# Cline CLI Guide

Cline’s terminal agent for interactive work, headless tasks and configurable providers.

Canonical URL: https://aiidelist.com/blog/traeide-cline-cli

Language: en

Published: 2026-10-03

Updated: 2026-10-03

> Editorial snapshot from September 2026. Prices, models and interface labels may change; this is a practical guide, not a live product feed.

Cline’s terminal agent for interactive work, headless tasks and configurable providers.

Coding agent · Cline · macOS · Windows · Linux

 

## Suitable workflows

Cline users extending their editor workflow into scripts and terminal sessions.

## Limitations and billing

Review auto-approval settings before running tasks; headless execution can change files and run commands.

## Capabilities we verified

Agent workflow · CLI surface · MCP · Bring your own key

This is an evidence-based shortlist, not an exhaustive feature inventory. Omitted capabilities have not been checked for this record.

## Pricing & usage

**See official pricing**

Provider usage or Cline account billing. The cost of metered usage or an external agent can be separate from the subscription.

## Models & access

Cline Provider, ClinePass or your own supported provider credentials.

<span id="cli-setup"></span>

## Install and start the CLI

Follow the current official CLI installation guide for your platform and runtime.

```
npm install -g cline
```

Open your project folder in a terminal, then run:

```
cline --auto-approve false
```

## Account and authentication

Use cline auth to choose the provider, model and account credentials.

## Project configuration and tools

cline config manages settings; cline doctor diagnoses setup and cline mcp manages tool servers.

## First task to try

Start with planning and explicit approvals, then review one file change before proceeding.

## Script usage

This example asks for a project summary. Tool permissions still apply; a prompt is not a sandbox.

```
cline --auto-approve false --json "Summarize the project structure without modifying files."
```

## Related CLI tools

[All AI CLI tools →](/blog/traeide-coding-agents)

[Kilo Code CLI](/blog/traeide-kilo-cli) — A terminal coding agent with provider choice, task modes, MCP and skills.

[Continue CLI](/blog/traeide-continue-cli) — Continue’s cn terminal agent for interactive coding and headless workflows.

[Claude Code](/blog/traeide-claude-code) — Anthropic’s coding agent for terminal and editor workflows.

## Project evaluation checklist

1. Open a small, familiar project and confirm that your essential language tooling works.
2. Give the agent one bounded change with an observable acceptance criterion.
3. Review the diff, run the project’s checks and compare the result with your current workflow.
4. Inspect usage after the task. Estimate a month of similar work, including any separate model or agent bill.

## Related TRAE guides

- [TRAE product overview](/ide/trae)
- [Trae IDE / TraeCode Download](/blog/traeide-download)
- [TraeCode Guide](/blog/traeide-traecode)
- [TraeWork Guide](/blog/traeide-traework)
- [TRAE Pricing: TraeCode & TraeWork](/blog/traeide-pricing)
- [TRAE Models & Model Access](/blog/traeide-models)
- [TraeWork vs TraeCode (Trae IDE)](/blog/traeide-traework-vs-traecode)
- [Trae MCP Setup & Troubleshooting](/blog/traeide-mcp)