The outcome

Use the platform productively without giving it unnecessary access or authority.

Cline is a open-source agentic coding assistant for editors and terminals. Planning, implementing, testing, and reviewing multi-file software changes with visible tool use and configurable approvals. This guide narrows that broad capability into one repeatable outcome, with checkpoints that keep the source material and your judgment in the loop.

Before you begin

Set the boundary before the tool starts.

Choose one real task, identify who will use the result, and decide what evidence or test will make the result acceptable. Gather only the source material needed for that task. If the work contains confidential, personal, regulated, or client-owned information, confirm that the platform and account are approved before sharing it.

Troiana principle

AI should make the work easier to inspect. If the workflow removes the source, the owner, or the review step, redesign the workflow.

Step by step

A workflow you can repeat.

  1. 01

    Classify the task and its data before uploading or connecting anything.

  2. 02

    Review the current product, account, organization, retention, and training settings that apply to you.

  3. 03

    Grant the narrowest file, repository, workspace, microphone, screen, or integration permissions needed.

  4. 04

    Remove secrets and personal or regulated information unless your approved policy explicitly permits it.

  5. 05

    Review the output and revoke permissions or disconnect sources that are no longer needed.

Working standard

What good use looks like.

  • Cline can edit files, execute commands, browse, and invoke MCP tools. Keep permissions narrow, protect credentials, review diffs, and reserve broad Auto Approve or YOLO mode for isolated disposable environments.
  • Follow your organization’s approved-use policy.
  • Never treat fluent output as authorization to act.

Cline can edit files, execute commands, browse, and invoke MCP tools. Keep permissions narrow, protect credentials, review diffs, and reserve broad Auto Approve or YOLO mode for isolated disposable environments.

Official references

Check the current product documentation.

Features, plan limits, availability, and data controls change. These official pages are the starting points used for this collection.