Cline Mentions Feature Guide

Overview

The mentions feature is a powerful capability that allows you to reference various resources in your conversations with Cline using the "@" symbol. This includes file contents, directory structures, webpage URLs, VSCode diagnostic information, terminal output, Git change status, and more - all easily incorporated into your conversations.

By using this feature, Cline can gain more accurate context and provide more relevant assistance for your tasks.

Basic Syntax

Mentions always start with the "@" symbol, followed by the path or identifier of the resource you want to reference:

@resource_identifier

You can place mentions anywhere in your user messages, and Cline will automatically retrieve the referenced content.

Supported Mention Types

1. File References

To reference file contents, use @/ followed by the relative path within your project:

@/path/to/file.js

Example:

Please analyze the implementation in @/src/components/Button.tsx

In this example, Cline automatically retrieves the contents of Button.tsx and uses it to perform the analysis.

2. Directory References

To reference directory contents, use @/ followed by the relative path of the directory, ending with a trailing /:

@/path/to/directory/

Example:

What components are available in the @/src/components/ directory?

In this example, Cline retrieves a listing of the components directory and its contents.

3. URL References

To reference web page contents, use @ followed by the URL:

@https://example.com

Example:

Please parse the JSON response from @https://api.github.com/users/octocat

In this example, Cline fetches the response from the GitHub API and analyzes the JSON.

4. Diagnostic References

To reference VSCode diagnostic information (errors and warnings) in the current workspace, use @problems:

@problems

Example:

Check @problems and tell me which errors I should prioritize fixing

In this example, Cline retrieves the current errors and warnings from your workspace and identifies high-priority issues.

5. Terminal Output References

To reference the latest terminal output, use @terminal:

@terminal

Example:

Please identify the cause of the error in the @terminal output

In this example, Cline examines the latest terminal output and analyzes the error's cause.

6. Git Working Directory References

To reference the current Git working directory change status, use @git-changes:

@git-changes

Example:

Review the @git-changes and summarize the important changes that should be committed

In this example, Cline retrieves the list of changed files in the current Git working directory and identifies candidates for commit.

7. Git Commit References

To reference information about a specific Git commit, use @ followed by the commit hash:

@commit_hash

Example:

Analyze the commit @abcd123 and explain what changes were made

In this example, Cline retrieves information about the specified commit hash and analyzes the changes made in that commit.

Usage Scenarios

Code Review

Check @/src/components/Form.jsx and suggest improvements from a performance perspective. Also, if there are any @problems, please suggest how to fix them.

Debugging Assistance

My npm install failed. Please examine the @terminal output and suggest a solution to the problem.

Project Analysis

Analyze the code in the @/src/models/ directory and explain the relationships between the data models. Also, tell me how the utility functions in @/src/utils/ are used with these models.

Code Generation

Create a new Input.tsx component using the same design language as @/src/components/Button.tsx

Version Control Integration

Review the @git-changes and suggest a commit message for the feature I'm working on.

Combining Multiple Mentions

You can combine multiple mentions to provide more complex context:

There seems to be a bug in @/src/api/users.js. Please check @problems and @terminal to identify and fix the issue.

Limitations and Considerations

1. Large Files: Referencing very large files may take time to process and could consume a significant amount of tokens.

2. Binary Files: Binary files (such as images) will not be properly processed and will show a "Binary file" message.

3. Directory Structure: Directory references will only show top-level files and directories, not recursively showing the contents of subdirectories.

4. URL Limitations: Some websites may block automated crawling, which could prevent accurate content retrieval.

5. Path Syntax: File paths or URLs with special characters (such as spaces) may not be recognized correctly.

Troubleshooting

Mentions Not Recognized

If your mentions aren't being recognized correctly, check that:

• There's no space after the @ symbol

• File paths are accurate (case-sensitive)

• URLs include the full format (with https://)

Content Not Retrieved

If the content of referenced resources can't be retrieved:

• Verify the file exists

• Ensure you have access permissions for the file

• Check that the file isn't too large or the URL too complex

Performance Issues

If mention processing is slow:

• Reference smaller files or specific file sections

• Reduce the number of mentions used at once

Conclusion

Mastering the mentions feature makes your communication with Cline more efficient. By providing appropriate context, Cline can deliver more accurate assistance, significantly improving your development workflow.