Cline
Open-source autonomous coding agent for VS Code. Plan-then-act with full transparency.
Open source · Apache-2.0 Free
Features
- ▸ Plan mode + Act mode
- ▸ Diff preview before file write
- ▸ Browser automation (computer use)
- ▸ Terminal command execution with approval
- ▸ MCP server support
- ▸ Custom system prompts
- ▸ .clinerules per-project
Pros
- + Fully transparent — every action approval-gated
- + Bring-your-own-key, any model
- + Works with local models (Ollama)
Cons
- − Slower than tab-autocomplete tools for small edits
- − Configuration learning curve
Best for
- · Privacy-conscious teams
- · Local-LLM enthusiasts
- · Devs who want full control
Avoid if
- · You want zero-config out-of-box
- · You need a polished hosted solution