🇺🇸 USA · Roo Code (open-source)
Status: 🟩 COMPLETE 🟦 LIVING Last updated: 2026-06-26 Plain-English tagline: Open-source Cline fork with additional features — multi-mode (Architect, Code, Ask, Debug), more configurable agents, active independent development.
Front-matter facts
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Vendor | Roo Veterinary (USA) — open-source maintained |
| Country / origin | 🇺🇸 USA (open-source) |
| Recommended for Australian users? | ✅ Yes — open-source, no region restrictions |
| Privacy summary | Roo Code itself collects nothing; data flows to your chosen model |
| Free tier | Roo extension is free; API costs apply |
| Paid tiers | None for Roo itself |
| First released | 2024 (as Roo Cline fork) |
| Last reviewed | 2026-06-26 |
| Official site | https://roocode.com (and github.com/RooCodeInc/Roo-Code) |
What it is
Roo Code is an open-source fork of Cline (the VS Code agent extension) that’s evolved its own feature set. It started as a fork to add features the Cline maintainers hadn’t merged; it’s now a fully independent VS Code agent extension with significant differences from Cline:
- Multiple modes — Architect (planning), Code (implementing), Ask (Q&A), Debug (troubleshooting) — each with tuned prompts
- Custom modes — define your own modes with custom prompts and tool access
- More configurable — more granular control over what the agent can and can’t do
- MCP support
- Multi-model picker — Claude, GPT, Gemini, Mistral, local Ollama
- Active community — separate from Cline, growing its own following
Many users prefer Roo Code for the multi-mode workflow; many prefer Cline for the simpler model. Both are excellent open-source choices.
What you’d use it for
- You like Cline but want more modes / configurability
- You want planning-then-execution workflow (Architect → Code modes)
- You want open-source alternative to Cursor / Cline
- You want to define custom agent modes for your specific workflows
How to install + first 5 minutes
- Install Roo Code from VS Code Marketplace
- Configure API keys for your chosen model providers
- Pick a mode (Architect / Code / Ask / Debug) for your task
- Use the sidebar / inline edits
What it costs
- Roo Code extension: free (Apache 2.0)
- API costs via your model provider
How it compares to alternatives
| Capability | Roo Code | Cline | Continue.dev | Aider |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open-source | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Multiple agent modes | Yes (Architect/Code/Ask/Debug) | Plan/Act | Limited | Limited |
| Custom modes | Yes | Limited | Yes (via config) | Limited |
| IDE support | VS Code | VS Code | VS Code + JetBrains | Terminal |
| Cline-fork lineage | Yes | Original | Independent | Independent |
| Best for | Multi-mode workflow | Simpler / Cline-original | Cross-IDE | Terminal users |
For users wanting the most configurable open-source VS Code agent with planning-then-execution flow, Roo Code is the natural pick.
Privacy / data handling
- Roo Code itself collects nothing
- All data flows to your chosen model provider
- Same posture as Cline
Recent changes
- 2026: Active independent development; new modes added regularly
- 2024: Initial fork from Cline (then “Roo Cline”)
Gotchas
- Fork dynamics — Roo Code and Cline may diverge in unexpected ways; pick one and stick with it for stability
- Multiple modes can confuse new users — start in Code mode, add others as needed
- MCP server compatibility may differ slightly between Cline and Roo Code
See also
- Cline 🟩 🟦 — the parent project Roo forked from
- Continue.dev 🟩 🟦
- Aider 🟩 🟦
- Cursor 🟩 🟦
- Claude Code deep dive 🟩 🟦
- MCP — Model Context Protocol 🟩 🟦