A step by step guide on installing Visual Studio Code with Claude Code

Windows

To begin coding with AI assistance, install Visual Studio Code. Visit the official website and download the Windows installer. Run the installer and enable the options “Add to PATH” and “Add Open with Code.” After installation, launch VS Code and open the Extensions panel from the sidebar. Search for the extension named Claude Code, which integrates the Claude AI coding assistant. Click Install and reload the editor. After installation, open the Command Palette using Ctrl + Shift + P and choose “Claude: Sign In.” Enter your API key or authenticate with your account. Create a new file, for example test.py, write a simple script, and ask Claude to explain or improve the code. If the extension returns suggestions or explanations, the installation works.

Ubuntu

On Ubuntu, download the VS Code .deb package from the official website. Install it using the terminal:

sudo apt install ./code_*.deb

Once installed, launch VS Code from the applications menu or by running code in the terminal. Open the Extensions panel and search for Claude Code. Install the extension and reload the editor if prompted. Use the Command Palette (Ctrl + Shift + P) and select “Claude: Sign In.” After authentication, create a test file such as hello.js. Ask Claude to generate or refactor code. If the AI responds with generated code or suggestions inside the editor, the setup is complete and ready for development work.