Intermediate

VS Code + Copilot / Cline

VS Code is the world's most used editor, and it has two strong AI options for Claude-powered coding: GitHub Copilot (the subscription service that uses Claude models) and Cline (an open-source extension that connects directly to your Anthropic API key). They cover different use cases and billing models.

GitHub Copilot: Inline Completions, Chat, and Code Actions

GitHub Copilot is a paid subscription service ($10/month individual, free for verified students and open-source maintainers) built into VS Code. Core features:

Inline completions: Ghost text suggestions as you type — press Tab to accept. Context includes the current file and open editor tabs.
Copilot Chat: A conversation panel where you can ask questions, request code, or have Claude explain selected code. Chat has access to your workspace via the @workspace participant.
Code actions: Right-click any code selection for AI actions: explain, fix, generate tests, generate documentation.
Agent mode (2025): Multi-file agentic editing — Copilot can make changes across files and run terminal commands. Less mature than Cursor Composer but improving.

GitHub Copilot uses Claude models (Claude Sonnet 4.x family as of 2025) alongside OpenAI models — GitHub selects the model for each request. You can select preferred models in VS Code settings.

Cline: Agentic Mode with Full Tool Access

Cline is a free, open-source VS Code extension that provides full agentic coding capabilities using the Anthropic API directly. Setup:

Install "Cline" from the VS Code marketplace
Open Cline settings, enter your Anthropic API key
Select a Claude model (Sonnet or Opus)
Open the Cline panel and describe your task

Cline's capabilities:

Reads and writes files with permission prompts (similar to Claude Code)
Runs terminal commands
Browses the web for documentation
Uses MCP tools if configured

Billing: you pay Anthropic API rates directly — no Cline subscription. This can be more cost-effective for heavy users or more expensive for light users compared to Copilot's flat monthly fee.

Copilot vs Cline in VS Code

Choose GitHub Copilot when

You want inline completions as a primary feature
Your company has an existing Copilot Business subscription
You want the lowest friction — no API key setup
You use GitHub and want tight integration (Copilot in PRs, issues)
You need a predictable monthly cost

Choose Cline when

Agentic multi-file editing is your primary use case
You want to use the latest Claude models immediately on release
You prefer direct API billing over a subscription
You want MCP tool integration
You want full transparency into what actions the AI takes

Configuring Copilot Model Selection

In VS Code Settings (Ctrl+,), search for "Copilot". You can:

Set the preferred model for chat (Claude Sonnet, GPT-4o, etc.)
Enable/disable inline completions
Configure which file types trigger completions
Set up custom instructions via .github/copilot-instructions.md — equivalent to .cursorrules

Checklist: Do You Understand This?

GitHub Copilot: subscription service ($10/mo), uses Claude models, strong inline completions, improving agent mode
Cline: free open-source extension, direct Anthropic API, full agentic mode (read/write files, terminal, MCP)
Copilot best for: teams on VS Code with existing GitHub, inline completions, predictable billing
Cline best for: agentic tasks, latest models, API billing, power users who want full control
Both support custom project instructions: Copilot via .github/copilot-instructions.md; Cline via its settings or CLAUDE.md