The outcome

Get into the official Cline experience with the right account and a setup you understand.

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

    Start at https://cline.bot/ and confirm the domain before entering account or payment information.

  2. 02

    For desktop use, follow the official download link. Current availability: Available as an editor extension and command-line tool, with model-provider configuration chosen by the user..

  3. 03

    A supported editor or terminal environment, access to a compatible model provider or local model, and a repository with appropriate backups and permissions.

  4. 04

    Sign in with the account you intend to keep using, then review plan, data, notification, and permission settings.

  5. 05

    Run one low-risk test task before connecting sensitive files, repositories, or workspace data.

Working standard

What good use looks like.

  • Use official download pages.
  • Review permissions during setup.
  • Keep installers and applications updated.

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.