Is cline better than windsurf?
Choose Windsurf if you’re building apps or internal tools with repeatable UI or logic patterns. Choose Cline if your focus is on code quality, debugging, and automating development tasks with multiple AI agents. Windsurf. IDE by developers for developers. It supports features like Cascade, Supercomplete, Command Mode and Flows. It’s focused on agent based coding and is a really good tool to have in your workflow. It’s still new and they’re actively working on improving it.Environment Integration: Windsurf is a dedicated AI-first IDE, whereas Augment Code is an IDE-agnostic extension. Windsurf’s approach offers a tightly integrated experience with custom UI features (like Cascade flows, AI toggle modes, built-in preview/deploy) but requires using their VS Code-based application.
What is a cline extension?
Copy page. Cline is a VS Code extension that brings AI-powered coding assistance directly to your editor. CLINE is a Visual Studio Code (VS Code) extension that functions as a “collaborative AI coder. At its core, CLINE offers two distinct operational modes: Plan Mode: Users describe their tasks, and CLINE recommends a step-by-step path to completion, providing reasoning for each step.Cline is an AI-powered coding assistant that runs in VS Code. It goes beyond simple autocompletion by reading and writing across multiple files, executing commands, and adapting to your workflow—like having a skilled developer pair-programming with you right inside your editor.Cline Rules allow you to provide Cline with system-level guidance. Think of them as a persistent way to include context and preferences for your projects or globally for every conversation.An introduction to Cline, your AI-powered development assistant in VS Code. Cline is an AI development assistant which integrates with Microsoft Visual Studio Code.
Is Cline free to use?
LLMs are open-sourced now, paying for Cursor. VS Code extension like Cline can do the same job, for free . For these reasons, Replit is a great choice for users new to AI coding. Cursor is best for experienced users of AI coding tools like Replit, Lovable, and Bolt, as well as for professional developers—especially those comfortable with VS Code.In short, Copilot thrives when paired with your existing VS Code setup and is fantastic for fast, in-line support — but it’s still a step behind Cursor and Windsurf when it comes to managing complex projects or generating full applications.TL;DR. Cursor is great for solo developers who prioritize speed, local context, and fast prototyping within VS Code. Windsurf is built for large, complex codebases, with deeper multi-file understanding, better team collaboration, and cross-IDE support.Cursor required more resources and a bit of adjustment but rewarded me with richer AI assistance. Cursor AI provided detailed explanations and proactive suggestions, which is perfect for beginners. VS Code’s Copilot offered fast inline completions, which is ideal for users who know what they want.
Is Cline open source?
Cline is a popular open source AI coding agent with nearly 2 million installs that is installable through any IDE including VS Code, Cursor, and Windsurf. Developers using forks of VS Code, like Cursor and Windsurf, can install Cline as an extension. This guide covers installation, configuration, and migrating existing rules.