How to Use Claude Code with VS Code for Beginners

Claude Code is a terminal-based AI coding assistant built by Anthropic. VS Code is the most widely used code editor in the world. Together they form a practical setup for building and editing projects using AI assistance without giving up control of your codebase.

This guide covers how to install and connect both tools, and how to use them together effectively as a beginner.

What Claude Code does

Claude Code runs in your terminal. You give it instructions in plain English, and it reads, edits, and creates files inside your project folder. It can write new components, fix bugs, rename variables, explain existing code, and run tasks across multiple files at once.

Unlike AI chat tools, Claude Code works directly inside your project. You do not copy and paste code back and forth. The changes happen in your actual files.

What VS Code adds to the workflow

VS Code gives you a visual file explorer, syntax highlighting, and a built-in terminal. When Claude Code edits a file, VS Code shows you the result immediately. You can review the change, undo it with Ctrl+Z, or open the file to inspect it.

VS Code also shows you which files have been modified through its source control panel, so you always know what Claude Code has changed.

Step 1: Install VS Code

Download VS Code from the official website and install it. Open your project folder using File → Open Folder.

Once your project is open, you will see all files in the left panel. This is where you will review changes as Claude Code makes them.

Step 2: Install Claude Code

Claude Code requires Node.js to be installed first. Open the VS Code terminal using the menu Terminal → New Terminal.

Then run:

``` npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code ```

After it installs, run:

``` claude ```

You will be asked to log in with your Anthropic account. Follow the prompts to complete the setup. Claude Code is now running inside your project folder.

Step 3: Give your first instruction

Once Claude Code is running in the terminal, type a plain English instruction. For example:

``` Add a contact form to the homepage with name, email, and message fields. ```

Claude Code will read your project files, make the necessary changes, and tell you what it did. Open the file in VS Code to see the result.

How to review changes before keeping them

Claude Code makes changes directly to your files, but it does not commit them to Git automatically. You can always undo changes using Ctrl+Z in VS Code, or review the diff in the Source Control tab.

Before accepting any AI-generated change, read through it in VS Code. Check that:

• The logic makes sense
• No existing functionality is broken
• The code follows the same style as the rest of the file

This review step is not optional. AI tools make mistakes, and catching them early is part of the workflow.

Tips for working with both tools together

**Keep VS Code open beside the terminal.** When Claude Code edits a file, VS Code refreshes automatically. You can see the change in real time.

**Use the terminal inside VS Code.** Running Claude Code in the built-in terminal keeps everything in one window. You do not need to switch between applications.

**Save and preview often.** After each Claude Code change, save the file and check the result in the browser. Do not wait until the end to test.

**Be specific with your instructions.** Vague prompts produce vague results. Instead of "make it look better," say "increase the font size of the heading to 36px and add 24px of padding below it."

**Use Git to track changes.** After a set of changes that you are happy with, run `git add .` and `git commit -m "your message"` in the terminal. This gives you a history to go back to if something goes wrong later.

Common beginner mistakes

**Accepting output without reading it.** Claude Code is fast, but not always right. Every change needs a human review before you move on.

**Giving one giant instruction.** It works better to break large tasks into smaller steps. "Add a hero section" is better than "build the entire homepage." Smaller instructions produce more predictable results.

**Not using version control.** If you do not use Git, a bad change from Claude Code can overwrite work you cannot get back. Start every project with `git init` and commit regularly.

**Forgetting that the terminal stays open.** Claude Code runs in a session. If you close the terminal, the session ends. You can start a new one any time by running `claude` again in the project folder.

What you can build with this setup

This Claude Code and VS Code combination works well for:

• Personal portfolio websites
• Business landing pages
• WordPress themes and plugins (editing PHP, CSS, JS files)
• Next.js or React projects
• Simple automation scripts
• Blog content structures and templates

You do not need to be a developer to use this workflow. You need to understand roughly what you are trying to build and be willing to review the output.