Cline vs Sculptor

Cline 77

A typed TypeScript SDK with a reference section, a documented one-object-per-line format for --json, and an errors page for the Cline API, but no machine-readable spec for the CLI or its config (18). llms.txt at docs.cline.bot, listing a Markdown version of every page (10). Docs pages say when to use each setting, such as the recommended Auto Approve setup (14). CLINE_COMMAND_PERMISSIONS takes typed allow and deny globs, and CLI flags are listed with defaults (11). CLI samples, SDK examples and the API errors page (13). A versioned changelog without dates, with dated tags on GitHub (11).

Sculptor 45

Harness reading. A README, specs and agent docs in the repository; no API reference (45).

Cline 70

Read as a local package. The cline CLI on npm (Node 22 or later), the VS Code extension (VS Code 1.101 or later), a JetBrains plugin and desktop builds (20). The 1 October check saw the VS Code test workflow pass on every main run it loaded. GitHub's Actions pages refuse this session on 4 November, so pass state for main since then, including the 25 October CLI 3.0.74 and extension 4.1.26 releases, is unread (15, as node-red). 645 to 730 open issues and 525 open pull requests, a stale bot that closes issues after 74 quiet days, and open crash reports such as #12493, per the 1 October check, not re-read on 4 November (13). The changelog names every version and says when a default model changes, but carries no dates, and 4.0.0 listed its removals under Changed rather than a breaking section. CLI 3.0.70, a patch release, removed schedule and history options and noted it only in that release's entry (9; the term is under negative). Extension 4.1.26 and CLI 3.0.74 are past 1.0, while the SDK (0.2.0) and desktop app (0.0.49) aren't (13).

Sculptor 43

Local software. Desktop downloads for Mac (Apple Silicon), Linux and Linux ARM64 (20). checks.yml and a PR gate run on the repository; pass state not read (15). GitHub issues and pull requests weren't read (GitHub's pages refuse these sessions), so that line is scored absent (0). sculptor-v tags up to v0.49.0, no changelog file (8). 0.x and labelled a research preview (0). 20 + 15 + 0 + 8 + 0 = 43.

Cline 67

Harness reading of the framework line, scored on what an agent or pipeline driving it has to supply. Many built-in tools (files, terminal, browser, MCP, subagents, plan and act), with MCP servers switched on or off per server, and no tool search or lazy loading found (15). --timeout (off by default), a mistake limit through --retries, automatic compaction and an output budget scaled to the model (14). --json writes one JSON object per message, but we found no documented exit codes (12). Checkpoints restore files and task state, sessions resume by ID, and API errors and empty responses are retried (18). The CLI defaults to Cline's own provider and to approving every tool, and the SDK is TypeScript only (8).

Sculptor 50

Harness reading. Workspaces as isolated copies, review and merge back, and built-in skills (50).

Cline 50

No payment protocol (0). Scored on Cline's paid options. ClinePass is $9.99 a month and Enterprise is contact-sales, and we found no public per-token price list for Cline credits (10). The open-source extension and CLI need no card (20). Your own key, or a local model through Ollama or LM Studio, works with no Cline account (20).

Sculptor 60

Free self-hosted software with nothing to buy, so 0 for a protocol and 20 each for public pricing, a free tier and onboarding with no sign-up, 60.

Cline 85

CLI 3.0.74 and extension 4.1.26 on 2026-10-25, 10 days before this check (30). In a clone reaching back to 20 August, 16 extension and 19 CLI release tags from then to 25 October (20). Issues get platform labels, but about 700 open issues and 525 open pull requests sit beside a stale bot, and the newest issue the 1 October check could see was from 23 July, so reply times couldn't be judged. GitHub's issue pages refuse this session on 4 November (13). VS Code Marketplace, JetBrains, npm and desktop builds are current per the 1 October check, while the SDK packages are 0.2.0 (26 October) (13). Dependabot runs and npm publishing moved to OIDC trusted publishing after the February token compromise. CI pass state per the 1 October check (9).

Sculptor 75

Commits on 6 November 2026 and frequent tagged versions (30). More than three releases in 90 days (20). GitHub issues and pull requests weren't read (GitHub's pages refuse these sessions), so that line is scored absent; the README says Imbue can't take many outside contributions yet (0). Current official downloads (15). CI on pull requests (10). 30 + 20 + 0 + 15 + 10 = 75.

Cline 65

Apache-2.0 (30). The privacy policy at cline.bot/privacy renders only with JavaScript and we couldn't read it. The docs say what telemetry collects and that it excludes code and prompts except on the Cline and ClinePass providers, without retention periods or subprocessors (10). Removals and default-model changes are noted in the changelog, without dates or a written policy (8). Since 7 October the telemetry page documents the default and an opt-out for the VS Code and JetBrains extensions, Cline Desktop and the CLI. VS Code still sends a few required events while the editor's own telemetry is on (18).

Sculptor 57

MIT (30). Consent-based telemetry documented in the repository (18 of 30). The README warns of drastic changes during the research preview, with no deprecation policy (5). Opt-in telemetry (20). 30 + 18 + 5 + 20 = 73.