5 guides
Build a fully self-hosted AI coding agent on Windows with Cline and a local model via Ollama or LM Studio. Private, no API cost, in VS Code — setup and trade-offs.
Build a Cursor alternative on Windows with open-source tools and DeepSeek. Cline or OpenCode plus a cheap model give you AI coding without a subscription.
Use GLM models with the Cline extension in VS Code on Windows. OpenAI-compatible provider setup, model choice, plan vs pay-per-token, plan mode, and fixes.
Use DeepSeek with the Cline extension in VS Code for cheap, in-editor AI coding. OpenAI-compatible provider setup, model choice, plan mode, pricing, and fixes.
The best free and cheap Claude Code alternatives for Windows in 2026: Codex CLI, OpenCode, Aider, Cline, Kilo Code, and more, with download links and honest trade-offs.