Ollama

Prerequisites

• Windows, macOS, or Linux computer
• Cline installed in VS Code

Setup Steps

1. Install Ollama

• Visit ollama.com
• Download and install for your operating system

2. Choose and Download a Model

• Browse models at ollama.com/search

• Select model and copy command:

  bashCopy

  ollama run [model-name]
  

• Open your Terminal and run the command:

  • Example:

    bashCopy

    ollama run llama2
    

Your model is now ready to use within Cline.

3. Configure Cline

Open VS Code and configure Cline:

1. Click the Cline settings icon
2. Select "Ollama" as your API provider
3. Base URL: http://localhost:11434/ (default, usually no need to change)
4. Select your model from the dropdown

Recommended Models

For the best experience with Cline, use Qwen 2.5 Coder 32B. This model provides strong coding capabilities and reliable tool use for local development.

To download it:

ollama pull qwen2.5-coder:32b

Other capable models include:

• mistral-small:latest - Good balance of performance and speed
• codellama:34b-code - Optimized for coding tasks

Important Notes

• Start Ollama before using with Cline
• Keep Ollama running in background
• First model download may take several minutes

Enable Compact Prompts

For better performance with local models, enable compact prompts in Cline settings. This reduces the prompt size by 90% while maintaining core functionality.

Navigate to Cline Settings → Features → Use Compact Prompt and toggle it on.

Troubleshooting

If Cline can't connect to Ollama:

1. Verify Ollama is running
2. Check base URL is correct
3. Ensure model is downloaded

Need more info? Read the Ollama Docs.