Looking to enhance your AI development workflow? Roo Code, a powerful fork of the popular Cline VS Code extension, offers unique features that can significantly improve your development experience. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore Roo Code’s distinctive capabilities and show you how to reduce your token usage by up to 50% using a simple setting.
Getting Started with Roo Code
Installation is straightforward – search for “Roo” in the VS Code Extensions Marketplace and install it like any other extension. Upon installation, you’ll need to provide an API key for your preferred provider (such as Anthropic, OpenRouter, etc.).
Understanding Roo Code’s Unique Features
1. Enhanced UI and Prompt Modes
Roo Code introduces several UI improvements over the original Cline, including:
- Prompt Mode Selector: Choose between three built-in modes:
- Code (default): Optimized for direct code modifications
- Architect: Focused on planning and architectural decisions
- Ask: Designed for codebase inquiries without file modifications
- Slash Commands: Quickly switch between modes using slash commands in the input box
- Enhance Prompt Button: Automatically improve your prompts for better results
2. Flexible API Configuration
One of Roo Code’s standout features is its robust API configuration system:
- Create multiple API configurations for different providers and models
- Switch between configurations based on your current task
- Set custom temperatures for each configuration
- Configure backup providers to handle API limits
Example Configuration Setup:
- Primary: Anthropic Claude 3.5 Sonnet for main development
- Secondary: Claude Haiku for faster, simpler tasks
- Backup: OpenRouter for handling API limits
- Cost-effective: DeepSeek R1 and Chat for budget-conscious development
3. Advanced Prompt Mode Configuration
Roo Code offers extensive customization options for prompt modes:
- Global Custom Instructions: Set base instructions for all modes
- Mode-Specific Instructions: Customize behavior for each mode
- Workspace-Specific Rules: Use
.clinerulesfiles for project-specific configurations - API Configuration per Mode: Assign different models to different modes
4. Support Prompts
The extension includes various support prompts for common tasks:
- Enhance Prompt
- Explain Code
- Fix Issues
- Improve Code
- Add to Context
- Terminal-related commands
5. Custom Mode Creation
Create specialized modes for specific tasks:
- Base them on existing modes
- Customize available tools
- Set mode-specific instructions
- Configure API preferences
Optimizing Token Usage
Here’s the game-changing tip: You can reduce your system prompt token usage by approximately 50% by disabling MCP server functionality when not needed:
- Access MCP Servers settings
- Choose between:
- Disabling MCP server creation while allowing calls
- Completely disabling MCP functionality
This simple change can significantly reduce your token usage for new tasks without impacting regular development workflows.
Practical Applications
Example: Creating a Testing Mode
Here’s how to create a custom mode for testing:
- Use the Code mode with an efficient model (e.g., Claude Haiku)
- Prompt Roo to create a testing-specific mode
- Configure available tools (typically Read files, Edit files, and Run Commands)
- Add custom instructions for testing best practices
Example: Code Review Mode
Create a specialized mode for code reviews that:
- Checks for common issues
- Ensures codebase convention compliance
- Applies SOLID principles
- Maintains clean code practices
- Balances complexity and readability
- Considers performance implications
Best Practices for Using Roo Code
- API Configuration Management:
- Use appropriate models for different tasks
- Set up backup providers to handle API limits
- Consider cost-effective options for simpler tasks
- Mode Selection:
- Use Code mode for direct development
- Switch to Architect mode for planning
- Utilize Ask mode for codebase exploration
- Custom Instructions:
- Keep global instructions focused on common patterns
- Use mode-specific instructions for specialized behaviors
- Implement workspace-specific rules for project requirements
- Token Optimization:
- Disable unnecessary features like MCP servers when not needed
- Use efficient models for simpler tasks
- Leverage custom modes to focus tool availability
Conclusion
Roo Code represents a significant evolution in AI-assisted development tools. Its unique features, flexible configuration options, and optimization capabilities make it a powerful choice for developers looking to enhance their workflow. By understanding and properly utilizing its features, you can create a more efficient and effective development environment.
Remember to optimize your token usage by disabling unnecessary features and choosing appropriate models for different tasks. Whether you’re writing code, planning architecture, or reviewing existing work, Roo Code provides the tools and flexibility to support your development needs.
Want to see Roo Code in action? Check out the full video tutorial on AI-Driven Coder.