An open source coding agent that installs as a VS Code extension, so you get agentic editing without leaving your editor or signing up for anything. Cline plans a change, shows you each file edit and terminal command for approval before it runs, and works against whichever model you plug in, a frontier API, a cheaper one, or something running on your own machine. Because it asks before acting, it is an unusually good way to learn how these agents actually think.
Paying the model provider directly is cheaper than a subscription for light use and more expensive for heavy use, and you own the bill either way, which some people prefer and others find stressful. Expect a little more setup than a hosted tool and a rougher edge here and there, in exchange for no vendor lock-in and no data leaving through a middleman.