CLI Reference

cline --help           # Show all commands
cline <command> --help # Show help for a specific command

cline [options] [command] [prompt]

Usage: cline [options] [command] [prompt]

Cline CLI - AI coding assistant in your terminal

Arguments:
  prompt                       Your prompt. Default to start in act mode with auto-approve enabled.

Options:
  -V, --version                Output the version number
  -p, --plan                   Run in plan mode
  --json                       Output messages as JSON instead of styled text
  --auto-approve <boolean>     Set tool auto-approval for all tools (default: true)
  -t, --timeout <seconds>      Optional timeout in seconds (default: 0 for no timeout)
  -m, --model <model-id>       Model to use for the session with the selected provider
  -v, --verbose                Show verbose output
  -c, --cwd <path>             Working directory
  --config <path>              Configuration directory (default: ~/.cline/data/settings)
  --data-dir <path>            Use isolated local state at this directory path (default: ~/.cline)
  --thinking <level>           Set reasoning effort level between none|low|medium|high|xhigh (default: medium)
  --retries <count>            Maximum consecutive mistakes (retries) before halting
  --hooks-dir <path>           Directory path to additional hooks for runtime hook injection (default: ~/.cline/hooks)
  --acp                        Run in Agent Client Protocol (ACP) mode for editor integration
  -i, --tui                    Open the terminal user interface (TUI) for interactive sessions
  --id <session-id>            Resume an existing session by ID
  -k, --key <api-key>          API key override for this run
  -P, --provider <id>          Provider id (default: cline)
  -s, --system  Override the default system prompt
  -z, --zen                    Start a session that runs in the background hub
  -h, --help                   display help for command

Commands:
  auth [options] [provider]    Authenticate a provider and configure what model is used
  config [options]             Show current configuration
  connect [options] [adapter]  Connect to an editor or IDE adapter
  mcp                          Manage MCP servers
  dev                          Developer tools and utilities
  doctor                       Diagnose and fix configuration issues
  history|h [options]          List session history or manage saved sessions
  hook                         Handle a hook payload from stdin
  plugin                       Manage Cline Plugins
  schedule                     Manage scheduled tasks
  hub                          Manage the local hub daemon
  update [options]             Check for updates and install if available
  version                      Show Cline CLI version number
  kanban                       Launch the kanban app and exit

cline
cline "your prompt here"
cline "Run tests and fix failures"
echo "prompt" | cline

cline auth

cline config

cline connect
cline connect [adapter]

cline mcp

cline dev

cline doctor

cline history
cline h

cat payload.json | cline hook

cline plugin install <source>  # Install a plugin
cline plugin i <source>        # Shorthand alias

cline plugin install https://github.com/cline/typescript-lsp-plugin.git

cline schedule

cline hub

cline update

cline version
cline -V

cline kanban

export CLINE_COMMAND_PERMISSIONS='{"allow": ["npm *", "git *"], "deny": ["rm -rf *", "sudo *"]}'

{"type": "say", "text": "I'll create the file now.", "ts": 1760501486669, "say": "text"}

~/.cline/
  data/
    settings/
      providers.json             # API keys and provider config
      rules/                     # Global rules
      skills/                    # Global skills
    teams/                       # Team state
    sessions/                    # Session database (SQLite)
    logs/
      hub-daemon.log             # Hub logs
  plugins/                       # Global plugins
    _installed/                  # Managed by `cline plugin install`

.cline/                          # Project root
  rules/                         # Project rules
  skills/                        # Project skills
  hooks/                         # Lifecycle hooks
  plugins/                       # Project plugins
  mcp.json                       # MCP server config
  agents.yaml                    # Agent definitions