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Day 8 of 52 · about 15 min · Basics

Use Claude Code in VS Code or JetBrains

If you live in your editor, review Claude’s changes there. A side-by-side diff is easier to read, and to reject, than a patch scrolling past in a terminal.

You’ll finish with

  • Claude Code running in your editor, signed in
  • An edit you accepted or rejected in the editor’s diff view

You’ll need

  • A Claude Pro, Max, Team or Enterprise plan, or a Console account
  • VS Code 1.94.0 or later, a fork such as Cursor, or a JetBrains IDE
  • JetBrains only: Claude Code installed in your terminal (Day 1)
Start from the practice project as of Day 4 (.zip, 10 KB)

Before you start

Tell us about your setup and the steps change to fit it. Your answers stay in this browser, and you can change them at any time.

Which system are you on?

Commands differ between systems. Pick the one you’ll run Claude Code on.

Which editor do you use?

The steps

One step at a time. When a step’s check matches, tick it and the next one opens.

0 of 3 steps done0%

  1. Step 1 of 3: Install the integration

    Add the Claude Code extension or plugin.

    VS Code and forks

    • Open Extensions: Cmd+Shift+X on Mac, Ctrl+Shift+X elsewhere
    • Search “Claude Code”, select Install

    JetBrains IDEs

    • Install the Claude Code plugin from the JetBrains Marketplace
    • Restart the IDE
    The VS Code extension is self-contained. The JetBrains plugin runs your installed CLI.

    Check it worked

    VS Code: a Spark icon in the Activity Bar. JetBrains: a Claude Code button after the restart.

    If it didn’t work

    The VS Code extension doesn’t appear

    Restart VS Code, or run Developer: Reload Window from the Command Palette.

  2. Step 2 of 3: Open Claude Code from the editor

    Start a session linked to your editor.

    In order:

    1. You

      Open your project

    2. You

      Start Claude Code

      Spark icon in VS Code; Cmd+Esc or Ctrl+Esc in JetBrains

    3. You

      Sign in the first time

    • If you started it in another terminal

      Run /ide to connect

    Started from the editor, it connects by itself.

    For “A JetBrains IDE”

    The plugin runs claude in the IDE terminal. Open the project at its root so Claude sees its files.

    Check it worked

    You can type a prompt. After /ide, Claude Code confirms with a message like Connected to IntelliJ IDEA.

    If it didn’t work

    `/ide` says “No available IDEs detected”

    Check the plugin is enabled and restart the IDE. On WSL2, see the JetBrains WSL notes.

  3. Step 3 of 3: Review an edit in the diff view

    Switch to Manual mode, ask for an edit, decide in the diff.

    Auto mode edits most files without asking, so switch to Manual. VS Code: click the mode indicator under the prompt box, pick Manual. JetBrains: press Shift+Tab until the status bar shows ⏸ manual mode on.

    Then paste this
    Add one sentence at the end of README.md that says how to run the tests.

    In order:

    1. You

      Ask for an edit

    2. Claude

      Claude proposes it

    3. Tool

      Editor shows a side-by-side diff

    • If you accept

      The edit is saved

    • If you reject

      The file stays unchanged

    • If you edit the diff first

      Claude is told you changed it

    In Manual mode, every edit waits for you.

    Check it worked

    The diff opens side by side in your editor. Accept it and the sentence lands in README.md.

    If it didn’t work

    In JetBrains, the diff shows in the terminal

    Run /config and set Diff tool to auto.

Finish · 3 of 3 steps to go

Your editor is the review screen

Use Manual mode whenever you want to read each change before it lands.

What you’ll have checked

  • Claude Code opens in your editor, signed in
  • You accepted or rejected an edit in the editor’s diff

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Claude Code for your team

Want Claude Code set up across your team?

HorizonLux sets up and repairs Claude Code for teams: CLAUDE.md rules, hooks that enforce them and reviewed MCP servers. Book a free call to talk it through.

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Questions

Questions about Day 8

Can I use the terminal version inside VS Code?

Yes, with the standalone CLI installed: run `claude` in the integrated terminal and it uses VS Code for diffs.

Sources

Checked against the official Claude Code docs on .

Independent resource, not affiliated with Anthropic. HorizonLux wrote this lesson; Claude Code is made by Anthropic.