Anthropic / Claude Code

Website: https://www.anthropic.com/

Choose an Anthropic Path

• Anthropic API (key-based): Use an Anthropic API key.
• Claude Code (subscription-based): Use your Claude Max/Pro subscription through the Claude CLI.

Anthropic API (key-based)

Getting an API Key

1. Sign Up/Sign In: Go to the Anthropic Console. Create an account or sign in.
2. Navigate to API Keys: Go to the API keys section.
3. Create a Key: Click "Create Key". Give your key a descriptive name (e.g., "Cline").
4. Copy the Key: Important: Copy the API key immediately. You will not be able to see it again. Store it securely.

Configuration in Cline

See Authorization & Model Selection.

1. Open Cline Settings: Click the settings icon (⚙️) in the Cline panel.
2. Select Provider: Choose "Anthropic" from the "API Provider" dropdown.
3. Enter API Key: Paste your Anthropic API key into the "Anthropic API Key" field.
4. Select Model: Choose your desired Claude model from the "Model" dropdown.
5. (Optional) Custom Base URL: If you need to use a custom base URL for the Anthropic API, check "Use custom base URL" and enter the URL. Most users won't need to adjust this setting.

Claude Code (Subscription)

Use this path if you already have Claude Max/Pro and want to use subscription-based access in Cline.

1. Install and authenticate Claude CLI via Anthropic docs: Claude Code setup.
2. In Cline settings, select Claude Code as provider.
3. Set the Claude CLI path (usually claude if available in PATH).

Find Claude path:

• macOS / Linux / WSL / Git Bash: which claude
• Windows Command Prompt: where claude

Notes:

• Uses your Claude subscription limits instead of API token billing.
• Responses may not stream token-by-token.
• Image uploads and prompt caching are limited in this mode.

Extended Thinking

Anthropic models offer an "Extended Thinking" feature, designed to give them enhanced reasoning capabilities for complex tasks. This feature allows the model to output its step-by-step thought process before delivering a final answer, providing transparency and enabling more thorough analysis for challenging prompts.

When extended thinking is in Cline, the model generates thinking content blocks that detail its internal reasoning. These insights are then incorporated into its final response. Cline users can leverage this by checking the Enable Extended Thinking box below the model selection menu after selecting a Claude Model from any provider.

Key Aspects of Extended Thinking:

• Summarized Thinking (Claude 3.7+): For Claude 3.7+ models, the API returns a summary of the full thinking process to balance insight with efficiency and prevent misuse. You are billed for the full thinking tokens, not just the summary.
• Streaming: Extended thinking responses, including the thinking blocks, can be streamed.
• Tool Use & Prompt Caching: Extended thinking interacts with tool use (requiring thinking blocks to be passed back) and prompt caching (with specific behaviors around cache invalidation and context).

For comprehensive details on how extended thinking works, including API examples, interaction with tool use, prompt caching, and pricing, please refer to the official Anthropic documentation on Extended Thinking.

Tips and Notes

• Prompt Caching: Claude 3 models support prompt caching, which can significantly reduce costs and latency for repeated prompts.
• Context Window: Claude models have large context windows (200,000 tokens), allowing you to include a significant amount of code and context in your prompts.
• Pricing: Refer to the Anthropic Pricing page for the latest pricing information.
• Rate Limits: Anthropic has strict rate limits based on usage tiers. If you're repeatedly hitting rate limits, consider contacting Anthropic sales or accessing Claude through a different provider like OpenRouter or Requesty.