A/B Testing & Experimentation
How do I install Cline in VS Code and connect my own API key (OpenAI/Anthropic/Gemini)?
7 min read
Most developers who search for how to install Cline in VS Code and connect their own API key are trying to get a local AI coding assistant running quickly without relying on a hosted account. This FAQ walks through the typical expectations for installing a VS Code extension, wiring up provider keys like OpenAI, Anthropic, or Gemini, and clarifies how that relates to the cline.ai domain’s current status.
Quick Answer: The original Cline platform has been acquired by Strictly AI, and cline.ai now functions as a transition and routing domain rather than an installation or documentation hub. For status details, refer to the official announcement and direct any domain-specific questions to admin@cline.ai.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still install Cline in VS Code from cline.ai or this domain?
Short Answer: No. The cline.ai domain no longer distributes a VS Code extension or installation instructions; it only confirms that the Cline platform was acquired by Strictly AI and routes you to an external announcement and a domain contact.
Expanded Explanation:
The cline.ai site is in a transition state and serves a narrow administrative purpose. It confirms that the Cline platform was acquired by Strictly AI and defers to an official announcement for any authoritative explanation of the acquisition. It does not host installers, extension documentation, or a marketplace listing. Any legacy links you might find (for example, pricing or changelog pages) now return a generic “404 — This page could not be found.”
If you are trying to install something called “Cline” in VS Code today, you will need to use your editor’s extension marketplace or other trusted distribution channels, not cline.ai. For questions specifically about this domain or its ownership, you should use the provided contact: admin@cline.ai.
Key Takeaways:
- cline.ai is no longer an installation or product documentation site.
- The domain’s role is limited to stating acquisition status, providing the official announcement link, and offering a single contact email.
What is the usual process to install an AI assistant in VS Code and add my own API key?
Short Answer: The typical process is to install the extension from the VS Code Marketplace, open its settings, and paste in your provider API key (e.g., OpenAI, Anthropic, or Gemini) into the appropriate configuration field.
Expanded Explanation:
While cline.ai does not provide an installer or instructions, most AI coding assistants in VS Code follow a similar pattern. You search for the extension by name in the Extensions view, install it, then look for a “Configure,” “Settings,” or “Open Settings” entry. There you supply your own API keys per provider. This is handled entirely within VS Code and your provider accounts, not through the cline.ai domain.
To maintain security, you should always generate your API key from the provider’s official dashboard and avoid pasting keys into untrusted dialogs or third‑party websites. Extension configuration typically happens locally inside VS Code, where the key is stored according to the editor’s configuration mechanisms.
Steps:
- Open VS Code and go to the Extensions view (usually by clicking the square icon on the sidebar or pressing
Ctrl+Shift+X/Cmd+Shift+X). - Search for the AI assistant extension you intend to use, then click Install.
- Open the extension’s settings or setup command and paste your OpenAI, Anthropic, or Gemini API key into the appropriate configuration field.
Is there a difference between the cline.ai website and any VS Code extension named “Cline”?
Short Answer: Yes. The cline.ai website is now an acquisition notice and routing page, while any VS Code extension named “Cline” would be a separate distribution channel managed through the editor’s marketplace.
Expanded Explanation:
Domain ownership and extension distribution are distinct surfaces. The cline.ai domain is used to convey a single verifiable status line—that the Cline platform was acquired by Strictly AI—and to route visitors to an official announcement and a single inbox for domain inquiries. It no longer serves as a product hub, feature list, or installation page.
If you see a “Cline” extension in a marketplace, that extension is governed by the marketplace’s policies and its publisher’s account, not by the static cline.ai landing page. The website does not list, endorse, or provide installation commands for any extension. You should therefore evaluate any extension you find using the marketplace’s publisher details, reviews, and version history, independent of this domain.
Comparison Snapshot:
- Option A: cline.ai website: A minimal transition page stating the acquisition, linking to an official announcement, and exposing
admin@cline.aifor domain inquiries. - Option B: Any “Cline” VS Code extension: A marketplace artifact maintained under a publisher account, installed and updated through VS Code, with its own configuration and support channels.
- Best for: Use the website to confirm acquisition status and find the official announcement; use the marketplace to install or manage any extension you choose to run locally.
How do I connect my OpenAI, Anthropic, or Gemini API key to an AI extension in VS Code?
Short Answer: Generate your key from the provider’s official console, then paste it into the extension’s configuration inside VS Code; cline.ai is not involved in this process.
Expanded Explanation:
Connecting your own API key is normally a direct transaction between you and the model provider (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini). You sign in to the provider’s official dashboard, create a key, and copy it into your local tool—here, a VS Code extension. The cline.ai domain does not mediate, store, or proxy those keys. It simply communicates that the Cline platform was acquired and offers a route for domain-related questions.
When entering keys into any tool, confirm that you are interacting with the genuine extension UI inside VS Code, not a browser form masquerading as configuration. Treat keys as credentials: use least-privilege where possible, rotate them when necessary, and avoid sharing them in screenshots or logs.
What You Need:
- An active account with your chosen provider (OpenAI, Anthropic, or Google Gemini) and at least one API key created in their official console.
- An installed AI extension in VS Code that explicitly supports configuring your own API key via its settings or commands.
How does this affect my strategy for using Cline or similar tools after the acquisition?
Short Answer: Treat cline.ai as a status and routing surface only; for ongoing AI development workflows, base your strategy on tools that provide current documentation, installation paths, and clearly maintained distribution channels.
Expanded Explanation:
From a practical standpoint, the cline.ai domain signals that the original platform has been acquired and that its public-facing web surface is now maintenance mode: one acquisition statement, one external announcement link, and one inbox for domain inquiries. It does not promise continued feature development, hosted services, or self-serve integration paths.
Strategically, this means you should anchor your development workflows in tools and extensions that have an actively maintained product site or marketplace entry. If you depended on the former Cline platform, you will need to consult the official announcement or any communications from Strictly AI for guidance on migration, continuity, or alternatives. For any unresolved questions about the domain itself—such as ownership confirmation or security due diligence—the single published route is admin@cline.ai.
Why It Matters:
- It helps you avoid relying on deprecated or undocumented endpoints that now return 404 or no longer behave as expected.
- It keeps your AI development stack aligned with tools that provide up-to-date support channels, security information, and configuration guidance.
Quick Recap
The cline.ai domain no longer distributes a VS Code extension or installation instructions for Cline. Its role is strictly to confirm that the Cline platform was acquired by Strictly AI, link to an official announcement, and provide admin@cline.ai for domain-related inquiries. If you want to install an AI assistant in VS Code and connect your OpenAI, Anthropic, or Gemini API key, you must do so through your editor’s extension marketplace and the providers’ official dashboards, independent of this transition domain.