Skip to content
aicoolies logo
Roo Code logo

Roo Code

Discontinued

Discontinued VS Code AI coding agent that forked Cline

Roo Code was an open-source VS Code AI coding agent and Cline fork known for custom modes, BYO-model workflows, terminal execution, and MCP extensions. The original extension was shut down on May 15, 2026; the repository is archived and roocode.com now redirects to Roomote. Treat it as a historical reference, not a new-adoption recommendation.

Rate
Website
ShareShare on XShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Is this your product? →

About Roo Code

Roo Code was an open-source AI coding agent for VS Code that forked from Cline and built a large community around mode-based agent workflows. It offered Code, Architect, Debug, Ask, and custom modes, plus terminal execution, multi-file editing, model/provider choice, and MCP extensibility for developers who wanted more control than a hosted IDE assistant usually provides.

The original product is no longer an active recommendation. The RooCodeInc/Roo-Code repository is archived, the final Visual Studio Marketplace release was v3.54.0 on May 15, 2026, and the project README states that the Roo Code extension was shut down on May 15th. The former product domain now redirects to Roomote, the team’s newer cloud-agent product, rather than a live Roo Code product page.

For historical research, Roo Code remains important because it pushed IDE agent workflows, custom modes, and Cline-fork experimentation forward. For new adoption, teams should evaluate active successors instead: Cline for a supported IDE-centric agent, ZooCode if they specifically want the community fork path, or Roomote if they want the original team’s cloud/Slack-based async engineering agent.

Pricing & Platform Specs

Pricing Summary

Roo Code is a free, open-source AI coding assistant for VS Code released under the Apache 2.0 license ($0). Users configure their own API keys and pay standard token fees directly to model providers with no subscription fees.

Supported Platforms

Was: VS Code extension; original project archived

Why it was discontinued

discontinued May 15, 2026

Roo Code extension was shut down on May 15, 2026. The official RooCodeInc/Roo-Code GitHub repository is archived, the final VS Marketplace release is v3.54.0 from May 15, 2026, and roocode.com now redirects to Roomote. The original team pivoted to Roomote; new IDE-extension users should evaluate Cline or the community ZooCode fork instead.

use instead: Cline, Kilo Code

Explore categories, tags & use cases

Alternatives

All Roo Code alternatives →
Cline logo

Cline

Open-source autonomous coding agent for VS Code

Cline is an Apache-2.0 open-source AI coding agent runtime for editor, terminal, and SDK workflows. It reads and edits files, runs commands, uses browsers, plans then acts, and requires explicit approval for each step unless users enable auto-approve. Current Cline sources show 8M+ installs, 63.6k+ GitHub stars, BYOK/provider flexibility, local model support, MCP, plugins, hooks, and Enterprise governance.

Open Source
Kilo Code logo

Kilo Code

Open-source agentic engineering platform

Open-source agentic AI coding platform for VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, CLI, Slack, and Cloud that combines inline autocomplete, browser automation, automated refactoring, and custom planning/coding/debugging modes. Operates on a plan-act-observe-fix loop with 500+ model support (Gemini, Claude, GPT via OpenRouter). Memory Bank feature maintains repo-resident context across sessions, and codebase indexing keeps the agent grounded in your project.

freemiumOpen Source

Side-by-Side Comparisons

Claude Code logo
Claude Code
vs
Roo Code logo
Roo Code

Claude Code vs Roo Code — Terminal Agent Depth vs Editor-Native Control

Claude Code and Roo Code used to represent two different agent-control surfaces: terminal-centered delegation versus VS Code extension supervision. The current decision is clearer. Claude Code is an active Anthropic coding agent, while the original Roo Code extension was shut down on May 15, 2026 and its repository is archived. Roo Code now belongs in historical/migration context, not new-tool selection.

Claude CodeRoo Code
Cursor logo
Cursor
vs
Roo Code logo
Roo Code

Cursor vs Roo Code — Polished AI IDE vs Extensible VS Code Agent

Cursor and Roo Code both shaped editor-based AI coding, but they are no longer equivalent live options. Cursor is an active AI-native IDE with a managed product surface. Roo Code was an open VS Code agent and Cline fork, but the original extension was shut down on May 15, 2026 and the GitHub repository is archived. This comparison is now Cursor versus a discontinued historical agent.

CursorRoo Code
roomote logo
Roomote
vs
Roo Code logo
Roo Code

Roomote vs Roo Code — RooCodeInc's Cloud Pivot vs the IDE Extension That Built the Brand

Roomote and Roo Code share a parent — RooCodeInc — but they are not the same product. Roo Code was the 23k-star VS Code extension that helped define multi-mode IDE agents; the original extension shut down on May 15, 2026, the repository is archived, and roocode.com now redirects to Roomote. Roomote is the team’s active cloud-first successor bet, not a direct Roo Code rename.

RoomoteRoo Code
Cline logo
Cline
vs
Roo Code logo
Roo Code

Cline vs Roo Code — Active Upstream vs Discontinued Fork

Cline and Roo Code used to be a live fork-versus-upstream decision for VS Code agent users. That changed after Roo Code shut down on May 15, 2026: the Roo repository is archived, the final release is v3.54.0, and roocode.com now redirects to Roomote. For new IDE-agent adoption, Cline is the active path; Roo Code is now historical context or a migration case.

ClineRoo Code

Community experience

Sources & verification

Sources checked
Content verified

Verification dates are editorial checks. Routine CMS saves and automatic updatedAt timestamps do not advance them.

FAQ

What is Roo Code?

Roo Code was an open-source VS Code AI coding agent and Cline fork known for custom modes, BYO-model workflows, terminal execution, and MCP extensions. The original extension was shut down on May 15, 2026; the repository is archived and roocode.com now redirects to Roomote. Treat it as a historical reference, not a new-adoption recommendation.

Is Roo Code free?

Yes — Roo Code is open source and free to use. Roo Code is a free, open-source AI coding assistant for VS Code released under the Apache 2.0 license ($0). Users configure their own API keys and pay standard token fees directly to model providers with no subscription fees.

Is Roo Code open source?

Yes — Roo Code is open source.

Is Roo Code still available?

No — Roo Code was discontinued on May 15, 2026. Roo Code extension was shut down on May 15, 2026. The official RooCodeInc/Roo-Code GitHub repository is archived, the final VS Marketplace release is v3.54.0 from May 15, 2026, and roocode.com now redirects to Roomote. The original team pivoted to Roomote; new IDE-extension users should evaluate Cline or the community ZooCode fork instead. Consider Cline, Kilo Code instead.

What are the best Roo Code alternatives?

The first editor-selected Roo Code alternatives are Cline, Kilo Code.

How does Roo Code score in our review?

The published editorial review lists Roo Code at 40/100 overall across speed, privacy, and developer experience. Check the review's evidence status and test metadata for its verification level.