Introduction

AI development tools are so cluttered, I don’t know which one to choose. One tool alone is not enough.

Author

Are you facing these dilemmas? I have tried multiple AI development tools myself, and often felt the limitations of single tools.

While extensions like Cline have high flexibility, they can be cumbersome to set up. All-in-one IDEs like AntiGravity are easy to use but lack customizability. Each has its pros and cons.

However, I recently realized something.

In this article, I thoroughly explain the strategy of using the VS Code extension Cline alongside Google”s next-gen IDE, AntiGravity. I”ll deliver practical content ranging from how to leverage their respective strengths, actual workflow examples, to precautions during introduction.

Why “Single Dependency” on AI Development Tools is Dangerous

There are several risks in limiting yourself to only one AI development tool.

The Invisible Wall of Rate Limits

When using AntiGravity, you may suddenly encounter the error “Model Error: Please switch models.”

In the free plan, there’s a refresh limit every 5 hours, and when working on complex projects, work can be interrupted at unexpected timings.

Risk of Tool Malfunction

Every tool has bugs or temporary server failures. AntiGravity was just released in November 2025, and initial versions have reported issues like “cannot log in,” “agents stopping with errors,” and “entering unexpected loops.”

If you rely on a single tool, development stops when such malfunctions occur.

Strengths and Weaknesses of Models

Each LLM (Large Language Model) has its strengths. Gemini 3 Pro excels in understanding large contexts, and Claude Sonnet 4.5 shows strengths in reasoning and code quality.

If you only use one tool, you may not be able to choose the optimal model depending on the task, potentially leading to decreased productivity.

Cline: Synonym for Flexibility and Control

Strengths as a VS Code Extension

Since Cline operates as a VS Code extension, you can introduce it while maintaining your existing development environment . You can leverage your familiar themes, keybindings, and other extensions as they are, minimizing the learning cost.

Freedom of Model Independence

The biggest feature of Cline is that you can freely switch between multiple LLMs . It supports major providers such as OpenRouter, Anthropic, OpenAI, Google Gemini, AWS Bedrock, and Azure.

Transparency of Plan/Act Modes

Cline clearly separates Plan and Act .

Constraints to Note

Cline also has constraints. The biggest challenge is the complexity of initial setup . Also, agent performance largely depends on the model choice .

AntiGravity: The Next-Gen Development Environment Envisioned by Google

Agent-First Philosophy

AntiGravity has a fundamentally different design philosophy from traditional IDEs. It”s the “Agent-First” approach where developers manage AI agents instead of writing code themselves .

Building Trust through Artifacts

A characteristic feature of AntiGravity is Artifacts . As the agent progresses, implementation plans, screenshots, etc., are automatically generated, making it visually easy to understand “what the AI did.”

Innovation of Browser Integration

AntiGravity can directly operate the browser in coordination with Chrome extensions . Automatic testing after implementation becomes easy, shortening the development cycle.

Serious Issues Also Exist

AntiGravity also has underlying issues.

Product Comparison: How Should They be Used Differently?

Usage by Development Phase

Prototyping/Initial Development → AntiGravity

AntiGravity is suitable for launching new projects or when rapid validation of ideas is needed. You can run multiple agents in parallel in the Manager View to build an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) in a short amount of time.

Since you can run implement → test → fix cycles at high speed through browser integration, the productivity of initial development is significantly improved.

Full Development/Refactoring → Cline

Cline proves its power at stages where the project has matured and quality or security is emphasized. You can pre-verify changes in Plan/Act mode and appropriately manage change history with Git integration.

By using multiple LLMs, you can maximize code quality while keeping costs down. Actual reviews mention “Cline was active in large-scale refactoring.”

Selection by Task Characteristics

Exploratory Tasks → AntiGravity

AntiGravity”s parallel agent functionality is ideal for exploratory work such as “I want to experiment with what UI would be good” or “I want to consider multiple approaches in parallel.”

Since you can implement multiple design drafts simultaneously and compare them in the browser, decision-making is rapid.

Tasks Requiring Certainty → Cline

Cline is suitable for tasks where mistakes are not allowed, such as “Deploying to production,” “Security-related fixes,” or “Implementation of critical APIs.”

Since you can incorporate detailed review and approval processes by humans, risks can be minimized.

Selection by Cost Consciousness

Cost-Oriented → AntiGravity (Free Plan)

For personal development or learning purposes where you want to minimize costs, maximize the use of AntiGravity’s free plan. Adjust your work schedule based on an understanding of the 5-hour refresh limit.

Quality/Flexibility Oriented → Cline

When project quality is the top priority and appropriate costs can be borne, use multiple LLMs with Cline. By choosing the optimal model for the task, you can optimize the balance between quality and cost.

Hybrid Strategy: The Ultimate Way to Combine

Scenario 1: Transition from Prototype to Full Development

Phase 1: Rapid Prototyping with AntiGravity (1-3 days)

When launching a new project, build the MVP all at once with AntiGravity. Start multiple agents in the Manager View to progress front-end, back-end, and database design in parallel.

At this stage, prioritize a working prototype over perfect code. Verify the feasibility of ideas while confirming operations with browser integration.

Phase 2: Codebase Cleanup with Cline (3-7 days)

Once the prototype is solid, switch to Cline to improve code quality. Implement the following tasks step-by-step in Plan/Act mode:

• Code cleanup and refactoring
• Addition of error handling
• Implementation of test code
• Strengthening security measures

At this stage, use high-performance models like Claude Sonnet 4.5 and aim for code quality that stands up to production environments.

Scenario 2: Usage in Daily Development

Morning Planning Time: AntiGravity (30 mins)

At the start of the day, organize today’s tasks with AntiGravity. Create a task list in the Manager View and have the agent build implementation plans.

Consider multiple implementation approaches in parallel and determine the optimal policy. At this stage, leverage Gemini 3 Pro’s large context understanding.

Implementation Time: Cline (3-5 hours)

Do actual coding with Cline. Progress development in your familiar VS Code environment, combining it with other extensions (GitLens, ESLint, Prettier, etc.).

Through integration with GitHub, branch management and PR creation are also smooth.

Afternoon Verification Time: AntiGravity (1-2 hours)

Test the implemented features with AntiGravity’s browser integration. Leave the operation check to the agent and identify UI/UX problem points.

Perform quick fixes with AntiGravity as needed and test again.

Scenario 3: Role Division in Team Development

Junior Developer: AntiGravity-Centric

Junior developers maximize the use of AntiGravity’s agent assistance. Use the code generated by the agent as learning material to acquire practical skills.

Visualize work content with the Artifact function of Manager View, making it easier to receive reviews from senior developers.

Senior Developer: Cline-Centric

Experienced developers perform precise control with Cline. Take charge of tasks requiring high-level judgment such as architecture design, security measures, and performance optimization.

Use multiple LLMs and choose the optimal model for each task.

”Development Culture Reform” brought by Cline and AntiGravity

Combining both tools changes the culture of the development team itself.

Lowering Psychological Barriers to Experimentation

Ideas that were given up because “I want to try this feature, but implementation takes too much time” become feasible with AntiGravity”s rapid prototyping.

An environment where trial and error can be done without fear of failure promotes innovation. Actual teams report “the cycle from ideation to implementation became 10 times faster.”

Improving Code Review Quality

Through Cline”s transparent Plan/Act process, reviewers can understand not only “what was changed” but also “why that change was made.”

Since implementation plans generated by the agent also serve as documentation, code review time is shortened while quality is improved.

Narrowing the Skill Gap

With the support of AI agents, performance gaps due to differences in experience narrow. Junior developers can also implement complex features with AntiGravity’s agent assistance, boosting overall team productivity.

Actual teams have voiced “newcomers start up faster” and “high-quality code can be written regardless of skill level.”

Facing Technical Debt

A culture is born where “technical debt” quickly implemented with AntiGravity is systematically paid off with Cline.

By clearly separating early development and quality-focused refactoring, both “speed” and “quality” become compatible.

Points to Confirm Before Introduction

System Requirements

Prerequisites for introducing Cline

• Latest version of VS Code (1.93 or later recommended)
• API key for the chosen LLM
• Stable internet connection
• PowerShell 7 or later (for Windows environments)

Prerequisites for introducing AntiGravity

• Windows, macOS, or Linux
• 4GB or more RAM (8GB recommended)
• Chrome/Chromium browser (necessary for browser integration)
• Google account

Security Considerations

Handling Confidential Information

Since AntiGravity has known security vulnerabilities, it should be avoided for highly confidential projects . Isolate important in-house code, databases containing personal information, API keys, etc., from the AntiGravity environment.

Since Cline uses your own API key, the risk of code being sent to third-party services is low, but you should check the privacy policy of the chosen LLM provider.

Sandboxed Environment Recommendation

We recommend using both tools in a sandboxed environment separate from production. Running them in Docker containers or virtual machines will minimize impact on the system in the unlikely event of an accident.

Cost Management

Cline Cost Structure

The extension itself is free, but LLM API usage fees are incurred. In actual user reports, there”s an instance of “about $6 for a 5-hour session.”

The following strategies are effective for keeping costs down:

• Use models with free tiers (Gemini, DeepSeek) for simple tasks
• Use high-performance models (Claude Sonnet 4.5) only when complex reasoning is required
• Monitor token usage and avoid redundant repetitions

AntiGravity Cost Structure

In the free plan, there’s a refresh limit every 5 hours. Upgrading to Google AI Pro (equiv. $20/month) or Ultra (details unannounced) will significantly relax the limits.

Consider the plan selection according to project scale and usage frequency.

Introduction Steps and Best Practices

Step 1: Cline Setup (30 mins)

1. Install extension in VS Code

• Open VS Code and search for “Cline” in the Extensions tab
• Click the Install button

2. Acquire and Configure API Key

• Starting with Gemini API (which has a free tier) is recommended
• Create an account at Google AI Studio
• Get an API key and enter it in the Cline settings screen

3. Initial Test

• Confirm operation with a simple task (e.g., “Make a Hello World app”)
• Evaluate the response speed and quality of the agent

Step 2: AntiGravity Setup (20 mins)

1. Download the Application

• Download the version matching your OS from antigravity.google
• Run the installer

2. Sign in with a Google Account

• Launch the app and authenticate with a Google account
• Agree to the Terms of Service

3. Install Browser Extension

• Install the AntiGravity extension in Chrome
• Link with the AntiGravity app

Step 3: Workflow Integration (Day 1 - 3)

Start Your First Project with AntiGravity

Until you get used to it, try completing a small-scale project with AntiGravity. Learn how to use Manager View, how to instruct agents, and how to read Artifacts.

Improve with Cline in Your Second Project

Improve the project made with AntiGravity using Cline. Open the same project in VS Code and request refactoring from Cline.

In this process, you’ll grasp the sense of when to use each tool.

Best Practices

Daily Routines

• Morning: Planning and exploratory tasks with AntiGravity
• During Day: Full-blown implementation with Cline
• Evening: Testing and verification with AntiGravity

Making this rhythm a habit allows you to maximize the strengths of both tools.

Setting Checkpoints

Always commit with Git before making large changes in AntiGravity. This ensures you can revert immediately if an agent goes on a rampage.

In Cline as well, carefully verify contents at the Plan stage and do not approve changes you do not understand.

Periodic Reflection

Once a week, reflect on the usage status of both tools. Record which tool you used for which task, how much the cost was, and what the improvement points are.

This reflection leads to establishing an optimal usage strategy.

Summary

Combining Cline and AntiGravity greatly expands the possibilities of AI development.

However, no matter how you use the tools, if you don”t understand the “new common sense for progressing development with AI (AI-Driven Development)” at the root, it”s a wasted treasure.

Cline is ideal for developers who value flexibility and control. You can use multiple LLMs and safely progress development with a transparent Plan/Act process. It proves its power in full-scale development, refactoring, and quality-focused tasks.

AntiGravity shines in scenes seeking speed and explorability. With parallel agent execution, browser integration, and visualization by Artifacts, rapid prototyping and quick verification are possible. Suited for initial development, idea validation, and exploratory tasks.

Combining both allows balancing speed and quality, exploration and certainty, cost and flexibility. The usage where prototyping is done with AntiGravity and full development with Cline would be most effective.

However, caution is needed regarding AntiGravity”s security vulnerabilities. In highly confidential projects, “Cline should be placed at the center.

Try both first and find the combination that fits your development style. I hope the hybrid strategy introduced in this article helps lift your development productivity to the next level.

Reference Information

Cline

Cline Official Site

Open-source AI coding agent with Plan/Act modes, MCP integration, and terminal-first workflows. Trusted by 4M+ developers worldwide.

cline.bot

Cline GitHub Repository

Autonomous coding agent right in your IDE, capable of creating/editing files, executing commands, using the browser, and more with your permission every step of the way. - cline/cline

GitHub

Google AntiGravity

Google AntiGravity

Google Antigravity - Build the new way

Google Antigravity

Getting Started with AntiGravity

This codelab guides you through the process of installing and experiencing the features of Google Antigravity, an Agent-first development platform.

Google Codelabs