Complete Guide to Roo Code: The Ultimate Fork Upgrade of Cline

Introduction

In previous articles, we detailed the powerful AI programming agent Cline. Today, we will introduce you to a remarkable fork project of Cline, Roo Code. Roo Code (formerly known as Roo Cline) is a powerful AI programming assistant that offers developers a new development experience through its comprehensive features and flexible customization capabilities, making it an upgraded version of Cline. This article will detail the main features, core functions, and practical application value of Roo Code. You can read it alongside previous articles to gain a deeper understanding of Cline and Roo Code.

Overview of Roo Code’s Core Features

As an AI programming assistant integrated into VS Code, Roo Code has the following core features:

• Multi-Mode Support: Built-in multiple preset modes (such as Code, Architect, Ask) and supports custom modes to meet different development needs.
• File and Editor Operations: Able to create and edit files directly while automatically responding to syntax or compilation errors.
• Command Line Integration: Supports running build, test commands, etc., and automatically adjusts operations based on output.
• Browser Automation: Supports launching local or remote web applications to perform automated testing and debugging tasks.
• Multi-Model and Multi-API Support: Compatible with various models such as OpenRouter, Anthropic, Google Gemini, and provides detailed resource usage statistics.
• Adaptive Autonomous Mode: Users can choose manual, automatic, or hybrid modes to flexibly control Roo Code’s behavior.
• MCP Protocol Extension: Supports extending functions through the Model Context Protocol, making it easy to add new tools.
• Context Reference: Quickly provides contextual information via methods like @file, @folder, optimizing interaction efficiency.

Among these, Chat Mode, Chat Mode Prompt Customization & Prompt Enhancements, and Custom Modes are Roo Code’s three highlight features, which is why it can be used as an upgraded version of Cline. We will focus on these next.

Chat Mode: Detailed Explanation of Intelligent Dialogue Mode

Chat Mode is one of the core features of Roo Code, providing users with multiple flexible working modes to adapt to different development needs. Here are detailed introductions to the three built-in modes:

• Code Mode: This is Roo Code’s default mode, focusing on everyday development tasks. Whether writing code, fixing issues, or executing complex workflows, Code Mode provides robust support. For example, users can input natural language commands, allowing Roo Code to automatically generate code snippets, optimize existing code, or even perform file operations. This mode is suitable for developers needing to quickly complete coding tasks.

• Architect Mode: This mode focuses on high-level system design and architecture analysis. Through preset prompts, Roo Code can assist users in planning technical solutions, designing system architectures, and even proposing optimization suggestions. Unlike Code Mode, Architect Mode does not directly write code or execute commands but focuses more on logical analysis and technical decision-making. This separation allows developers to think more clearly about global issues.

• Ask Mode: Ask Mode is a knowledge-based assistant suitable for research and technical problem-solving. Users can ask questions about code libraries, programming concepts, or technical implementations, and Roo Code will provide detailed answers based on context. It is particularly suitable for scenarios requiring in-depth exploration of complex concepts or code reviews.

Mode Switching: As shown in the figure below, users can easily switch modes through the dropdown menu in the chat input box. Additionally, each mode remembers the user’s last used API configuration. For instance, developers can choose a higher-level model like O1 for Architect Mode while selecting a more cost-effective model like DeepSeek V3 for Code Mode. This design of mode switching not only improves work efficiency but also optimizes resource utilization.

Prompt Customization: Creating a Personalized AI Programming Assistant

The ability to customize prompts is a major highlight of Roo Code. It allows users to adjust the role definitions and operational instructions of each mode according to specific needs, better adapting to different workflows. Here are detailed explanations of this feature:

• Role Definition and Instruction Adjustment: Users can customize role definitions for each mode. For example, in Architect Mode, users can adjust prompts to focus more on system scalability and performance optimization; in Ask Mode, prompts can be optimized to support deeper research questions. This flexibility allows Roo Code to better adapt to different development scenarios.

• Multiple Customization Methods: Users can either use the “Prompts” tab for visual editing or directly modify the JSON file. This dual choice not only lowers the barrier for customization but also provides greater freedom for advanced users.

• Enhanced Prompt Functionality: Roo Code provides an “✨ Enhance Prompt” feature, allowing users to optimize prompts for better results with just a click in the chat input box. This feature supports all models and API configurations, whether GPT-4 or other custom models, enabling users to adjust prompts based on needs for more efficient interaction.

• Cross-Mode Optimization: This feature applies not only to a single mode but can also share prompt optimization strategies across different modes. For example, users can apply the prompt optimization results from Architect Mode to Ask Mode, achieving knowledge sharing and efficiency improvements.

As shown in the figure below, users can set role definitions for each mode:

Custom Mode: Creating a Dedicated AI Programming Assistant

Custom Mode is a revolutionary feature of Roo Code that allows users to create entirely new assistant roles according to specific needs. These roles can not only have unique prompts but also set exclusive tool permissions. Here are detailed explanations of this feature:

• Quick Creation of New Modes: Users can quickly generate new modes with simple instructions like “Create a new mode for a certain role.” For example, users can create a QA engineer role focused on writing test cases or a product manager role skilled in user stories and feature prioritization.

• Deep Customization Capability: After creating a new mode, users can further adjust prompts and permissions through the “Prompts” tab. For example, users can add specific testing tool permissions for the QA engineer role or define more detailed user story templates for the product manager role.

• Dynamic Adaptation to Development Needs: Custom modes can dynamically adapt not only to single tasks but also to complex development scenarios. For example, users can create different roles for different projects, achieving more efficient task allocation and collaboration.

• Integration with Built-in Modes: Custom modes can be used in conjunction with built-in modes. For example, users can create a role focused on front-end development based on Code Mode or add specific database design capabilities on top of Architect Mode.

The introduction of custom modes elevates Roo Code from a simple programming assistant to a multi-role, multi-task intelligent collaboration platform. The following image shows a new role I created, Tech Writer, focused on writing project technical documentation.

Roo Code Installation and Usage Tutorial

Extension Installation Steps

The installation process for Roo Code is very simple, and users can quickly get started with the following steps:

1. Open the extension manager in VS Code and search for “Roo Code”
2. Install the extension with the rocket icon
3. Open Roo Code through the activity bar or command panel to start experiencing it

Chat Mode Practical Case: Minesweeper Game Development

Recently, DeepSeek launched R1, whose reasoning ability is close to O1. Combined with the previously cost-effective DeepSeek V3, I tested the effects of hybrid mode programming. The requirement was a classic web-based Minesweeper game, and I felt that the performance of DeepSeek V3 was still somewhat inferior to Claude Sonnet 3.5 during previous tests.

First, I used Architect Mode. Below is the specific plan provided by R1:

First, I need to understand the user's requirements. The user requests to design a web-based Minesweeper game using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and place it in the specified directory minesweeper-roo-archmode-thinking under.

The core elements of the Minesweeper game include:
1. Grid layout implementation (usually using CSS Grid)
2. Right-click to mark mines functionality
3. Mine random generation algorithm
4. Number hint system (showing the number of adjacent mines)
5. Win/loss judgment logic
6. Timer and mine counter

Notable architectural issues:
- Avoid duplication with existing project code
- Choice of state management solution (two-dimensional array to store mine distribution)
- Event handling mechanism (left-click/right-click marking)
- Responsive layout adaptation
- First click safety protection (ensure the first click is not a mine)

Current mode limitations: User needs to switch to Code mode to execute file writing operations. As an architect, I can only provide technical solution design but cannot directly modify code.

Based on the existing architectural analysis, I recommend the following implementation plan:

1. **Directory Structure Planning**
minesweeper-roo-archmode-thinking/
├─ index.html    // Game main interface
├─ script.js     // Game logic and interaction
└─ style.css     // Visual style and animation


2. **Core Module Design**
// script.js Suggested architecture
class Minesweeper {
  constructor(config) {
    this.BOARD_SIZE = 10;       // 10x10 grid
    this.MINE_COUNT = 15;       // Total number of mines
    this.state = { /* Game state management */ }
  }

  initBoard() { /* Initialize game board */ }
  generateMines(firstClick) { /* Safe generation algorithm for the first click */ }
  revealCell(x, y) { /* Logic for revealing a cell */ }
  toggleFlag(x, y) { /* Flag marking functionality */ }
  checkWinCondition() { /* Win condition judgment */ }
  updateDisplay() { /* Synchronize interface state */ }
}

// Event listener registration plan
document.addEventListener('contextmenu', /* Handle right-click marking */);
document.addEventListener('click', /* Handle left-click */);


3. **Key Technical Decision Points**
- **Mine Generation Algorithm**: Use Fisher-Yates shuffle algorithm to ensure random distribution
- **State Management**: Use a two-dimensional array to store cell states (0-8: number of adjacent mines, -1: mine)
- **Click Propagation**: Implement automatic expansion of blank cells
- **Performance Optimization**: Use event delegation instead of individual cell event listeners
- **Persistence**: Use localStorage to store best scores

4. **Style Architecture Suggestions**
/* style.css Key styles */
.grid-container {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(10, 40px); /* 10-column layout */
  gap: 2px;
}

.cell {
  transition: all 0.15s ease; /* Interaction animation */
  /* Visual design for different states */
  &.revealed { background: #c0c0c0 }
  &.mine { background: url(mine.svg) }
  &.flagged { background: url(flag.svg) }
}

User needs to switch to Code mode, and I will provide the complete code implementation and assist in creating project files. The current architectural plan is ready; please confirm if any design direction needs adjustment.

Then switch to Code mode, enable Auto Approve, and let Roo Code start implementing automatically. After a series of operations, the game is complete. I tested it, and the results were excellent, much better than when using DeepSeek V3 alone. All features were implemented with great interactive animations. The game screenshot is as follows:

Conclusion

Overall, I believe Roo Code surpasses Cline in terms of functional depth and flexibility. Through features such as multi-mode support, custom modes, and prompt optimization, it provides developers with an unprecedented programming experience. From daily coding to system design, from automated testing to customized complex tasks, Roo Code can handle it all. I will continue to monitor the updates of Roo Code and Cline to see if they will take a different path as AI programming agents!

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