Cline v4.1.25 adds Cloud sessions and switches default to Gemini 4 Argon

Cline has released version 4.1.25, a significant update that introduces Cline Cloud sessions and shifts its default model preference to Gemini 4 Argon. According to the GitHub release notes, this update allows developers to run tasks in a hosted sandbox on a specific GitHub repository and branch, a feature that is currently rolling out gradually. This marks a move beyond local-only execution, enabling tasks to continue running even after the user closes their editor.

The most immediate change for users is the shift in the default model. With no model explicitly chosen, the Cline provider now defaults to Gemini 4 Argon, which has been added as the first model in Cline's recommended list. Previously, the default was Claude Sonnet 5.5. This change is consistent across the IDE extension, the CLI (v3.0.72), and the SDK (v0.0.94).

The details

The release notes detail several key additions and changes. The primary new feature is Cline Cloud sessions. Users can enable this in Settings, after which cloud tasks appear in the Recent and History views with their status. These tasks notify the user upon completion and, crucially, persist independently of the local editor session.

The model catalog has been refreshed to include 6,952 models, up from 6,862. New providers added include Boundless and Standard Compute. SambaNova is now sourced from the catalog with MiniMax M3 as its default. The Cline recommended list adds Gemini 4 Argon and removes Grok 4.7. The Cline free list replaces Step 5 Preview with Nemotron 3.5 Super VL.

Default models have changed for numerous providers, including:

• Gemini 4 Argon: Cortecs, CrossModel, Eden AI, Google Gemini, GitHub Copilot, Google Vertex AI, LLM Gateway, Ofox, OpenCode Go, and Prime Inference.
• Muse Spark Open: Fireworks AI, Nebius Token Factory, and Requesty.
• Nemotron 3.5 Super VL: CoreWeave, DigitalOcean, NanoGPT, and Nvidia.
• Claude Haiku 5.5: Aixy and Neon.

Users relying on these providers without pinning a specific model should expect different behavior. Additionally, OpenRouter remains on Claude Sonnet 5.5.

Reliability improvements are also included. Long requests to local models (such as LM Studio or Ollama) no longer fail after 5 minutes of silence with a BodyTimeoutError. Provider errors that interrupt a response mid-stream are now retried up to 3 times before failing the turn. In the SDK, plugins now run only in worker threads or a subprocess sandbox; the in_process mode has been removed to improve isolation.

Context

Cline has historically focused on local, IDE-integrated AI coding assistance. The introduction of Cloud sessions represents a strategic expansion into managed, remote execution environments. This aligns with broader trends in AI devtools where the boundary between local agent execution and cloud-based task processing is blurring. The shift to Gemini 4 Argon as the default reflects Cline's curation of models based on current performance and availability, moving away from the previous Claude-centric default.

The removal of in_process plugin mode in the SDK and CLI indicates a maturing architecture that prioritizes security and stability over convenience, ensuring that plugins cannot silently run within the main hub process.

What it means for developers

For developers using Cline, the immediate impact is the change in default model behavior. If you have not pinned a model, your tasks will now run on Gemini 4 Argon. Users should verify that this model meets their quality and cost requirements, or pin their preferred model in settings.

The Cloud sessions feature is particularly useful for long-running refactoring or testing tasks that would otherwise block the local IDE. Developers can kick off a task on a specific branch and return later to check the results, improving workflow efficiency. However, since the feature is rolling out gradually, not all users may have access immediately.

For SDK users, the plugin isolation changes require attention. Any custom integrations relying on in_process mode will break. Developers must migrate to worker or sandbox modes. The new PluginBootstrapMissingError ensures that failures are explicit rather than silent, which aids in debugging but requires hosts to ship the necessary bootstrap files.

What to watch

• Cloud Session Rollout: Monitor your Settings page to see if Cline Cloud sessions become available for your account.
• Model Performance: Evaluate the output quality of Gemini 4 Argon compared to your previous default. If there is a regression, pin your preferred model.
• Plugin Compatibility: If you use Cline SDK plugins, test them in worker or sandbox mode to ensure they function correctly with the new isolation requirements.
• Provider Defaults: Check your provider configurations, especially if you use one of the many providers with changed defaults (e.g., Nvidia, CoreWeave, or Google Vertex AI), to ensure you are using the intended model.