# Cline

An agent engine spanning editor, terminal, desktop, and SDK surfaces.

Revision: 2026-09-13.4 · Review: unreviewed

Commissioned by a Nimbalyst maintainer; not an independent comparison.

## Applicability

Repository documentation at c1c0b55ca03a4cd1d1eff2f64449445f778be4c4; Unpinned public documentation and/or pinned README sections reviewed 2026-09-13; per-claim source scope applies.. Documentation review only.

## Claims

- **yes · documented**: Coordinates specialist agents through multi-agent teams. [Cline · readme](https://github.com/cline/cline/blob/c1c0b55ca03a4cd1d1eff2f64449445f778be4c4/README.md) Scope: Documentation claim for the cited product surface; not runtime-tested. See source locator and dossier limitations.
- **yes · documented**: Schedules recurring agents with cron. [Cline · readme](https://github.com/cline/cline/blob/c1c0b55ca03a4cd1d1eff2f64449445f778be4c4/README.md) Scope: Documentation claim for the cited product surface; not runtime-tested. See source locator and dossier limitations.
- **yes · documented**: Persists team state across sessions. [Cline · readme](https://github.com/cline/cline/blob/c1c0b55ca03a4cd1d1eff2f64449445f778be4c4/README.md) Scope: Documentation claim for the cited product surface; not runtime-tested. See source locator and dossier limitations.
- **yes · documented**: Shows editable diffs in supported IDEs. [Cline · readme](https://github.com/cline/cline/blob/c1c0b55ca03a4cd1d1eff2f64449445f778be4c4/README.md) Scope: Documentation claim for the cited product surface; not runtime-tested. See source locator and dossier limitations.
- **yes · documented**: Tracks edits with restorable checkpoints. [Cline · readme](https://github.com/cline/cline/blob/c1c0b55ca03a4cd1d1eff2f64449445f778be4c4/README.md) Scope: Documentation claim for the cited product surface; not runtime-tested. See source locator and dossier limitations.
- **yes · documented**: Integrates with VS Code and JetBrains. [Cline · readme](https://github.com/cline/cline/blob/c1c0b55ca03a4cd1d1eff2f64449445f778be4c4/README.md) Scope: Documentation claim for the cited product surface; not runtime-tested. See source locator and dossier limitations.
- **yes · documented**: Runs shell commands and observes their output. [Cline · readme](https://github.com/cline/cline/blob/c1c0b55ca03a4cd1d1eff2f64449445f778be4c4/README.md) Scope: Documentation claim for the cited product surface; not runtime-tested. See source locator and dossier limitations.
- **yes · documented**: Documents browsing through the editor agent. [Cline · readme](https://github.com/cline/cline/blob/c1c0b55ca03a4cd1d1eff2f64449445f778be4c4/README.md) Scope: Documentation claim for the cited product surface; not runtime-tested. See source locator and dossier limitations.
- **yes · documented**: Loads project-specific .clinerules instructions. [Cline · readme](https://github.com/cline/cline/blob/c1c0b55ca03a4cd1d1eff2f64449445f778be4c4/README.md) Scope: Documentation claim for the cited product surface; not runtime-tested. See source locator and dossier limitations.
- **yes · documented**: Loads reusable skills and custom tools. [Cline · readme](https://github.com/cline/cline/blob/c1c0b55ca03a4cd1d1eff2f64449445f778be4c4/README.md) Scope: Documentation claim for the cited product surface; not runtime-tested. See source locator and dossier limitations.
- **yes · documented**: Supports multiple model providers. [Cline · readme](https://github.com/cline/cline/blob/c1c0b55ca03a4cd1d1eff2f64449445f778be4c4/README.md) Scope: Documentation claim for the cited product surface; not runtime-tested. See source locator and dossier limitations.
- **yes · documented**: Supports Ollama and LM Studio. [Cline · readme](https://github.com/cline/cline/blob/c1c0b55ca03a4cd1d1eff2f64449445f778be4c4/README.md) Scope: Documentation claim for the cited product surface; not runtime-tested. See source locator and dossier limitations.
- **yes · documented**: Connects external MCP servers. [Cline · readme](https://github.com/cline/cline/blob/c1c0b55ca03a4cd1d1eff2f64449445f778be4c4/README.md) Scope: Documentation claim for the cited product surface; not runtime-tested. See source locator and dossier limitations.
- **yes · documented**: Supports human approvals and optional auto-approval. [Cline · readme](https://github.com/cline/cline/blob/c1c0b55ca03a4cd1d1eff2f64449445f778be4c4/README.md) Scope: Documentation claim for the cited product surface; not runtime-tested. See source locator and dossier limitations.
- **yes · documented**: Provides an SDK and headless CLI. [Cline · readme](https://github.com/cline/cline/blob/c1c0b55ca03a4cd1d1eff2f64449445f778be4c4/README.md) Scope: Documentation claim for the cited product surface; not runtime-tested. See source locator and dossier limitations.
- **yes · documented**: A coordinator delegates subtasks to specialist agents. [Cline · readme](https://github.com/cline/cline/blob/c1c0b55ca03a4cd1d1eff2f64449445f778be4c4/README.md) Scope: Cline multi-agent teams; separate tools and context per specialist. Documentation only; not runtime-tested.
- **yes · documented**: Named teams retain coordinated work across sessions. [Cline · readme](https://github.com/cline/cline/blob/c1c0b55ca03a4cd1d1eff2f64449445f778be4c4/README.md) Scope: Team workflow; not a general-purpose session board. Documentation only; not runtime-tested.
- **partial · documented**: Scheduled agents persist across restarts. [Cline · readme](https://github.com/cline/cline/blob/c1c0b55ca03a4cd1d1eff2f64449445f778be4c4/README.md) Scope: Schedules only; no claim that an arbitrary in-flight tool call survives. Documentation only; not runtime-tested.
- **yes · documented**: File edits require approval unless auto-approve is enabled. [Cline · readme](https://github.com/cline/cline/blob/c1c0b55ca03a4cd1d1eff2f64449445f778be4c4/README.md) Scope: Supported IDE review permits modifying or reverting diffs. Documentation only; not runtime-tested.

## Open questions

- Capabilities span several clients and the SDK; parity needs testing.
- Repository notes JetBrains plugin code is not open-sourced.

## Verification plan

1. Pin a product release or repository commit and record the host environment.
2. Create a disposable repository with a passing baseline test.
3. Run a bounded change with two agents where supported; record permissions and logs.
4. Record a failed attempt, actual outcome, and artifacts without secrets.
5. Have another person reproduce the result before labeling it reproduced.

Last checked: 2026-09-13. Recheck by: 2026-10-13.

Content rights: Unlicensed prototype; redistribution decision pending.