VS Code + Claude CLI Guide

This guide takes you from a fresh machine to a working Claude CLI workflow inside VS Code.

What you’ll have at the end

• Claude CLI installed and authenticated on your machine
• VS Code configured to run Claude from the integrated terminal
• Your first AI-assisted coding session complete

Prerequisites

• VS Code installed
• Node.js 18+ installed (node --version to check)
• A Claude account at claude.ai

Steps

Follow these in order:

1. Install Claude CLI — 5 minutes
2. First Steps — 10 minutes
3. Daily Workflow — read when you’re up and running