Overview
Roo Code is a powerful VS Code AI programming assistant that provides you with a complete AI development team. Its standout feature is multi-mode configuration, allowing you to use different AI models for different development tasks to achieve optimal development efficiency.- 🎯 Multi-Mode Configuration: Assign specialized models for architecture, coding, debugging, and other tasks
- 🤖 Agent Intelligence: Automatically plan and execute complex development tasks
- 🔄 Multi-File Operations: Understand project structure and intelligently modify multiple files
- 💰 Completely Free: Open source and free, only pay for AI model usage
- 🌐 Wide Compatibility: Supports 200+ mainstream AI models
- 🔌 MCP Support: Connect external tools via Model Context Protocol
Quick Installation
Method 1: VS Code Marketplace (Recommended)
Open Extensions Marketplace
Ctrl+Shift+X (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Shift+X (macOS) in VS CodeSearch and Install
RooVeterinaryInc.roo-clineOpen Plugin
Method 2: Open VSX Registry
Visit Open VSX Registry and search for Roo Code to install.Configure API易
Basic Configuration
Open Settings
Select API Provider
Configure Connection Parameters
https://api.apiyi.com/v1API Key: Your API易 key (format: sk-***)Model Name: Enter the model name you want to useSave Configuration
Get API易 Key
Visit API易 Dashboard
api.apiyi.comCreate API Key
api.apiyi.com/token) and click “Create New Token”Copy Key
sk-***) and paste it into Roo Code configurationMulti-Mode Configuration (Core Feature)
Roo Code’s unique feature is the ability to assign different AI models to different development modes for specialized division of labor.Five Development Modes
- Architect Mode
- Code Mode
- Ask Mode
- Debug Mode
- Orchestrator Mode
- Claude Sonnet (strong reasoning, excels at architecture design)
- GPT-4o (comprehensive technical knowledge)
- DeepSeek V3 (deep thinking, cost-effective)
Configure Multi-Mode
Open Mode Settings
Select Model for Each Mode
- API Provider
- Model Name
- Temperature (creativity parameter)
- Max Tokens
Switch Modes
Recommended Models
Roo Code supports 200+ mainstream AI models through API易, including OpenAI, Google Gemini, Claude, DeepSeek, and domestic models.View Programming Model Recommendations
Core Features
Agent Intelligence Mode
Roo Code’s most powerful feature is Agent Mode, where AI can autonomously plan and execute complex tasks:Smart Multi-File Editing
Understands project structure and automatically modifies multiple related files:Code Generation
Code Review and Optimization
Smart Refactoring
Test Generation
Common Commands
Roo Code provides rich command palette commands:| Command | Shortcut | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Roo Code: New Task | Ctrl+Shift+L | Start new task |
| Roo Code: Continue | Enter | Continue current task |
| Roo Code: Approve | Ctrl+Enter | Approve AI changes |
| Roo Code: Reject | Ctrl+Backspace | Reject changes |
| Roo Code: Clear History | - | Clear chat history |
| Roo Code: Switch Mode | - | Switch development mode |
Advanced Features
API Configuration Profiles
Create different API configuration profiles for different projects or teams:Codebase Indexing
Roo Code automatically indexes your codebase to understand project structure:- Auto-discover file relationships
- Understand code dependencies
- Intelligent context awareness
- Cross-file reference tracking
MCP Integration
Connect external tools via Model Context Protocol:- Database queries
- API calls
- File system operations
- Git operations
- Custom tool integration
Custom Prompt Templates
Configure common prompt templates in settings:Usage Tips
1. Provide Clear Context
❌ Vague Description
✅ Clear Description
2. Execute Complex Tasks Step-by-Step
For complex tasks, recommend breaking them into multiple steps:Step 1: Architecture Design
Step 2: Module Implementation
Step 3: Debug and Optimize
Step 4: Integration Testing
3. Leverage Mode Switching
Switch to the most appropriate mode for different task types:- Need architecture design? → Architect Mode
- Writing code implementation? → Code Mode
- Quick consultation? → Ask Mode
- Encountered a bug? → Debug Mode
- Complex refactoring? → Orchestrator Mode
4. Review and Approve Changes
FAQ
What's the difference between Roo Code and Cline?
What's the difference between Roo Code and Cline?
- Multi-Mode Configuration: Roo Code’s core feature, not supported by Cline
- Codebase: Roo Code is a fork of Cline, but developed independently
- Update Frequency: Roo Code updates more frequently with faster feature iteration
- Community: Both have active communities but with different focuses
- Need multi-mode? → Roo Code
- Need stability? → Cline
- Both are free to try, choose what fits you best
Why is connection failing or models not working?
Why is connection failing or models not working?
-
Base URL Error:
- ✅ Correct:
https://api.apiyi.com/v1 - ❌ Wrong:
https://api.apiyi.com
- ✅ Correct:
-
Invalid API Key:
- Check if key is copied correctly (watch for leading/trailing spaces)
- Confirm sufficient account balance
- Verify key status is “Enabled”
-
Wrong Model Name:
- Ensure correct model name is used
- Refer to Model List
-
Network Issues:
- Check network connection
- Try restarting VS Code
How to configure different models for different modes?
How to configure different models for different modes?
- Open Roo Code settings (gear icon)
- Find Mode Configuration section
- Configure separately for each mode:
- Architect Mode →
claude-sonnet-4 - Code Mode →
deepseek-coder - Ask Mode →
gpt-4o-mini - Debug Mode →
claude-sonnet-4 - Orchestrator Mode →
gpt-4o
- Architect Mode →
- Save configuration
Will Roo Code automatically modify my code?
Will Roo Code automatically modify my code?
- Roo Code first displays suggested changes
- You can:
- View Diff (comparison)
- Approve (Apply) changes
- Reject changes
- Modify then approve
- All changes are under your control
How to save API usage costs?
How to save API usage costs?
-
Smart Model Selection:
- Use cheaper models for simple tasks (GPT-4o-mini, DeepSeek)
- Use premium models only for complex tasks (Claude Opus, GPT-4o)
-
Leverage Multi-Mode Configuration:
- Ask Mode → Use cheapest models
- Code/Debug Mode → Use mid-tier professional models
- Architect Mode → Use premium models only when needed
-
Recharge Bonuses:
- API易 offers recharge bonuses (10%-22%)
- View Recharge Promotions
-
Control Context Length:
- Clear unnecessary chat history
- Focus on current task, reduce irrelevant context
Which programming languages does Roo Code support?
Which programming languages does Roo Code support?
- Web: JavaScript, TypeScript, HTML, CSS, React, Vue, Angular
- Backend: Python, Java, Go, Rust, C++, C#, PHP, Ruby
- Mobile: Swift, Kotlin, Dart (Flutter), React Native
- Data: SQL, R, Julia
- Other: Shell, YAML, JSON, Markdown
- Selected AI model
- Model’s training data
- Language popularity
Compare to Other Tools
| Feature | Roo Code | Cline | Cursor | GitHub Copilot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Multi-Mode Configuration | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Agent Mode | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Multi-File Editing | ✅ | ✅ | Partial | ❌ |
| Custom API | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Free & Open Source | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Model Selection | 200+ | 200+ | Limited | GitHub Exclusive |
| Learning Curve | Medium | Medium | Low | Low |
Pricing
Roo Code plugin is completely free. You only pay for AI model usage fees. The cost of using AI models through API易 depends on the models you choose and usage volume.View Detailed Pricing
Related Resources
- Roo Code Official Website
- Roo Code Official Documentation
- GitHub Repository
- VS Code Marketplace
- API易 Quick Start
- Model Recommendations and Pricing