Using Cline with SoAI

Cline can route model requests through SoAI's OpenAI-compatible API and connect separately to SoAI's Streamable HTTP MCP server. The two connections use different SoAI credentials.

Prepare the server

  1. In the SoAI WebUI, select the Settings button at the right of the header, choose Settings, and open OpenAI. This tab appears only to an Administrator with API key management (OPENAI_API_ADMIN). Select Create key and copy the key when it is shown. Open Models and copy the exact model ID; this requires Model read access (MODEL_READ).
  2. For MCP, select the Settings button at the right of the header, choose Settings, then open MCP > MCP tokens. The MCP tab appears only to an Administrator with MCP administration (MCP_ADMIN), and creating a token also requires MCP usage (MCP_USE). Changing the MCP runtime, server mode, or exposed capabilities under MCP configuration also requires Configuration changes (CONFIG_PATCH).

Connect Cline to the SoAI model API

  1. Open Cline and select the Settings gear.
  2. Set API Provider to OpenAI Compatible.
  3. Enter https://SOAI_HOST:5090/v1 as the base URL, paste the SoAI API key, and enter an exact model ID from GET /v1/models.
  4. Set the context window and maximum output tokens to the selected model's actual limits. Enable image input, tool use, and other advanced capabilities only when that model advertises them.
  5. Select Verify, then send a short request.

Connect Cline to SoAI MCP in its interface

  1. Open the MCP Servers view using the stacked-server icon in the Cline toolbar.
  2. Open Remote Servers, enter the name soai and https://SOAI_HOST:5090/mcp, and choose Streamable HTTP.
  3. Add the header Authorization: Bearer YOUR_MCP_TOKEN, then select Add Server.
  4. Confirm that the server connects and its tools appear. Keep automatic approval empty until each exposed tool has been reviewed.

Alternatively, open MCP Servers > Configure > Configure MCP Servers and add the entry below. Cline's CLI uses ~/.cline/mcp.json and also exposes an interactive cline mcp wizard. 

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "soai": {
      "type": "streamableHttp",
      "url": "https://SOAI_HOST:5090/mcp",
      "headers": { "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_MCP_TOKEN" },
      "disabled": false,
      "autoApprove": []
    }
  }
}

Related documentation