# Cline: features, protocols, quickstart ## TL;DR Cline is an Apache-2.0 coding agent from Cline Bot Inc. that runs as a VS Code extension, JetBrains plugin, CLI, desktop app and TypeScript SDK. It edits files and runs commands with per-action approval, works with many model providers, and adds subagents and agent teams. It suits developers wanting a model-neutral agent with fine-grained approvals. ## Key facts | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Type | Harness | | Languages / SDKs | TypeScript | | License | Apache-2.0 | | Pricing model | [Open core](https://cline.bot/pricing) | | Orchestration pattern | Supervisor | | GitHub stars | 69,598 (as of 2026-09-30) | | GitHub forks | 7,557 | | Last push | 2026-09-30 | | Latest release | desktop-v0.0.39 | | Repository | [cline/cline](https://github.com/cline/cline) | | Website | [cline.bot](https://cline.bot) | | Documentation | [docs.cline.bot](https://docs.cline.bot/cline-overview) | | Last verified | 2026-09-30 | ## Key features - Subagents (experimental, on by default) run read-only research in parallel, each with its own context window and token budget, and report file paths back to the main agent. ([source](https://docs.cline.bot/features/subagents)) - Agent teams in the CLI, SDK and Kanban: a coordinator spawns teammates and delegates tasks through a shared task board, mailbox and mission log that persist per team name. ([source](https://docs.cline.bot/cli/agent-teams)) - Kanban (research preview) runs several coding agents in parallel, one isolated git worktree per card, with Cline CLI, Claude Code, Codex or OpenCode. ([source](https://docs.cline.bot/usage/kanban)) - Per-category auto-approve settings (read, edit, safe or all commands, browser, MCP) with YOLO mode for fully autonomous runs. ([source](https://docs.cline.bot/features/auto-approve)) - Plan mode explores and proposes a strategy before Act mode makes changes. ([source](https://docs.cline.bot/core-workflows/plan-and-act)) - Checkpoints snapshot the project into a shadow Git repository after each tool use so changes can be rolled back without losing the conversation. ([source](https://docs.cline.bot/core-workflows/checkpoints)) - Local and remote (Streamable HTTP) MCP servers, configured in ~/.cline/mcp.json for the CLI or the MCP Servers panel in IDEs. ([source](https://docs.cline.bot/mcp/mcp-overview)) - cline --acp runs the CLI as an Agent Client Protocol agent for Zed, JetBrains IDEs, Neovim and Emacs. ([source](https://docs.cline.bot/usage/acp)) ## Architecture and orchestration pattern Pattern: Supervisor. Cline's clients (VS Code extension, JetBrains plugin, CLI, desktop app) share one agent engine that is also published as the TypeScript `@cline/sdk`. The agent reads the project, edits files, runs terminal commands and uses the browser and MCP tools, with every action passing through approval settings. Project rules in `.clinerules` and skills shape its behaviour across clients. There are two multi-agent models. Subagents are an experimental, in-session supervisor pattern: the main agent calls `use_subagents` to launch several read-only research agents at once, each with its own context and budget; they cannot edit files, use MCP or spawn nested subagents, and they return focused reports. Agent teams (CLI, SDK and Kanban only) give a coordinator tools to spawn teammates, delegate tasks, check status and collect results, with a task board, mailbox and mission log stored under `~/.cline/data/teams//` so a team can resume later. Kanban adds a parallel-execution layer outside the agent: each card runs a separate coding agent (Cline CLI, Claude Code, Codex or OpenCode) in its own git worktree, with dependency links and inline review comments. Project state for rollbacks is kept in a shadow Git repository by the checkpoint system. ### Human in the loop By default every file edit and terminal command asks for approval. Auto Approve relaxes this per category (read or edit inside or outside the workspace, safe or all commands, browser, MCP); the model flags each command as safe or approval-required, and YOLO mode approves everything. Subagent launches follow the "Read project files" setting, and without it Cline shows the planned subagent prompts for approval. Plan mode lets the user agree on a strategy before Act mode changes anything, checkpoints allow rolling back files at any step, and in Kanban the user can comment on diff lines to steer a card's agent. Enterprise admins can control YOLO mode and allowlist MCP servers. ### Harnesses it can drive - Claude Code ([evidence](https://docs.cline.bot/usage/kanban)) - Codex ([evidence](https://docs.cline.bot/usage/kanban)) - OpenCode ([evidence](https://docs.cline.bot/usage/kanban)) ## Protocols | Protocol | Support | Evidence | Note | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | MCP | Yes (checked 2026-09-30) | [link](https://docs.cline.bot/mcp/mcp-overview) | Client: local servers and remote hosted servers (Streamable HTTP recommended) via ~/.cline/mcp.json or the IDE MCP Servers panel; subagents cannot use MCP. | | A2A | Unknown (checked 2026-09-30) | — | No A2A mention in the README or docs llms.txt index; GitHub code search in cline/cline only matched colour codes and unrelated text. | | AG-UI | Unknown (checked 2026-09-30) | — | No AG-UI mention in the README, docs index or code search, and Cline is not in the AG-UI README integration list. | ## Best for - Coding inside VS Code or JetBrains with approval of each edit and command. ([shortlist](https://multiagentguide.top/best/coding-agents.md)) - Running Cline, Claude Code, Codex or OpenCode side by side on separate worktrees from one Kanban board. ([shortlist](https://multiagentguide.top/best/coding-agents.md)) - Embedding an agent with teams and subagents in a Node.js application through @cline/sdk. ([shortlist](https://multiagentguide.top/best/typescript.md)) - Organisations that need SSO, central provider configuration, MCP allowlists and YOLO-mode controls via Cline Enterprise. ([shortlist](https://multiagentguide.top/best/enterprise-governance.md)) - Local models through Ollama or LM Studio. ([shortlist](https://multiagentguide.top/best/self-hosted-local.md)) ## Not for - Parallel subagents that write code: Cline subagents are read-only and cannot use MCP. - Agent teams inside the IDE: teams currently apply only to the SDK, CLI and Kanban. - Teams that need all clients open source: the JetBrains plugin is not open-sourced. ## Quickstart ```sh npm install -g cline ``` Install not yet verified by this site. ```bash npm install -g cline cline auth # sign in or add a provider API key # one-shot headless task cline "Run the tests and fix any failures" # pipe a diff in for review git diff origin/main | cline "Review these changes for issues" # coordinator + teammates with a persistent task board cline --team-name auth-sprint "Plan and implement user authentication with tests" cline --team-name auth-sprint "Continue with incomplete tasks" # parallel agents in isolated worktrees (research preview) cd /path/to/repo && npx kanban ``` ### Common pitfalls - The CLI needs Node.js 20+ (22 recommended) for install; Kanban needs Node.js 18+ and must run from a git repository root. - OAuth providers (`cline`, `openai-codex`, `oca`) do not open a browser on normal startup; run `cline auth ` first, or non-interactive runs fail fast. - Subagents are experimental and read-only; Kanban is a research preview; agent teams are enabled by default in the CLI (disable with `--no-teams`). - `.clineignore` is being deprecated because it never blocked access through shell commands; the replacement plugin is not a security boundary either. - Windows support for the desktop app is in beta. Official quickstart: https://docs.cline.bot/getting-started/installing-cline ## Pros - Works with Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, OpenRouter, Bedrock, Vertex, local Ollama or LM Studio and any OpenAI-compatible API. ([source](https://github.com/cline/cline)) - Checkpoints are on by default and use a shadow Git repository, so rollbacks do not touch your own Git history. ([source](https://docs.cline.bot/core-workflows/checkpoints)) - Granular auto-approve categories let you allow routine reads while still reviewing edits and risky commands. ([source](https://docs.cline.bot/features/auto-approve)) - Agent teams persist their task board and mailbox, so work can resume in a later session. ([source](https://docs.cline.bot/sdk/guides/multi-agent-teams)) - Kanban can drive other harnesses (Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode) alongside Cline. ([source](https://docs.cline.bot/usage/kanban)) ## Cons - Subagents are labelled experimental and are read-only: no file edits, browser, MCP or nested subagents. ([source](https://docs.cline.bot/features/subagents)) - Agent teams are not available in the VS Code and JetBrains extensions yet. ([source](https://docs.cline.bot/cli/agent-teams)) - Kanban is a research preview that relies on experimental capabilities. ([source](https://docs.cline.bot/usage/kanban)) - Features are being retired during the move to the SDK-backed architecture (.clineignore, Explain Changes, Focus Chain). ([source](https://docs.cline.bot/resources/deprecations)) - Command safety relies on the model flagging each command, not a fixed allowlist. ([source](https://docs.cline.bot/features/auto-approve)) ## Alternatives - [Claude Code](https://multiagentguide.top/tools/claude-code.md) - [OpenCode](https://multiagentguide.top/tools/opencode.md) - [Codex CLI](https://multiagentguide.top/tools/codex.md) - [Aider](https://multiagentguide.top/tools/aider.md) - [Gemini CLI](https://multiagentguide.top/tools/gemini-cli.md) ## FAQ ### Does Cline support MCP? Yes. It connects to local and remote MCP servers from the CLI config file or the IDE MCP panel. A2A and AG-UI support are not documented. ### Is Cline free? The code is Apache-2.0 and you can bring your own model keys. Cline Bot Inc. also sells usage-billed model access, a ClinePass subscription and Cline Enterprise. ### What is the difference between Cline subagents and agent teams? Subagents are experimental, read-only research workers inside one task that run in parallel and report back. Agent teams have a coordinator that spawns and delegates to teammates through a persistent task board, and are available in the CLI, SDK and Kanban. ### Can Cline run Claude Code or Codex? Yes, through Kanban, which runs Cline CLI, Claude Code, Codex or OpenCode agents on separate git worktrees. ### What language is Cline written in? TypeScript; the SDK is published on npm as @cline/sdk. ## Sources - [cline/cline repository (README)](https://github.com/cline/cline) - [Cline homepage](https://cline.bot) - [Cline pricing](https://cline.bot/pricing) - [Cline overview](https://docs.cline.bot/cline-overview) - [Installing Cline](https://docs.cline.bot/getting-started/installing-cline) - [Subagents](https://docs.cline.bot/features/subagents) - [Agent teams (CLI)](https://docs.cline.bot/cli/agent-teams) - [Multi-agent teams (SDK)](https://docs.cline.bot/sdk/guides/multi-agent-teams) - [Kanban](https://docs.cline.bot/usage/kanban) - [Auto Approve and YOLO mode](https://docs.cline.bot/features/auto-approve) - [Plan and Act mode](https://docs.cline.bot/core-workflows/plan-and-act) - [Checkpoints](https://docs.cline.bot/core-workflows/checkpoints) - [MCP](https://docs.cline.bot/mcp/mcp-overview) - [ACP](https://docs.cline.bot/usage/acp) - [Cline Enterprise](https://docs.cline.bot/enterprise-solutions/overview) - [ClinePass](https://docs.cline.bot/getting-started/clinepass) - [Deprecations](https://docs.cline.bot/resources/deprecations) - [AG-UI README integration list](https://github.com/ag-ui-protocol/ag-ui) ## Unknown fields protocols.a2a and protocols.agui: searched the README, the docs llms.txt index, GitHub code search in cline/cline (a2a, agent2agent, ag-ui) and the AG-UI README integration list; no support found. Corrections or removal requests: support@multiagentguide.top --- Data as of 2026-09-30. Not affiliated with listed projects. HTML version: https://multiagentguide.top/tools/cline