, so you pay provider API costs
- Token usage can get expensive on large tasks
- Requires setup and API key management
- Steeper learning curve than hosted tools
