Cline is an agent, not an autocomplete. You describe a task, it reads the relevant files, proposes a plan, and then edits your code in steps you approve — including running terminal commands when that is what the task needs.
It is one of the most-starred open-source coding agents on GitHub (about 69,000 stars, Apache-2.0 licence). Unlike a bundled subscription, it brings your own key: you choose the model, you pay the provider.
Official image from the https://cline.bot website. (https://cline.bot/cline_og_img.png)
What it covers
- Multi-file edits with a visible plan and per-step approval
- Terminal execution for installs, tests and builds
- Model freedom — cloud APIs or a local model through Ollama
- Editor integration for VS Code and JetBrains IDEs
What to know before you switch
The cost model is the thing to watch. Because you pay per token, a long agent run against a strong model can cost more than a monthly assistant subscription, and it is easy to spend without noticing. The approval loop is a feature — it stops runaway edits — but it is slower than accepting a completion inline.
Who it fits
Developers who want an agent they can audit, people with existing API credits, and teams who need to choose exactly which model sees their code.