# Cline setup

Cline is an autonomous coding agent for VS Code. It supports any OpenAI-compatible API, so it works with Claudech without plugins or proxies.

## Before you start

- **A Claudech API key** from [API keys](https://claudech.com/api-keys). API access unlocks after your first purchase.
- **A model id** from [Models](https://claudech.com/docs/models), for example `claude-opus-5-5`.

## Settings

Open the Cline panel, click the settings icon and fill in:

| Setting | Value |
| --- | --- |
| API Provider | **OpenAI Compatible** |
| Base URL | `https://api.claudech.com/v1` |
| API Key | your `sk-...` key |
| Model ID | `claude-opus-5-5` (or any Claudech model id) |

Under the model configuration, set the context window to `1000000` and turn on image support; every Claudech model accepts images. Save, then give Cline a task.

> **Anthropic format works too**
>
> Cline's **Anthropic** provider also works: tick the option to use a custom base URL and enter `https://api.claudech.com` (without `/v1`). Billing is identical either way.

## Choosing a model

- `claude-fable-5-1` for long, multi-step tasks where quality matters most.
- `claude-opus-5-5` as a fast everyday default.
- `claude-opus-5` for hard debugging; it thinks longer before answering.

Every model is billed per token from your balance; agent sessions resend context on each step, and the repeated part is billed at the cheaper cached-input rate automatically.

## Troubleshooting

| Symptom | Fix |
| --- | --- |
| `401` or "invalid API key" | Re-copy the key without spaces; check it is active under **API keys** |
| `404 model_not_found` | Use the Claudech model id exactly, with no vendor prefix |
| "Verification failed" | The base URL must be exactly `https://api.claudech.com/v1` with no trailing slash |
| `402 insufficient_balance` | Top up under [Billing](https://claudech.com/billing) |

See [all integrations](https://claudech.com/docs/integrations) for other editors. Claudech is an independent service and is not affiliated with the makers of Cline.

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Source: https://claudech.com/docs/integrations/cline