Connectors

Connectors let you chat with your agent from messaging platforms. Each incoming message creates or continues an agent session, and the agent's response is sent back to the conversation.

Setup Wizard

Run cline connect to open an interactive wizard that guides you through platform selection, credential entry, security configuration, and advanced options (provider, model, system prompt, agent mode).

cline connect

Supported Platforms

Telegram

1. Enter a display name (e.g., "Cline")
2. Enter a username ending in `bot` (e.g., `cline_myname_bot`). Must be unique across Telegram.
3. BotFather responds with your bot token (looks like `7123456789:AAH...`)

Security

By default, anyone who finds your bot can message it and it will execute tasks on your machine. Lock it down with the --hook-command flag.

```bash
cline connect telegram -m <BOT-USERNAME> -k <BOT-TOKEN> \
  --hook-command 'jq -r ".payload.actor.participantKey" | grep -q "telegram:id:12345" && echo "{\"action\":\"allow\"}" || echo "{\"action\":\"deny\",\"message\":\"unauthorized\"}"'
```

The --hook-command receives each incoming message with sender info via stdin. Your script returns {"action": "allow"} or {"action": "deny", "message": "reason"}. Without --hook-command, everything is auto-approved.

Slack

Requires a bot token, signing secret, and public base URL.

cline connect slack --token <BOT-TOKEN> --signing-secret <SECRET> --base-url <URL>

Each Slack thread maps to an agent session, so the agent maintains conversation context within a thread.

Discord

Requires an application ID, bot token, public key, and public base URL.

cline connect discord --app-id <ID> --token <TOKEN> --public-key <KEY> --base-url <URL>

Google Chat

Requires a service account credentials JSON file and public base URL.

cline connect gchat --credentials <JSON> --base-url <URL>

WhatsApp

Requires a phone number ID, access token, app secret, webhook verify token, and public base URL.

cline connect whatsapp --phone-id <ID> --token <TOKEN> --app-secret <SECRET> --base-url <URL>

Linear

Requires an API key, webhook signing secret, and public base URL.

cline connect linear --api-key <KEY> --signing-secret <SECRET> --base-url <URL>

Managing Connectors

# Stop all connectors
cline connect --stop

# Stop a specific connector
cline connect telegram --stop

Hook Command Protocol

The --hook-command pattern works across all connectors. The script receives a JSON payload via stdin:

{
  "payload": {
    "actor": {
      "participantKey": "telegram:id:12345",
      "displayName": "User Name"
    },
    "message": "The incoming message text"
  }
}

Return {"action": "allow"} or {"action": "deny", "message": "reason"}.

Running Multiple Connectors

Multiple connectors can run simultaneously. They all share the same hub:

# Terminal 1
cline connect telegram -m my_bot -k $TELEGRAM_TOKEN

# Terminal 2
cline connect slack --token $SLACK_TOKEN --signing-secret $SECRET --base-url $URL

Connectors require the hub. Start it with cline hub start if it doesn't auto-start.