Cline Recursive Chain-of-Thought System (CRCT) - v7.0

Welcome to the Cline Recursive Chain-of-Thought System (CRCT), a framework designed to manage context, dependencies, and tasks in large-scale Cline projects within VS Code. Built for the Cline extension, CRCT leverages a recursive, file-based approach with a modular dependency tracking system to keep your project's state persistent and efficient, even as complexity grows.

This is v7.0, a basic but functional release of an ongoing refactor to improve dependency tracking modularity. While the full refactor is still in progress (stay tuned!), this version offers a stable starting point for community testing and feedback. It includes base templates for all core files and the new dependency_processor.py script.

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Key Features

• Recursive Decomposition: Breaks tasks into manageable subtasks, organized via directories and files for isolated context management.
• Minimal Context Loading: Loads only essential data, expanding via dependency trackers as needed.
• Persistent State: Uses the VS Code file system to store context, instructions, outputs, and dependencies—kept up-to-date via a Mandatory Update Protocol (MUP).
• Modular Dependency Tracking:
  • dependency_tracker.md (module-level dependencies)
  • doc_tracker.md (documentation dependencies)
  • Mini-trackers (file/function-level within modules)
  • Uses hierarchical keys and RLE compression for efficiency (~90% fewer characters vs. full names in initial tests).
• Phase-Based Workflow: Operates in distinct phases—Set-up/Maintenance, Strategy, Execution—controlled by .clinerules.
• Chain-of-Thought Reasoning: Ensures transparency with step-by-step reasoning and reflection.

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Quickstart

1. Clone the Repo:

   git clone https://github.com/RPG-fan/Cline-Recursive-Chain-of-Thought-System-CRCT-.git
   cd Cline-Recursive-Chain-of-Thought-System-CRCT-

2. Install Dependencies:

   pip install -r requirements.txt

3. Set Up Cline Extension:

   • Open the project in VS Code with the Cline extension installed.
   • Copy cline_docs/prompts/core_prompt(put this in Custom Instructions).md into the Cline system prompt field.

4. Start the System:

   • Type Start. in the Cline input to initialize the system.
   • The LLM will bootstrap from .clinerules, creating missing files and guiding you through setup if needed.

Note: The Cline extension’s LLM automates most commands and updates to cline_docs/. Minimal user intervention is required (in theory!).

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Project Structure

cline/
│   .clinerules              # Controls phase and state
│   README.md                # This file
│   requirements.txt         # Python dependencies
│
├───cline_docs/              # Operational memory
│   │   activeContext.md     # Current state and priorities
│   │   changelog.md         # Logs significant changes
│   │   productContext.md    # Project purpose and user needs
│   │   progress.md          # Tracks progress
│   │   projectbrief.md      # Mission and objectives
│   │   dependency_tracker.md # Module-level dependencies
│   │   ...                  # Additional templates
│   └───prompts/             # System prompts and plugins
│       core_prompt.md       # Core system instructions
│       setup_maintenance_plugin.md
│       strategy_plugin.md
│       execution_plugin.md
│
├───cline_utils/             # Utility scripts
│   └───dependency_system/
│       dependency_processor.py # Dependency management script
│
├───docs/                    # Project documentation
│   │   doc_tracker.md       # Documentation dependencies
│
├───src/                     # Source code root
│
└───strategy_tasks/          # Strategic plans

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Current Status & Future Plans

• v7.0: A basic, functional release with modular dependency tracking via dependency_processor.py. Includes templates for all cline_docs/ files.
• Efficiency: Achieves a ~1.9 efficiency ratio (90% fewer characters) for dependency tracking vs. full names—improving with scale.
• Ongoing Refactor: I’m enhancing modularity and token efficiency further. The next version will refine dependency storage and extend savings to simpler projects.

Feedback is welcome! Please report bugs or suggestions via GitHub Issues.

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Getting Started (Optional - Existing Projects)

To test on an existing project:

1. Copy your project into src/.
2. Use these prompts to kickstart the LLM:
   • Perform initial setup and populate dependency trackers.
   • Review the current state and suggest next steps.

The system will analyze your codebase, initialize trackers, and guide you forward.

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Thanks!

This is a labor of love to make Cline projects more manageable. I’d love to hear your thoughts—try it out and let me know what works (or doesn’t)!