Cline Cheatsheet - VS Code AI Coding Extension (formerly Claude Dev) Full Reference

Cline is one of the most popular VS Code AI coding extensions (formerly Claude Dev, Apache-2.0, multi-provider), for developers who want AI-assisted coding without leaving the editor. It splits planning and execution into Plan/Act phases and injects context via @file/@folder; compared to pure terminal agents the learning curve is lower and visuals are richer. This sheet covers command palette entries, context references, and both modes.

AI CLI·25 commands·Last updated 2026-08-21

Command Palette Entries 5

Cline: Ask

Ask mode (Ctrl+Shift+L)

Cline: Explain

Explain selected code (Ctrl+Shift+E)

Cline: Refactor

Refactor selected code (Ctrl+Shift+R)

Cline: Generate

Generate code from a prompt (Ctrl+Shift+G)

Cline: Open In New Tab

Open Cline in a new tab

Context References 5

@file

Reference a single file as context

@folder

Reference a whole folder

@url

Reference web page content

@problems

Reference the Problems panel

Drag file into chat

Drop a file into the chat box to attach context

Plan & Act Modes 5

Plan Mode

Read-only planning, propose before editing

Act Mode

Edit code / run commands once approved

Mode toggle

Switch Plan/Act at the top of the chat

Approve step

Approve Cline actions one by one

Auto-Approve toggle

Auto-approve when on (use with care)

Model & Provider 5

Settings → Cline: API Provider

Switch Anthropic/OpenAI/local

Settings → Cline: Model

Pick the specific model

Configure API Key

Enter the provider key in settings

MCP Settings

Connect MCP servers for extra capability

History panel

View / restore past tasks

Workflow Tips 5

Plan then Act

Plan and confirm big changes before executing

@folder to scope

Give only relevant folders to cut noise

Approve per step

Confirm sensitive actions one by one

Reuse conversation

Continue the chat to keep context

Export task

Export task logs for review

Tips

Cline is among the most-installed AI coding extensions; Plan & Act dual modes are its differentiator — for big changes always Plan then Act.
Feed context precisely with @file / @folder — more accurate and token-efficient than dumping the whole repo.
On sensitive/prod repos keep Auto-Approve off and confirm Cline's file writes / commands one by one.
Multi-provider support (Anthropic/OpenAI/local) means no vendor lock-in; local models handle private tasks.

FAQ

How do I use Cline in VS Code?

Install Cline from the VS Code marketplace (formerly Claude Dev, Apache-2.0, multi-provider), then open it from the sidebar or command palette to do AI-assisted coding inside the editor. It separates planning from execution with a Plan/Act flow and brings project context in via @file/@folder references.

What is the relationship between Cline and Claude Dev?

Cline is the renamed Claude Dev. It keeps the Apache-2.0 license and adds support for multiple model providers, not just Claude. Capabilities and positioning are essentially the same.

What are Cline’s Plan/Act modes?

In Plan mode Cline only reads and proposes changes without editing files; switching to Act mode lets it actually write. You confirm the plan first, then let it execute, which lowers the risk of unwanted edits.

Which model providers does Cline support?

Cline is built multi-provider: you can switch model providers and keys in its settings, not tied to a single vendor. The exact selectable list evolves with releases — check the extension’s settings panel.

Official References

Each command links to its official documentation below, so you can verify the latest usage and read deeper.

Maintained by LaoHand

Publicly updated on Aug 21, 2026, continuously proofread against official docs.

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