🚀 Getting Started with Claude Code in VS Code — My First Experience

Rohan ShrivastavaRohan Shrivastava
3 min read

Hey folks đź‘‹
I recently discovered something really cool — the Claude Code extension for VS Code by Anthropic. If you're into AI-powered coding help (like GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT, etc.), then this might just excite you too!

In this short blog, I’ll walk you through how I got started with it, how it works, and what you need to do if you want to try it yourself.

🧠 What is Claude Code?

Claude Code is a VS Code extension powered by Anthropic’s Claude models — large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT but with their own twist. Claude is known for being very helpful, precise, and aligned with human feedback. It can help you:

  • Auto-complete code

  • Explain blocks of code

  • Fix bugs

  • Write tests

  • Answer questions right inside VS Code

🔧 How I Set It Up

Setting it up was pretty easy. Here’s what I did:

1. Read the Docs First

Before anything, I went through the official Claude Code documentation to understand what’s needed. It’s well-written and beginner-friendly.

2. Get Your API Key

To use Claude Code, you need an Anthropic API key. You can get this by signing up for an account at console.anthropic.com. Once signed in, you can generate your API key from the dashboard.

3. Install the Extension in VS Code

I opened VS Code, searched for Claude Code in the Extensions tab, and installed it. Easy-peasy!

4. Configure the API Key

After installation, I opened the command palette (Cmd+Shift+P or Ctrl+Shift+P) and searched for Claude: Set API Key. I pasted the API key I got earlier, and boom 💥 — it was ready to go!

⚡️ First Impressions

Once it was live, I tried writing a few functions and Claude started suggesting clean and contextual completions. It even explained my messy code and refactored it when I asked. All this, without ever leaving VS Code. It felt like having a super smart coding buddy inside my editor.

🌟 Why You Should Try It

If you're:

  • A developer who likes AI help

  • Already using VS Code

  • Curious about Claude's capabilities

  • Tired of switching windows for ChatGPT

...then you should definitely give Claude Code a shot.

🔚 Final Thoughts

I'm still exploring it, but Claude Code looks promising. It’s fast, feels lightweight, and just works. If you're already using other AI dev tools, Claude is worth adding to your toolbox. Plus, it's backed by one of the most exciting AI labs right now — Anthropic.

Let me know if you’ve tried it too or need help setting it up. I’ll keep posting updates as I explore more.

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Written by

Rohan Shrivastava
Rohan Shrivastava

Hi, I'm Rohan, a B.Tech graduate in Computer Science (Batch 2022) with expertise in web development (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Bootstrap, PHP, XAMPP). My journey expanded with certifications and intensive training at Infosys, covering DBMS, Java, SQL, Ansible, and networking. I've successfully delivered projects, including a dynamic e-commerce site and an Inventory Management System using Java. My proactive approach is reflected in certifications and contributions to open-source projects on GitHub. Recognized for excellence at Infosys, I bring a blend of technical proficiency and adaptability. Eager to leverage my skills and contribute to innovative projects, I'm excited about exploring new opportunities for hands-on experiences. Let's connect and explore how my skills align with your organization's goals.