Cline + Fable 5: Build or Fix Something Without Writing Code

The Stack

Tested Against

Prerequisites

• VS Code with the Cline extension
• An Anthropic API key (Claude API) for claude-fable-5

Steps

1. 1

   Install Cline and point it at Fable

   Install the Cline extension from the VS Code Marketplace, open its settings, choose Anthropic, paste your key, and enter the model claude-fable-5. Then type something like 'build me a simple expense tracker as a web page' and approve the steps.

2. 2

   What CI checks: the editor settings are valid and point at Fable

   CI confirms the settings parse, the API provider is anthropic, and the model id is claude-fable-5. That's the deterministic precondition, no key. The building itself is fenced.

   cat > cline-settings.json <<'EOF'
   { "apiProvider": "anthropic", "apiModelId": "claude-fable-5" }
   EOF
   cat > checkcline.mjs <<'EOF'
   import { readFileSync } from 'node:fs';
   const cfg = JSON.parse(readFileSync('cline-settings.json', 'utf8'));
   let ok = true;
   function check(label, cond){ console.log(label + ': ' + (cond ? 'yes' : 'NO')); if(!cond) ok=false; }
   check('settings parse', true);
   check('provider is anthropic', cfg.apiProvider === 'anthropic');
   check('model is claude-fable-5', cfg.apiModelId === 'claude-fable-5');
   if(!ok){ console.log('cline config check FAILED'); process.exit(1); }
   console.log('cline config check OK: anthropic + claude-fable-5');
   EOF
   node checkcline.mjs

3. 3

   Describe what you want (the model step, not checked by CI)

   Tell Cline what to build and approve each change. The writing and fixing run the model, so CI never claims them. Keep the ask-before-each-change setting on until you trust it.