> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.compressi.us/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Connect Cline to CMX for Automatic Context Compression

> Step-by-step guide to routing Cline through the CMX local gateway so your AI coding sessions benefit from automatic context compression.

Connect Cline to CMX so requests from the Cline VS Code extension pass through the local gateway. CMX compresses eligible context in the background, reducing your provider token usage across longer coding sessions, without requiring any changes to how you use Cline.

<Note>
  **Prerequisites:** CMX must be installed and signed in on your device. Cline must already be installed in VS Code with a configured model provider. CMX does not replace your provider account; you continue managing your provider sign-in through Cline as usual.
</Note>

<Steps>
  <Step title="Set Up CMX">
    Run the guided setup command to sign in, start the local gateway, and detect your coding agents:

    ```bash theme={null}
    cmx setup
    ```

    Follow the browser sign-in prompt. Once setup completes, the CMX gateway starts at `127.0.0.1:17322` and is ready to accept connections.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connect Cline">
    Open the CMX terminal UI and connect Cline to your provider:

    ```bash theme={null}
    cmx
    ```

    1. Navigate to **CONFIG → Cline**.
    2. **Refresh the provider list** to make sure your configured provider appears.
    3. Select the provider you use in Cline.
    4. Click **Connect**.
    5. Reload the VS Code window so Cline picks up the new routing through CMX.

    Cline will now send all requests through the CMX gateway instead of directly to your provider.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Verify the Connection">
    Confirm that Cline is routing through CMX correctly:

    ```bash theme={null}
    cmx harness verify
    ```

    Send a request from Cline as you normally would. Then check CMX for activity:

    ```bash theme={null}
    cmx stats
    ```

    New requests should appear in the stats output. If you see activity, the connection is working.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  Short conversations may show little or no compression. Savings grow with longer sessions as eligible older context accumulates. Compare stats across a full coding session to get a representative picture.
</Note>

## Troubleshooting

If requests from Cline are not appearing in `cmx stats` after a coding session:

1. **Reload the VS Code window** so the new routing takes effect.
2. **Check the selected connection** by opening CONFIG → Cline in CMX and confirming the correct provider is connected.
3. **Run the diagnostics command:**
   ```bash theme={null}
   cmx doctor
   ```

For more detailed guidance, see the [troubleshooting guide](/troubleshooting). If the issue persists, contact support with your CMX version, OS, and a description of what happened.

Using a tool that is not listed under Providers? See [Connect Any OpenAI or Anthropic Agent to CMX](/providers/custom-agents) for instructions on connecting other tools via a custom base URL, or [suggest a provider](/providers/suggest-provider) for us to integrate next.


## Related topics

- [Connect Antigravity to CMX for Automatic Context Compression](/providers/antigravity.md)
- [Connect ChatGPT Desktop to CMX for Automatic Context Compression](/providers/chatgpt-desktop.md)
- [Connect OpenCode to CMX for Automatic Context Compression](/providers/opencode.md)