Cline
VS Code extension that runs a full agent loop locally — reads, writes, runs commands, asks first.
Editorial verdict: “Best IDE-integrated agent that fully respects 'all local' as a first-class option.”
Compatibility at a glance
Which runtime + OS combos this app works against. Source of truth for "will it run on my setup?"
What it is
Cline is the VS Code extension for solo Ollama users who want a full agent loop—plan, read, edit, run, verify—without shipping code to a cloud API. It bridges to any OpenAI-compatible endpoint, so you can pair it with Qwen 2.5 Coder 32B at Q4_K_M on a 24 GB card and keep every step offline. The permission UX is best-in-class: Cline asks before every file write, which gives you control but also means the loop is token-heavy. Local models with weak context handling will stall on multi-file plans, so the quality of the output depends heavily on the model you bring.
✓ Strengths
- +Best-in-class permission UX — asks before every write
- +Solid plan-mode for non-trivial multi-file edits
- +First-class Ollama support, not an afterthought
△ Caveats
- −Heavy on tokens — local models with weak context handling struggle
- −Plan-mode quality depends heavily on the underlying model
About the Coding agent category
Editor-integrated or CLI agent that edits code via your model.
Best terminal-native coding agent for local models. Qwen 2.5 Coder 32B is its sweet spot.
Best minimal-surface Copilot-replacement that's been Ollama-native since day one.
Best self-hosted server for teams. SSO + audit logs make it the IT-friendly pick.
Best Copilot replacement that defaults to local. Configurable; pair with Qwen 2.5 Coder.
Where to go from here
Pre-filled with this app's recommended use case + budget tier. Get the full rig + runtime + model picks.
The full directory — filter by category, runtime, OS, privacy posture, or VRAM.
What this app talks to: Ollama, vLLM, llama.cpp, MLX, LM Studio. The upstream layer.
Did this app work for you on a specific rig? Submit the benchmark — it powers the model + hardware pages.