Introduction
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【VS Code】Is Cline + DeepSeek a Cursor Alternative?
Introduction to Roo Cline
Roo Cline is an enhanced version of Cline that serves as an autonomous programming assistant. It is a powerful VS Code extension that retains all the core functionalities of the original Cline while adding more features, model support, and several experimental functions, including multi-language support, image drag-and-drop, message management, and other innovative features.
DeepSeek
For information related to DeepSeek, please check out DeepSeek, the dark horse in the model arena.
Integrating Cline + DeepSeek
Installing Roo Cline
In VS Code, search for 【RooCline】, find RooCline and click to install.
Getting the DeepSeek API Key
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⚠️Note: After creating the API Key, remember to save it properly, as it cannot be viewed again later. |
DeepSeek Open Platform: https://platform.deepseek.com/usage
Go to the open platform, switch to the 【API Keys】 menu, and click 【Create API Key】 to create a new API Key.
Enter the API Key name and click 【Create】 to complete the creation.
After creation, click copy and save it to a file to prevent forgetting or losing it, as the DeepSeek API Key list currently does not support viewing.
Configuring Cline
Roo Cline now supports the integration of the DeepSeek model. In the 【API Provider】 list, select 【DeepSeek】, enter the API Key created above in the 【DeepSeek API Key】 field, and finally click 【Let’s go】 to complete the configuration.
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😢Unfortunately, I failed to configure here. Clicking the 【Let’s go】 button had no response; I don’t know if it’s a plugin issue. Cline can be configured this way. |
After the installation failed in the above steps, I thought it was a plugin issue, so I uninstalled and reinstalled it. However, using the above method still could not complete the configuration, so I used the following configuration:
Select 【API Provider】 as 【OpenAI Compatible】, enter the Base URL as “https://api.deepseek.com“. In the 【DeepSeek API Key】 field, enter the API Key created above, select 【Model】 as 【deepseek-chat】, and finally click 【Let’s go】 to complete the configuration. This method works currently.
Basic Usage
Regular Chat
After configuring Roo Cline, you can chat using Roo Cline and DeepSeek-V3. I asked the AI about its model information, and its response was not what I expected. The model it mentioned was not deepseek-v3. After asking again, it updated its response 😱. I don’t know if I was confused or the AI was confused.
Automatic Approval
Roo Cline also provides an Approve feature. After checking the corresponding permissions, you will not need to authorize actions when encountering the corresponding permissions. To be honest, I still prefer Cline’s configuration page; this configuration page is too complicated.
Iterating Requirements
The understanding of requirements is correct, and the effect looks good, better than performance on Cline.
Image Processing
Roo Cline supports image drag-and-drop; hold the shift key while dragging the image. Since DeepSeek does not support image processing, images cannot be added.
Engineering Capabilities
Cross-file Processing
We input the following prompt asking the AI to add a page and handle routing.
Please add a Home and About page and use react-router to complete the routing switch in the @/src/App.tsx file.
During the process, any errors encountered can be directly handed over to AI for processing.
I forgot to take a screenshot, but the UI achieved is quite good.
Cost Details
Like Cline, it has detailed request cost information.
Usage Experience
Following the experience process of Cline, I tried Roo Cline, and the initial experience cost was 0.17 yuan. Previously, I heard that Cline consumes more tokens, so I remain skeptical.
Roo Cline + DeepSeek feels smooth overall; its functions are similar to Cline. After enabling the relevant read and write permissions, once a question is asked, writing code becomes almost effortless.
Subjective Experience:
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I don’t know if it’s a model issue or a Roo Cline issue, but this experience feels smoother than Cline, mainly in code writing and problem-solving.
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Roo Cline, aside from differences in the configuration page compared to Cline, has not shown other differences for now, possessing the same advantages and disadvantages as Cline, such as lacking features like @codebase functionality, no task rollback and recovery operations, and not supporting file reference drag-and-drop.
Differences Between Roo Cline + DeepSeek and Cline + DeepSeek::
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Roo Cline has stronger agency, which may be why I feel it is smoother than Cline.
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Roo Cline does not support prompt caching, while Cline does.
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Roo Cline’s API Key configuration compatibility has issues; initial installation does not fully support DeepSeek.
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The configuration page of Roo Cline is not as simple and clear as Cline, but some permissions are relatively more flexible.
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Roo Cline has more features, such as configuring the viewport size and screenshot quality in the browser.
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Cline can set a maximum request number to prevent AI from making abnormal requests, while Roo Cline does not support this yet.
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