Apache-2.0freeRuns locallyDev & Coding
Cline: Open-Source AI Coding Agent
Open-source coding agent for VS Code, JetBrains, CLI, SDK, and a desktop app.
- License
- Apache-2.0
- Stars
- 70,477 (2026-10-18)
- Platforms
- VS Code, JetBrains, CLI, macOS, Windows
- First seen
- 2024-07-06
TL;DR. Cline is Open-source coding agent for VS Code, JetBrains, CLI, SDK, and a desktop app. License: Apache-2.0 (verified). Platforms: VS Code, JetBrains, CLI, macOS, Windows. Price: free. Runs locally: yes. It is an alternative to Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Claude Code.
| Name | Cline |
|---|---|
| Language | TypeScript |
| License | Apache-2.0 |
| Pricing | free |
| Platforms | VS Code, JetBrains, CLI, macOS, Windows |
| Runs locally | Yes |
| Stats | 70,477 stars · 7,697 forks (as of 2026-10-18) |
| First seen | 2024-07-06 |
| Repository | https://github.com/cline/cline |
Cline is an open-source coding agent. Official hosts we opened on 2026-10-18: cline/cline, cline.bot, and docs.cline.bot. It hangs off Cursor alternatives, GitHub Copilot alternatives, and Claude Code alternatives. Those mappings are editorial. We have no sourced quality comparison against Cursor, Copilot, or Claude Code.
Key facts (2026-10-18)
| Field | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Stars / forks | 70,477 / 7,697 | GitHub API cline/cline |
| Created | 2024-07-06T07:28:10Z | same |
| Last push | 2026-10-18T01:41:28Z | same |
| License | Apache-2.0 | LICENSE |
| Language | TypeScript | GitHub |
| Latest release | desktop-v0.0.48, 2026-10-17T04:34:20Z | GitHub Releases |
| Surfaces (README) | VS Code extension, CLI (npm i -g cline), desktop app (macOS/Windows), SDK (@cline/sdk) |
README |
The README (checked 2026-10-18) says JetBrains plugins are not currently open-sourced. Do not treat the JetBrains listing as Apache-2.0 source.
What the README says it does
Copied labels: the agent reads project structure, makes coordinated edits, runs commands, browses the web, and uses tools with human-in-the-loop approval. CLI supports interactive chat and headless CI. Desktop runs agent sessions in any folder and manages models, plugins, and MCP servers. Those are upstream labels. We have not timed a task.
Install (from official docs, not yet tested)
The README points at cline.bot for desktop, npm i -g cline for CLI, and the VS Code Marketplace listing linked from the site. forkalt has not installed those builds.
Related
Comparisons
FAQ
Is Cline free and open source?
The GitHub repository LICENSE is Apache-2.0 (checked 2026-10-18). The README says the JetBrains plugin is not open-sourced. Cloud model APIs you attach may still be paid. Not legal advice.
Is it an active Cursor-class project?
Yes in the 2026-10-18 check. cline/cline had 70,477 stars and 7,697 forks, last push 2026-10-18T01:41:28Z, latest GitHub release desktop-v0.0.48 (2026-10-17T04:34:20Z). That is activity, not a quality ranking against Cursor.
Can I run models locally?
The product is an agent that talks to model providers you configure. Local and cloud models are commonly used with this class of tool. We have not enumerated the current provider list from a running install. Start at docs.cline.bot.
Does it replace Cursor?
We have no sourced bake-off. Cline is an open-source agent in the editor, terminal, and desktop. Cursor is a hosted IDE. They overlap on agentic coding; they are not the same product.
Sources & verification
- https://github.com/cline/cline
- https://github.com/cline/cline/blob/main/LICENSE
- https://cline.bot
- https://docs.cline.bot
- https://github.com/cline/cline/releases/tag/desktop-v0.0.48
License notes are not legal advice. Read the original LICENSE. Trademark & disclaimer.