This chapter installs everything you need to get started: VS Code, Claude Code, and your subscription. Time: 10 minutes.
Step 1, install VS Code (your cockpit)
VS Code is the code editor you'll use to view the files Claude creates and modifies. You won't write anything in it yourself, but it's essential for visualizing the project.
- Download VS Code at code.visualstudio.com, it's free
- Install it like any other application
- Open VS Code
Why VS Code? The Claude Code extension lets you see files change in real time while Claude works, side by side with the conversation. Much more comfortable than the terminal alone.
Step 2, install the Claude Code extension
This is what integrates Claude Code directly into VS Code. No other dependency is needed, no need to install Node.js or anything else.
- In VS Code, click the Extensions icon in the left sidebar (or
Cmd+Shift+Xon Mac,Ctrl+Shift+Xon Windows) - Search for "Claude Code"
- Click Install on the extension by Anthropic
- A Claude icon (sparkle) appears in the editor toolbar
That's it for the technical install. The VS Code extension ships with
everything you need. The old method that required installing Node.js then
typing npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code in the terminal still works
for advanced users (see below), but is no longer required.
Other ways to use Claude Code
VS Code isn't the only option. Claude Code is available on 4 platforms:
| Platform | For who | Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| VS Code extension | Beginners and most developers | Side-by-side view: files + chat |
| Desktop app (Mac/Windows) | People who prefer a dedicated app | Quick to launch, no need for VS Code |
| Web app (claude.ai/code) | Access from any browser | Zero install |
| JetBrains extension | IntelliJ, WebStorm, PyCharm users | Native JetBrains integration |
This guide uses VS Code as the reference, but everything explained works the same way on the other platforms.
Step 3, choose your Anthropic subscription
Claude Code consumes tokens (processing units) with every interaction. You need an Anthropic subscription. Under the hood, Claude Code uses Sonnet 4.6 by default, Opus 4.7 (1M context) for extended mode, and Haiku 4.5 for fast tasks.
| Plan | Price | For who | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claude Pro | $20/month | Trying it out, small features | Limited quota, may block mid-session |
| Claude Max 5x | $100/month | Building a full app | 5x the Pro quota, enough for 6-8h of dev/day |
| Claude Max 20x | $200/month | Heavy dev without interruption | 20x the Pro quota, basically unlimited |
Recommendation: start with Max 5x at $100/month. That's what I use to build full apps. The Pro plan at $20 is too limited, you'll get blocked in the middle of a feature, which wastes time.
To subscribe:
- Go to claude.ai
- Create an account or sign in
- Go to Settings → Subscription → Upgrade
Step 4, first launch
Create your work folder
Before opening VS Code, create a folder dedicated to your projects. It will be your "home" for everything you build with Claude Code.
On macOS: open Terminal (Cmd + Space, type "Terminal") and paste:
mkdir -p ~/code
On Windows: open PowerShell and type:
mkdir ~\code
Why ~/code? The ~ represents your user folder (e.g. /Users/aurore on
Mac, C:\Users\aurore on Windows). By creating a code folder there, you'll
have a clean, easy-to-find space for all your projects. Each project will get
its own subfolder inside (e.g. ~/code/my-app).
Open the folder in VS Code
- Open VS Code
File → Open Folder(orCmd+Oon Mac)- Navigate to your
codefolder and select it - Click the Claude icon (sparkle) in the toolbar at the top of the editor
- The chat panel opens on the side
Sign in
On first launch, Claude Code will ask you to sign in to your Anthropic account through your browser. Follow the instructions, it takes 30 seconds. A window opens, you authorize access, and you're set.
First test
To make sure everything works, type in the chat:
"Say hello and confirm you have access to the file system."
Claude should respond and list the contents of the folder. If it works, you're ready for what's next.
💻 Alternative: command-line install (advanced users)
If you'd rather use Claude Code in the terminal instead of VS Code, you have two options. No dependencies required for the native installer (not even Node.js).
Native installer (recommended) - macOS/Linux:
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash
Native installer - Windows (PowerShell):
irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex
Via npm (if you already have Node.js 18+):
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code
Then open a terminal in your project folder and type claude to launch.
Install checklist - [ ] VS Code installed - [ ] Claude Code extension installed in VS Code - [ ] Active Anthropic subscription (Pro or Max) - [ ] First launch successful and signed in