--- title: "Overview" description: "An introduction to Cline, your AI-powered coding agent for modern development." --- ## Open Source AI Coding, Uncompromised Cline gives you direct, transparent access to frontier AI with no limits, no surprises, and no model ecosystem lock-in. See every decision. Choose any model. Control your costs. Watch in real-time as Cline reads files, considers approaches, and proposes changes. Every decision is visible, every edit reviewable before it's made. Use Claude for complex reasoning, Gemini for massive contexts, or Qwen3 Coder for efficiency. Switch instantly as new models launch. Bring your API keys, your choice. Your code never touches our servers. Cline runs entirely client-side with your API keys. Open source means your security team can review every line. ## Built for Real Engineering Work across your entire codebase with intelligent file operations Run terminal commands and debug errors in real-time Explore and plan before writing a single line of code Integrate with databases, APIs, and documentation through MCP servers Intelligent context management for massive projects Execute complex workflows from start to finish ## Plan & Act Mode Cline explores your codebase and works with you to create comprehensive plans before writing code, ensuring it understands the full context of your project. For complex tasks, Cline explores your codebase, asks clarifying questions, and creates detailed implementation plans before making changes. - Information gathering and context building - Asking clarifying questions - Creating detailed execution plans - Discussing approaches with you Once you approve the plan, Cline implements the solution with full transparency and control. - Executing planned actions - Using tools to modify files and run commands - Implementing the solution - Providing results and completion feedback ## Key Features
Plan & Act Mode • Plan complex features before writing code, then execute with full transparency
Focus Chain • Automatic todo list management with real-time progress tracking
Auto Approve • Streamline your workflow by automatically approving trusted operations
Auto Compact • Automatic conversation summarization to preserve context while freeing space
Dictation • Speak naturally to Cline for rapid planning and complex requirements
MCP Integration • Connect to databases, APIs, and documentation through the Model Context Protocol
Remote Browser • Test and interact with web applications through browser automation
.clinerules • Define project-specific instructions including coding standards and patterns
Checkpoints • Save and restore project states with Git-based checkpoints
## Why Developers Choose Cline Every line of code on GitHub. **50k+ stars** from developers who've used it, improved it, and trust it with their work. We don't profit from AI usage. While others limit context or route to cheaper models, we give you unrestricted access to any model's full capabilities. New model released? Use it immediately. Cline works with multiple AI providers. See every file read, every decision considered, every token used. No black box, no surprises.