Run Cline and Roo Code on GLM, Kimi & DeepSeek via NovAI (2026)

Published 2026-09-13 · NovAI Team

Cline (and its fork Roo Code) is the most popular open-source coding agent for VSCode: it plans, edits files, runs terminal commands, and iterates — with any model you point it at. That flexibility makes it the easiest way to run agentic coding on Chinese models through NovAI.

Why Cline + NovAI?

• Cline burns tokens aggressively (full file reads, diffs, retries). Cheap models make autonomous sessions viable: deepseek-v4-pro at $0.57/$1.15 per 1M tokens runs a multi-hour session for cents.
• Native "OpenAI Compatible" provider — no plugins, no proxies.
• Swap models per task without leaving VSCode.

Setup (Cline)

1. Install the Cline extension from the VSCode marketplace.
2. Open Cline settings → API Provider: choose OpenAI Compatible.
3. Base URL: https://aiapi-pro.com/v1
4. API Key: your NovAI key (create one in the dashboard).
5. Model ID: type any NovAI model, e.g. kimi-k2.7-code or glm-5.3.

Setup (Roo Code)

Roo Code is a Cline fork with per-mode model routing (Architect / Code / Ask). The provider setup is identical: OpenAI Compatible → base URL https://aiapi-pro.com/v1 → NovAI key. A useful pattern: Architect mode on glm-5.3 (1M context for repo-wide planning), Code mode on kimi-k2.7-code (agent-tuned edits), Ask mode on free glm-4.7-flash.

Recommended settings

• Enable auto-approve only for read-only actions until you trust the model's edits.
• Set a per-task token budget in Cline settings — agent loops on large repos can surprise you.
• If a model returns reasoning content (DeepSeek/GLM thinking modes), Cline displays it in the plan pane — no extra config needed.

Best NovAI models for coding agents

For long agent loops, kimi-k2.7-code and deepseek-v4-pro give the best cost-per-task; for repo-wide refactors that need the full codebase in context, glm-5.3's 1M window is unmatched. Use free glm-4.7-flash for planning and lightweight edits.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I connect Cline to NovAI?

In Cline settings choose API Provider 'OpenAI Compatible', set Base URL to https://aiapi-pro.com/v1, paste your NovAI API key, and type the model ID (e.g. kimi-k2.7-code, glm-5.3, deepseek-v4-pro).

Does Roo Code work the same way?

Yes. Roo Code is a Cline fork with the same OpenAI-Compatible provider option. You can additionally assign different NovAI models to Architect, Code, and Ask modes.

What is the cheapest model for Cline agent sessions?

deepseek-v4-pro at $0.57 per 1M input tokens is the cheapest strong coder on NovAI; glm-4.7-flash is completely free and fine for planning and small edits.