Update (2025/03/09): Added Other good points of Cline than Cursor section
Intro
Until now, I was searching for the best AI code assistant.🧐
🧠🤖AI code assistant 4 (free and fast and safe (Gemini Code Assist))
🧠🤖AI code assistant 3 (fast and safe (Cursor))
🧠🤖AI code assistant 2 (free and fast (Codeium + VSCode))
🧠🤖AI code assistant 1 (free and safe (Continue + VSCode + Ollama + DeepSeek-R1))
For Cursor, There was an AI coding agent function.
I wondered what is the difference between AI code assistant and AI coding agent.
What is AI coding agent?
AI coding agent can proceed your task autonomously than AI code assistant.
For AI code assistant, you will be the main worker and the AI will be the sub worker.
On the other hand, for AI coding agent, AI will be the main worker, and you will be the sub worker.
If you want to make a component of React, generally, AI coding agent generates not only codes, but also executes terminal commands, such as making files and directories, install libraries.
However, in general, AI code assistant will not do such things.
What is Cline?
Cline is very famous as an AI coding agent.
It is capable of creating/editing files, executing commands, using the browser, and more with your permission every step.
https://docs.cline.bot/
Comparing Cline and Cursor
Cursor is also popular as a cutting edge AI coding assistant which has agent mode.
I tried to make a React component both by Cline and Cursor using an agent.
Cline executed all the terminal commands autonomously.
But, Cursor didn't do them until I ask to do it.
So, Cline looks like working more autonomously than Cursor.
You can install Cline in Cursor.
So, prepare them both,
and when you want AI to proceed autonomously, choose Cline,
and when you want you to proceed the task mainly, choose Cursor,
might be a good way.
I still don't have a clear opinion what is the best way to distinguish the use of Cline and Cursor yet.🤔
How to use Cline
Just install Cline in your VSCode and you are ready to use Cline.
https://docs.cline.bot/getting-started/getting-started-new-coders
If you care about privacy, set "Deny" for "Help Improve Cline".
In the Cline Documentation, it says that you need to set OpenRouter API Key, but of course you can set other API Key.
Gemini API for free
I set Gemini Flash 2.0, because I can use it for free.🤑
Also, Gemini has the advantage of having a large context window (1M tokens).
So, it can remember your conversation well.
Caution of Gemini API for free
If you use Gemini API for free, Google will use your data to improve their services.
https://ai.google.dev/gemini-api/terms#unpaid-services
So, do not submit sensitive, confidential, or personal information.
I wrote more about Gemini API before.
🧠🤖Gemini API for free (by Super Mario and ChatGPT)
Consider using Gemini API paid plan, or Another API, If you worry about privacy.
Other good points of Cline than Cursor
First point, I could check how much I used the context window visually at Cline.
But, I couldn't check it at Cursor.
Second point, I could use Gemini API free plan at Cline.
But, I could only use Gemini API free plan at Chat mode at Cursor free plan, and couldn't use it at Agent mode.
I hope there will be an update for these points.
Prompt Engineering
For receiving a good response from Cline, it is important to write the following two things effectively.
Custom Instructions are rules that are user-specific and global (applying across all projects).
They define Cline's baseline behavior, and influence all interactions.
.clinerules file provides project-specific instructions.
These instructions are automatically appended to your Custom Instructions and influence all interactions within the project context.
https://docs.cline.bot/improving-your-prompting-skills/prompting
Tips for writing effective Custom Instructions
・Be Clear and Concise: Use simple language and avoid ambiguity.
・Focus on Desired Outcomes: Describe the results you want, not the specific steps.
・Test and Iterate: Experiment to find what works best for your workflow.
Tips for effective prompting
・Providing Clear Context: Explain your goals and the relevant parts of your codebase. Use @ to reference files or folders.
・Breaking Down Complexity: Divide large tasks into smaller steps.
・Asking Specific Questions: Guide Cline toward the desired outcome.
・Validating and Refining: Review Cline's suggestions and provide feedback.
Outro
Cline and Cursor will both help our coding extremely.
Each has its own advantage.
How about trying both of them to your coding?
Thank you for reading.
Happy AI coding!🤖🤝🤖
Top comments (7)
Someone recently shared Cline in my community. Haven’t tried it yet but it looks promising :)
Thank you for your comment.😄
In Japan, Cline and Cursor are both very popular as AI coding Agent.
I’m sure that you will like it too.
Awesome! It's great to learn about other countries. I've only talked to someone from Japan once :)
I use Cursor for most of my work. Since I rarely code these days, I don’t have a very heavy use case.
I would love to communicate with people all over the world, and broaden my horizons.
Because, in Japan, there are almost only Japanese. 🥷🥷🥷
Japan is an extremely conservative country, and especially big and famous companies are conservative. (As far as I know)
However, tech geeks, freelancers, small companies and startup companies are very eager using up-to-date AI. 💪🤖
Informative post, Thanks for sharing it. Happy AI coding 🔥
Thank you for your comment.
I’m guessing that everyone will say "Happy AI coding" instead of "Happy coding" in the near future.🤣
Yes, 💯‼️😄