Cline.
Open-source agentic VS Code extension with human-in-the-loop control.
What it is.
the maintainer's VS Code extension, formerly Claude Dev. Cline runs as an in-editor agent — it reads files, runs commands, drives a browser, and asks for approval at each step. Open source on GitHub with more than 30,000 stars. The buyer pays the model provider directly; Cline takes no margin on tokens.
Where it fits.
Engineers who want Cursor-style agent behaviour without leaving VS Code or paying a subscription on top of model costs. The default extension among Anthropic API customers running internal coding agents. Less polished than a managed product, but the token transparency is the point.
- No subscription — buyer pays model provider directly
- Human-in-the-loop approval at every action
- Open source with active community of 30,000-plus stars
- Token costs surprise teams without budget guardrails
- No managed enterprise tier or SSO
Frequently asked.
Is Cline free?
The extension is free and open source. The buyer pays the underlying model provider — Anthropic, OpenAI, or a self-hosted endpoint — directly per token.
How does Cline differ from Cursor?
Cline is a VS Code extension, not a fork. It keeps every plug-in and setting intact and adds an agent that asks for approval at each step.
What was Claude Dev?
The original name. Rebranded to Cline in 2024 to reflect multi-model support beyond Claude.
