---
title: Cline
---


[Cline](https://github.com/cline/cline) is an open-source AI coding agent for VS Code. It works in "bring your own key" (BYOK) mode with any OpenAI-compatible provider, so pointing it at CrossModel lets you use the whole catalog inside VS Code.

## Quickstart

### 1. Install Cline

Search for **Cline** in the VS Code Extensions panel, or install it from the [Visual Studio Marketplace](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=saoudrizwan.claude-dev).

### 2. Create an API key

Sign in to the [Console](/console/api-keys) and create a key that starts with `cm-` on the **API Keys** page. The key is shown only once, so copy it somewhere safe.

### 3. Point Cline at CrossModel

Click the Cline icon in the VS Code sidebar, open the settings panel (the ⚙️ in the top-right), and fill in:

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| **API Provider** | `OpenAI Compatible` |
| **Base URL** | `https://api.crossmodel.ai/v1` |
| **API Key** | your `cm-` key |
| **Model** | a model ID, e.g. `deepseek/deepseek-v4-pro` |

Click **Verify** to confirm the connection.

### 4. Start using it

Send a message in the Cline chat panel and your requests will route through CrossModel to the model you picked.

## Choosing models

Model IDs follow the `vendor/short_name` format, e.g. `openai/gpt-5.5`, `anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6`, or `deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash`. See the full list in the [model catalog](/models).

## Troubleshooting

| Symptom | What to check |
|---------|---------------|
| Verify fails | Make sure the base URL ends with `/v1` and the key starts with `cm-`. |
| "Model not found" | Check the model ID format; casing must match exactly. |
| Insufficient balance | Top up in the [Console](/console/billing). |