Cline Desktop App is a standalone, native desktop coding agent for macOS and Windows that reads, edits, and runs code without an external editor.
What the product does and how it is positioned
Cline Desktop App packages the open-source Cline coding agent into a standalone desktop application for macOS and Windows. Designed to function independently of traditional editors such as VS Code, the software provides an environment where developers can point the agent at a local workspace to inspect, modify, and execute code while displaying the repository name and git branch.
The application provides flexible model connectivity, allowing developers to bring their own API keys for Anthropic, OpenAI, Gemini, open-weight models, or local endpoints, as well as authenticate with a Cline account. It also incorporates workflow controls including prompt queuing during active runs, workspace state rewinding via prompt editing, and unified session history across desktop, CLI, and extension environments.
Source-supported ways to use the product
Developers can point the desktop agent at a local project folder to read, modify, and run code while tracking the workspace name and git branch without running an editor.
Users can compose, reorder, and adjust follow-up instructions in a queue above the composer while the agent continues executing ongoing coding tasks.
Engineers can edit historical conversation prompts to fork the session and automatically rewind the workspace state to that specific checkpoint.
Cline Desktop App delivers the core Cline agent as an independent desktop application rather than an editor extension. Users configure native connections to third-party model backends using personal API credentials for OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, open-weight models, or local endpoints, with the ability to switch models during an ongoing project or sign in using a Cline account.
Session management is supported by interactive controls designed for iterative development. Developers can queue follow-up messages above the composer while tasks execute, and they can fork sessions and restore earlier workspace file states by editing prior conversation prompts.
Checks to run with your own material and workflow
What was checked and when
Answers based on the source-checked product record
No, the application is a standalone desktop program that reads, edits, and executes code without requiring an external editor window.
The beta release is available for macOS across both Apple Silicon and Intel architectures, as well as Windows.
Users can bring their own API keys to connect natively to Anthropic, OpenAI, Gemini, open-weight models, or local endpoints, or authenticate via a Cline account.
Follow-up messages can be added while the agent is executing tasks, collecting in a list above the composer where they can be edited, reordered, deleted, or sent immediately.
Editing an earlier prompt causes the app to fork the session, rewind the workspace to that checkpoint, and restart execution from the modified prompt.
