Cline is an open-source VSCode extension that is currently one of the strongest contenders in the space of supervised software engineering agents. It lets developers drive their implementation entirely from the Cline chat, integrating seamlessly with the IDE they already use. Key features like Plan & Act mode, transparent token usage and MCP integration help developers interact effectively with LLMs. Cline has demonstrated advanced capabilities in handling complex development tasks, especially with Claude 3.5 Sonnet. It supports large codebases, automates headless browser testing and proactively fixes bugs. Unlike cloud-based solutions, Cline enhances privacy by storing data locally. Its open-source nature not only ensures greater transparency but also enables community-driven improvements. However, developers should be mindful of token usage cost, as Cline's code context orchestration, while very effective, is resource-intensive. Another potential bottleneck is rate limiting, which can slow down workflows. Until this is resolved, using API providers like OpenRouter, which provide better rate limits, is advisable.
