ContextQMD
Back to Cline

Installing Cline

docs/getting-started/installing-cline.mdx

3.83.03.2 KB
Original Source

Choose Your Install Path

  • IDE Extension — VS Code, Cursor, JetBrains, Windsurf, VSCodium, Antigravity
  • CLI — terminal workflows
  • Kanban (preview) — easily manage through multiple agents through a kanban board
  • SDK — build with @cline/sdk

IDE Extension

Use this if you want Cline inside your editor UI.

<Tabs> <Tab title="VS Code / Cursor / Windsurf / VSCodium / Antigravity"> <Steps> <Step title="Open Extensions"> Press `Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + X`. </Step> <Step title="Search for Cline"> Type `Cline`. </Step> <Step title="Install"> Click **Install** on the Cline extension. </Step> <Step title="Open Cline"> Use the Cline activity bar icon, or run `Cline: Open In New Tab` from Command Palette. </Step> <Step title="Authorize with Cline"> After installing the extension, complete provider setup in Cline settings. 
    [Authorize with Cline](/getting-started/authorizing-with-cline)
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
Windsurf and VSCodium use Open VSX. The install flow is the same.
</Note>
</Tab> <Tab title="JetBrains"> <Steps> <Step title="Open Plugins Marketplace"> **Settings** → **Plugins** → **Marketplace**. </Step> <Step title="Install Cline"> Search `Cline`, click **Install**, then restart the IDE. </Step> <Step title="Open Cline"> **View** → **Tool Windows** → **Cline**. </Step> <Step title="Authorize with Cline"> After installing the extension, complete provider setup in Cline settings. 
    [Authorize with Cline](/getting-started/authorizing-with-cline)
  </Step>
</Steps>

Alternative: install from the [JetBrains Marketplace](https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/28247-cline).
</Tab> </Tabs>

CLI

Use this if you want Cline in terminal workflows (interactive + automation).

<Steps> <Step title="Install Node.js"> Install Node.js 20+ (22 recommended). </Step> <Step title="Install CLI"> ```bash npm install -g cline ``` </Step> <Step title="Authenticate"> ```bash cline auth ``` </Step> <Step title="Run Cline"> ```bash cline # or cline "your task" ``` </Step> </Steps>

More details: CLI Installation & Setup

Kanban

Use this if you want task-board workflows with agent execution.

<Steps> <Step title="Install Node.js"> Install Node.js 18+. </Step> <Step title="Launch Kanban"> ```bash npx kanban ``` </Step> </Steps>

More details: Kanban

SDK

Use this if you are building your own app/agent on top of Cline.

<Steps> <Step title="Create project"> ```bash mkdir my-agent && cd my-agent npm init -y ``` </Step> <Step title="Install SDK"> ```bash npm install @cline/sdk ``` </Step> <Step title="Build and run"> Browse SDK examples to run your first agent. </Step> </Steps>

Start here: SDK Examples

Need Help?