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Integrate Helvira with Cline in VSCode

Use Helvira's AI models directly in your VSCode editor with the Cline extension. Code with Swiss-hosted AI while maintaining complete data privacy.

What is Cline?​

Cline is an autonomous AI coding agent for Visual Studio Code that can:

  • Create and edit files in your project
  • Run terminal commands with your approval
  • Debug and fix code errors automatically
  • Refactor and improve existing code
  • Generate complete features from natural language

Why Helvira + Cline?​

  • Swiss Data Privacy: Your code never leaves Switzerland
  • GDPR & nFADP Compliant: Enterprise-grade security
  • Multiple AI Models: Access various models based on your Helvira plan
  • Cost Transparency: Clear pricing with no hidden fees
  • Seamless Integration: Works like any other AI provider in Cline

Prerequisites​

Before you begin, you'll need:

  • Visual Studio Code installed
  • A Helvira account (sign up here)
  • A Helvira API key (starts with sk-...)

Installation Guide​

Step 1: Install Cline Extension​

  1. Open Visual Studio Code
  2. Click the Extensions icon (or press Ctrl+Shift+X / Cmd+Shift+X)
  3. Search for "Cline"
  4. Click Install on the official Cline extension
  5. Wait for installation to complete

Step 2: Get Your Helvira API Key​

  1. Log in to your Helvira account
  2. Navigate to Settings → Account → API Keys → Show
  3. Copy your API key (it starts with sk-...)

Step 3: Configure Cline for Helvira​

  1. Click the Cline icon (robot) in the VSCode Activity Bar
  2. Click the gear/settings icon ⚙️ in the top-right corner of Cline panel
  1. Configure the following settings:

Configuration Details​

API Provider

  • Select: OpenAI Compatible

Base URL

  • Enter: https://chat.helvira.ai/api/v1

OpenAI Compatible API Key

  • Paste your Helvira API key (starts with sk-...)

Model ID

  • Enter the model ID based on your Helvira plan (see table below)
  1. Click Done or close the settings panel

Available Helvira Models​

Choose your model ID based on your subscription and needs:

Model NameModel IDBest For
Gemmini Light (Gemma3) Freehelvira-gemmini-light-gemma3-freeTesting, simple edits
Gemmini Light (Gemma3) Standardhelvira-gemmini-light-gemma3-free-unlimitedQuick tasks, unlimited usage
Gemmini (Gemma3) Premiumhelvira-gemmini-gemma3-premiumComplex development
OSS (gpt-oss) Premiumhelvira-oss-gpt-oss-premiumAdvanced coding tasks

Example Configuration​

For a Standard plan user with unlimited access:

API Provider: OpenAI Compatible
Base URL: https://chat.helvira.ai/api/v1
API Key: sk-abc123xyz789...
Model ID: helvira-gemmini-light-gemma3-free-unlimited

Using Cline with Helvira​

Basic Usage​

  1. Open your project in VSCode
  2. Click the Cline icon to open the chat interface
  3. Start coding with natural language prompts

Example Prompts​

Create a Laravel controller for user authentication

Add validation to the User model

Refactor this function to improve performance

Fix the SQL injection vulnerability in this query

Generate API documentation for this endpoint

Add unit tests for the UserService class

Approval Workflow​

Cline shows you every action before executing:

  1. Plan Review: See what Cline plans to do
  2. Code Preview: Review code changes
  3. Approve/Reject: You decide what gets executed
  4. Safe Iteration: Maintain full control

Configuration Tips​

Enable Auto-Read Mode​

Speed up your workflow:

  1. Open Cline settings (gear icon)
  2. Scroll to Permissions
  3. Enable "Always approve read-only operations"
  4. Cline can now read files without prompting

Switching Between Models​

If you have access to multiple models:

  1. Open Cline settings
  2. Change the Model ID field
  3. Save and continue chatting

Best Practices​

1. Be Specific​

❌ "Fix this code"
✅ "Fix the authentication middleware to properly handle JWT token expiration"

2. Provide Context​

"In the UserController.php file, add input validation for the email 
field using Laravel's validation rules"

3. Break Down Tasks​

Instead of:

"Build a complete authentication system"

Try:

1. "Create a User model with proper relationships"
2. "Add a registration controller with validation"
3. "Implement JWT token generation"
4. "Add middleware for protected routes"

4. Reference Files​

"Add error handling to the PaymentService class in app/Services/PaymentService.php"

5. Always Review​

  • Read generated code carefully
  • Test before committing
  • Verify security implications
  • Check for Swiss compliance requirements

Advanced Features​

Terminal Commands​

Cline can execute commands:

composer install
php artisan migrate
npm run dev
git commit -m "feat: add user service"

File Operations​

  • Create new files and directories
  • Edit multiple files simultaneously
  • Search and replace across projects
  • Rename and organize files

Code Analysis​

  • Identify security vulnerabilities
  • Suggest performance improvements
  • Detect code smells
  • Recommend best practices

Data Privacy & Security​

Your Code Stays in Switzerland​

  • All API requests go to Swiss servers
  • Code snippets are processed in Switzerland
  • No data stored outside Swiss borders
  • Full GDPR & nFADP compliance

Best Practices​

  • Never commit API keys to repositories
  • Use environment variables for sensitive data
  • Review code for secrets before sharing
  • Enable auto-read only for trusted projects

Troubleshooting​

"API Key Invalid" Error​

Solutions:

  • Verify your API key starts with sk-
  • Check your Helvira subscription is active
  • Ensure you copied the complete key
  • Regenerate a new key in Helvira dashboard

"Model Not Found" Error​

Solutions:

  • Check model ID spelling exactly matches the table above
  • Verify model access in your Helvira plan
  • Copy-paste the model ID to avoid typos
  • Contact Helvira support if issue persists

"Connection Refused" Error​

Solutions:

  • Verify Base URL is: https://chat.helvira.ai/api/v1
  • Check no extra spaces in the URL
  • Ensure API Provider is "OpenAI Compatible"
  • Test your internet connection

Slow Responses​

Solutions:

  • Switch to a faster model if available
  • Check your internet connection
  • Verify Helvira service status at [status.helvira.ai]
  • Try during off-peak hours

Cline Not Connecting​

Solutions:

  1. Double-check all settings:
    • API Provider: OpenAI Compatible
    • Base URL: https://chat.helvira.ai/api/v1
    • API Key: starts with sk-
    • Model ID: exact match from table
  2. Restart VSCode completely
  3. Reinstall Cline extension
  4. Check Helvira account status

Pricing & Usage​

Transparent Costs​

  • Cline shows token usage in real-time
  • Track costs per request
  • Monitor monthly spending in Helvira dashboard

Model Comparison​

ModelSpeedQualityBest Use Case
Gemmini Light Free⚡⚡⚡⚡⭐⭐Daily development - Limited
Gemmini Light Standard⚡⚡⚡⚡⭐⭐Daily development - Unlimited
Gemmini Premium⚡⚡⚡⭐⭐⭐Production code
OSS Premium⚡⚡⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Complex logic

Optimize Costs​

  • Use appropriate models for each task
  • Enable auto-approve for reads (fewer API calls)
  • Be specific in prompts (reduce iterations)
  • Set usage alerts in your Helvira account

Support​

Need help? We're here for you:

Summary​

Helvira + Cline gives you:

✅ Swiss-hosted AI coding assistant
✅ GDPR & nFADP compliant
✅ Multiple model access based on plan
✅ Full control over code changes
✅ Data never leaves Switzerland
✅ Transparent pricing

Start coding with Swiss AI privacy today!

Ready to get started? Install Cline and connect your Helvira account in minutes.

Quick Start Checklist​

  • Install Cline extension in VSCode
  • Get your Helvira API key (starts with sk-)
  • Open Cline settings (gear icon)
  • Set API Provider to "OpenAI Compatible"
  • Enter Base URL: https://chat.helvira.ai/api/v1
  • Paste your API key
  • Enter your model ID from the table above
  • Save settings
  • Start coding with Helvira!
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