Using PageBolt MCP with Cline: Visual Audit Trails for VS Code Agents

Cline runs in your VS Code editor. Your agent edits code, runs commands, debugs issues. You see the output in the chat.

Your manager asks: "What exactly did the agent do? Can you show me the code it changed?"

You can show the result. You can't show what the agent saw when it made decisions.

This is the visibility gap for Cline and every IDE agent: execution in your editor, with no persistent visual record.

The Problem: Cline Agents Leave No Audit Trail

Cline is a powerful VS Code extension that runs AI agents natively. Your agent can:

• Edit files (view, search, modify)
• Run terminal commands
• Debug code
• Read documentation
• Make architectural decisions

But Cline only shows agent interactions during the session. Once you close the chat or restart VS Code, the agent's visual history is gone. No screenshots. No persistent proof. Nothing you can share with your team or auditor.

When your agent:

• Refactors critical code
• Deploys infrastructure
• Makes security decisions
• Handles sensitive data

Your team needs:

• Proof of what the agent reviewed
• Evidence of what it changed
• A persistent, shareable audit trail
• Something to show stakeholders or auditors

Cline's chat history doesn't provide this. You need visual proof.

The Gap: Chat History vs. Persistent Screenshots

Cline's chat shows agent reasoning. It doesn't show what was on screen when the agent made decisions.

Example:
Your Cline agent fixed a critical bug. Chat history shows:

Agent: "Found the issue in line 42. The validation logic was missing the null check."
Agent: "Added the null check. Bug fixed."
✓ File modified: src/auth.ts

Your security team asks: "Did the agent see the entire function context? How do we know it understood the implications of the change?"

Chat history doesn't answer this. A screenshot would.

With visual proof:

✓ Screenshot: auth.ts with full function visible
✓ Shows: Agent saw the entire validation logic before editing
✓ Shows: Line 42 highlighted in context
✓ Timestamp: 2026-03-17 14:32:15 UTC

The Solution: PageBolt MCP with Cline

PageBolt's MCP server integrates with Cline via VS Code's MCP settings. Your agent automatically captures screenshots of every edit, terminal output, and decision point.

Step 1: Install PageBolt MCP

npm install -g pagebolt-mcp

Step 2: Configure Cline MCP Settings

In VS Code, open Cline's settings (Command Palette → "Cline: Open Settings"):

Add PageBolt to your MCP servers:

{
  "mcpServers": [
    {
      "name": "pagebolt",
      "command": "pagebolt-mcp",
      "env": {
        "PAGEBOLT_API_KEY": "your_api_key_here"
      }
    }
  ]
}

Or edit .vscode/settings.json:

{
  "cline.mcpServers": [
    {
      "name": "pagebolt",
      "command": "pagebolt-mcp",
      "env": {
        "PAGEBOLT_API_KEY": "your_api_key_here"
      }
    }
  ]
}

Get your API key from https://pagebolt.dev/dashboard/api-keys

Step 3: Cline Uses PageBolt Automatically

Once configured, Cline's agent can call PageBolt tools:

• screenshot — capture editor/file state
• inspect_element — analyze code structure
• record_session — full workflow video

Step 4: Agent Captures Visual Proof

Now when your Cline agent works:

Agent Task: "Fix the authentication bug in VS Code"

1. [Agent] Opens auth.ts file
   [PageBolt] Captures screenshot of editor with file open

2. [Agent] Reads the validation function
   [PageBolt] Captures screenshot of function code visible

3. [Agent] Identifies the null check issue
   [PageBolt] Captures cursor position and problem area highlighted

4. [Agent] Makes the fix
   [PageBolt] Captures editor with changes visible

5. [Agent] Runs tests in terminal
   [PageBolt] Captures terminal output showing tests passing

✓ Audit trail complete: 5 screenshots proving every decision

Step 5: View & Share Audit Trail

Screenshots are saved in your workspace:

.cline/audit-logs/
├── 2026-03-17_14-32-15_opened-auth-ts.png
├── 2026-03-17_14-32-47_reviewed-function.png
├── 2026-03-17_14-33-12_identified-issue.png
├── 2026-03-17_14-33-45_made-fix.png
└── 2026-03-17_14-34-20_tests-passing.png

Share these with your team, auditor, or stakeholder. They can see exactly what the agent did.

Real-World Use Cases

Code Review for Production Changes:
Agent modifies production code → captures full editor view → captures all changes → team reviews visual proof before merge.

Incident Response:
Agent debugs production issue → captures code being examined → captures terminal output → creates immutable record for incident review.

Security Audit:
Agent handles sensitive code → every screen is captured → proves agent reviewed context correctly → satisfies compliance requirements.

Training & Documentation:
Agent solves a complex problem → captures every step → create tutorial from agent's visual workflow.

Configuration Troubleshooting

Agent can't find PageBolt:

• Ensure pagebolt-mcp is installed globally or locally
• Verify API key is set in Cline settings
• Check that MCP server is enabled in Cline

Screenshots not saving:

• Verify .cline/audit-logs/ directory exists
• Check file permissions (should be writable)
• Ensure PAGEBOLT_API_KEY is valid

Connection timeout:

• Verify network access to pagebolt.dev
• Check API key quota (free tier: 100 req/month)
• Try restarting VS Code

Why This Matters for Cline Users

Cline agents are increasingly used for:

• Refactoring large codebases
• Implementing complex features
• Debugging production issues
• Making architectural decisions

Without visual proof, these actions are invisible. With PageBolt, every decision is documented.

Your team can trust the agent. Your auditors can verify it. You have irrefutable proof.

Getting Started

1. Sign up for PageBolt — https://pagebolt.dev (free tier: 100 screenshots/month)
2. Get your API key from the dashboard
3. Add PageBolt to your Cline MCP settings (copy the config above)
4. Your Cline agent now captures visual proof with every action

Cline runs powerful agents. PageBolt proves what they actually did.

That's the audit layer your team needs.