> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/cline/cline/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Cline — Autonomous AI Coding Agent

> An open-source AI coding agent that lives in your IDE. Read files, run commands, use the browser, and build features through natural language — with your approval at every step.

Cline is an open-source AI coding agent for VS Code, Cursor, JetBrains, and the terminal. It gives you direct, transparent access to frontier AI models with no black boxes, no model lock-in, and no surprises. Every file change and terminal command requires your approval.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Install Cline" icon="download" href="/getting-started/installing-cline">
    Add Cline to VS Code, Cursor, JetBrains, or install the CLI
  </Card>

  <Card title="Pick Your Model" icon="robot" href="/getting-started/authorizing-with-cline">
    Connect Anthropic, OpenAI, Google Gemini, or any supported provider
  </Card>

  <Card title="Your First Project" icon="rocket" href="/getting-started/your-first-project">
    Walk through your first task with Cline step by step
  </Card>

  <Card title="Core Workflows" icon="workflow" href="/core-workflows/plan-and-act">
    Learn Plan & Act, checkpoints, file references, and commands
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## What Cline can do

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Read and write files" icon="file-pen">
    Navigate your codebase, create new files, and make targeted edits. Every change is shown as a diff for your review before it's applied.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Run terminal commands" icon="terminal">
    Execute shell commands, run tests, install packages, and monitor output in real time.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Use a browser" icon="browser">
    Launch a headless browser to test web apps, capture screenshots, click elements, and debug runtime errors.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Connect external tools" icon="plug">
    Extend capabilities with MCP servers for databases, APIs, documentation, and more.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Any AI model" icon="microchip">
    Use Claude, GPT-4, Gemini, DeepSeek, local Ollama models, or any OpenAI-compatible endpoint. Switch instantly.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Automate with CLI" icon="code">
    Run Cline headlessly in CI/CD pipelines, scripts, and shell workflows with the Cline CLI.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Get started in minutes

<Steps>
  <Step title="Install the extension">
    Install Cline from the [VS Code Marketplace](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=saoudrizwan.claude-dev) or your IDE's extension marketplace. See [Installing Cline](/getting-started/installing-cline) for all options.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connect your AI provider">
    Add your API key from Anthropic, OpenRouter, OpenAI, or any supported provider. See [Authorizing with Cline](/getting-started/authorizing-with-cline).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Start your first task">
    Open the Cline sidebar, describe what you want to build, and approve each step as Cline works through it.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Why Cline

* **Transparent by default** — Watch every file read, every decision considered, every token used. Nothing happens without your approval.
* **Any model, any provider** — Use Claude, GPT-4o, Gemini, DeepSeek, or local models. Switch instantly as new models launch.
* **Zero-trust architecture** — Your code never touches Cline's servers. Runs entirely client-side with your own API keys.
* **Open source** — Apache 2.0 licensed. Every line of code on [GitHub](https://github.com/cline/cline).

<Note>
  New to AI coding agents? Read [What is Cline?](/getting-started/installing-cline) to understand how Cline fits into your workflow.
</Note>