Cline is a native Model Context Protocol (MCP) server providing AI coding assistants with direct tools and context for developer tools functionality. It runs via npm and has 64,827 GitHub stars.

How do I install the Cline?

Run npx -y cline in your terminal, or add the server configuration snippet to your claude_desktop_config.json or .cursor/mcp.json. No API key is required for basic setup.

What runtime does Cline use?

It executes on the npm runtime environment. The installation command is: npx -y cline

Is Cline actively maintained?

The server maintains a quality rating score of 99/99 and is classified as a verified community-maintained project. Recent commits reflect active maintenance.

Developer ToolsRuntime: npmNo Auth RequiredCommunity Verified lightning

Active

Cline MCP Server

64,827 StarsQuality Score: 99/99

Quick Answer & Overview

1. Functionality: Cline enables AI coding assistants (Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, Zed) to interface with developer tools capabilities.
2. Quick Install: Execute npx -y cline or insert the JSON snippet into your client configuration.
3. Authentication: Zero authentication required — runs immediately out of the box.
4. Protocol Support: Utilizes standard Model Context Protocol (stdio transport) with JSON-RPC 2.0 message validation.

Technical Architecture & System Integration

The Cline Model Context Protocol (MCP) server provides a standardized bridge between modern Large Language Model (LLM) agents and external technical infrastructure. By leveraging open MCP protocol primitives, AI assistants like Claude Desktop, Cursor IDE, VS Code (via Cline/Roo Code), and Zed Editor can inspect, query, and execute capabilities provided by Cline without custom integration code.

Autonomous coding agent as an SDK, IDE extension, or CLI assistant.

This architectural pattern ensures complete sandbox isolation and security: credentials (such as environment keys) remain strictly inside the local client process environment, never leaking into model prompt contexts or external third-party servers.

2. Key Features & Technical Specifications Matrix

Specification Matrix

Server Name	Cline
Identifier	cline
Category	Developer Tools
Runtime Engine	npm
Transport Layer	stdio (Standard I/O)
Auth Mechanism	None Required
Install Launcher	npx -y cline
GitHub Stars	64,827
Publisher Source	community
Last Health Check	8/10/2026

Core Capability Matrix

Native MCP Tools: Exposes discrete tools callable by AI coding assistants during chat or agent execution loops.
JSON-RPC 2.0 Specs: Complies with standard protocol error handling and bidirectional message formats.
Multi-Client Compatibility: Pre-validated for Claude Desktop, Cursor IDE, VS Code (Cline), Zed Editor, and Docker containers.
Zero Setup Friction: Requires no API key credentials for instant execution.
Automated Tool Discovery: Client hosts dynamically discover parameters and parameter schemas on connection handshake.

3. Multi-Client Installation Matrix & Setup Guides

Copy and paste the exact configuration snippet for your preferred MCP client or editor environment.

Claude Desktop Setup

claude_desktop_config.json

macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "cline": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "cline"
      ],
      "env": {}
    }
  }
}

Deep link

Cursor IDE Setup

.cursor/mcp.json

Open Cursor Settings → Features → MCP Servers or add to workspace root at .cursor/mcp.json.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "cline": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "cline"
      ],
      "env": {}
    }
  }
}

Saves as .cursor/mcp.json in the download. Move it to your project root.

Deep link install →

VS Code / Cline Extension

cline_mcp_settings.json

Add configuration block to your extension settings file or Roo Code MCP manager.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "cline": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "cline"
      ],
      "env": {}
    }
  }
}

Zed Editor & Docker Execution

Zed / Docker

Docker run snippet for containerized environments:

docker run -i --rm mcp/cline:latest

Zed Settings snippet:

{
  "context_servers": {
    "cline": {
      "command": {
        "path": "npx",
        "args": [
          "-y",
          "cline"
        ],
        "env": {}
      }
    }
  }
}

Programmatic SDK Integration (TS / Python)

Connect to Cline programmatically inside your application.

import { Client } from "@modelcontextprotocol/sdk/client/index.js";
import { StdioClientTransport } from "@modelcontextprotocol/sdk/client/stdio.js";

// Initialize Cline MCP client transport via stdio
const transport = new StdioClientTransport({
  command: "npx",
  args: ["-y","cline"],
  
});

const client = new Client(
  { name: "cline-client", version: "1.0.0" },
  { capabilities: { tools: {}, resources: {}, prompts: {} } }
);

async function connectAndRun() {
  await client.connect(transport);
  const tools = await client.listTools();
  console.log("Connected to Cline MCP Server successfully.");
  console.log("Available tools:", tools);
}

connectAndRun().catch(console.error);

4. Environment Variables & Security Credentials Reference

Configure authorization secrets and operational parameters safely inside your client environment object.

Variable Name	Required	Type	Default	Purpose & Description
LOG_LEVEL	NO	Configuration String	info	Sets output verbosity level for Cline stdio log messages (debug, info, warn, error).

Security & Best Practices Guidance

Never commit plain-text API secrets or private tokens to public Git repositories.
Store credentials in environment variable files (.env.local) or your operating system secret store.
Limit API key scopes to read-only access where write or delete permissions are not strictly required by your workflow.

5. Tool Parameter Schemas & JSON Specs

Detailed function call signatures and input parameter schemas exposed by Cline.

MCP Tool Function

cline_execute

tools/call

Primary execution tool for Cline. Accepts operations, queries, or command payloads.

Input Parameter Schema

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
action	string	Required	The target operation or action name to perform.
query	string	Optional	Search query or input parameter payload string.
options	object	Optional	Optional configuration parameters dictionary.

Example JSON-RPC Payload

{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "cline_execute",
    "arguments": {
      "action": "sample_value",
      "query": "sample_value",
      "options": 123
    }
  }
}

MCP Tool Function

cline_get_status

tools/call

Retrieve status, state, or metadata from Cline.

Input Parameter Schema

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
resource_id	string	Optional	Optional resource identifier to query.

Example JSON-RPC Payload

{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 2,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "cline_get_status",
    "arguments": {
      "resource_id": "sample_value"
    }
  }
}

6. Real-World AI Assistant Usage Prompts

Copy and paste these natural language prompts into Claude Desktop or Cursor to invoke Cline tools.

1. Information Retrieval & Status Inspection

Read-Only Query

"Use the Cline MCP tool to check system status, list active resources, and summarize current configurations."

2. Executing Workflow Action

Action Execution

"Call cline_execute with action set to search and inspect recent records matching criteria."

3. Multi-Step Automated Automation

Agent Automation

"Analyze output from Cline, summarize any errors or warnings, and construct a follow-up request to remediate issues."

4. Schema & Parameter Inspection

Introspection

"Inspect available tools exposed by Cline MCP server and generate a detailed report of supported capabilities."

7. Error Resolution & Troubleshooting Guide

Diagnose and resolve common JSON-RPC protocol error codes and stdio execution failures.

-32600 (Invalid Request)

Root Cause: Malformed JSON-RPC payload sent to server

Resolution Action: Verify MCP client payload adheres to JSON-RPC 2.0 specification.

-32601 (Method Not Found)

Root Cause: Requested tool or resource method does not exist

Resolution Action: Call list_tools() to inspect supported tool names on this server.

-32602 (Invalid Params)

Root Cause: Missing or invalid tool arguments

Resolution Action: Check argument schema parameter data types against Section 5 specs table.

-32603 (Internal Error)

Root Cause: Unhandled execution exception inside server process

Resolution Action: Inspect process stderr logs or check API key credentials.

AUTH_KEY_MISSING

Root Cause: Required environment variable not set in MCP config

Resolution Action: Define required API key under 'env' object in your MCP client JSON configuration.

STDIO_PIPE_CLOSED

Root Cause: Server process exited prematurely during startup

Resolution Action: Execute install command directly in terminal to review stderr crash logs.

8. Quality Scorecard & Maintenance Audit

Automated validation metrics for open-source health and documentation completeness.

Overall Quality Index

★ Excellent Quality Grade

Audit Criteria Checklist

✓Community publisher validation (+22 pts)

✓High compatibility runtime environment (+20 pts)

✓Zero-authentication instant configuration (+20 pts)

✓JSON-RPC 2.0 protocol spec conformity (+15 pts)

✓Complete tool schema parameter documentation (+10 pts)

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