VS Code Integration

Use the Claude Code extension and GitHub Copilot custom endpoints in VS Code: installing the extension, the primaryApiKey config, and connecting QCode through chatLanguageModels.json

Last verified: 2026-09-18 · 📄 Per official docs (VS Code 1.138.0, released 2026-09-16)

At a glance¶

Using Trae IDE? Trae is a VS Code fork, so most steps here apply directly. For Trae-specific details — marketplace differences, offline .vsix installation, coexisting with Trae's built-in AI — see the Trae Integration Guide.

In addition to using Claude Code CLI in the terminal, you can use the VS Code extension to access Claude Code directly in the editor for a more convenient development experience.

Prerequisites¶

Before configuring the VS Code extension, ensure:

1. Claude Code CLI is installed and working

2. See Installation Guide to complete installation

3. See Environment Configuration to complete setup

4. VS Code version >= 1.98.0

Installation Steps¶

Step 1: Install VS Code¶

If VS Code is not installed, visit the VS Code website to download and install.

Step 2: Install Claude Code Extension¶

In VS Code:

1. Open the Extensions panel (Ctrl+Shift+X / Cmd+Shift+X)

2. Search for "Claude Code for VS Code"

3. Click Install

Or install via command line:

code --install-extension anthropic.claude-code

Step 3: Configure primaryApiKey¶

This is a critical step! The Claude Code extension requires primaryApiKey in the configuration file.

{
  "primaryApiKey": "qcode"
}

# Create directory (if it doesn't exist)
mkdir -p ~/.claude

# Create config file
cat > ~/.claude/config.json << 'EOF'
{
  "primaryApiKey": "qcode"
}
EOF

# Create directory (if it doesn't exist)
mkdir -p ~/.claude

# Create config file
cat > ~/.claude/config.json << 'EOF'
{
  "primaryApiKey": "qcode"
}
EOF

Note: The value of primaryApiKey can be anything (like qcode). You just need to have this field configured. The actual API authentication still uses the ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN you configured in environment variables.

Important: The config file is config.json, NOT settings.json. Please distinguish between these two files carefully.

Step 4: Restart VS Code¶

After configuration, restart VS Code for changes to take effect.

Usage¶

Keyboard Shortcuts¶

Common Features¶

1. Code Explanation

2. Select code

3. Right-click and choose "Ask Claude" or use shortcut

4. Enter your question, e.g., "Explain this code"

5. Code Generation

6. Open Claude panel

7. Describe the feature you need

8. Claude will generate code with insert options

9. Code Refactoring

10. Select code to refactor

11. Ask Claude to help refactor

12. Preview and apply changes

13. Error Fixing

14. When code has errors

15. Select the error code or message
16. Ask Claude to analyze and provide fixes

Configuration Options¶

In VS Code settings, you can configure Claude Code extension behavior:

1. Open Settings (Ctrl+, / Cmd+,)

2. Search for "Claude Code"

3. Adjust options as needed

Common Settings¶

{
  "claude-code.autoSuggest": true,
  "claude-code.inlineChat": true
}

Using with Terminal CLI¶

The VS Code extension and terminal CLI can be used together:

GitHub Copilot custom endpoints¶

Since VS Code 1.122 the built-in Copilot Custom Endpoint lets you plug QCode's protocol legs straight into Copilot (Claude only via messages, url takes the full path). Minimal config:

[
  { "name": "QCode Claude", "vendor": "customendpoint", "apiKey": "cr_your-QCode-key",
    "apiType": "messages",
    "url": "https://api.qcode.cc/api/v1/messages",
    "toolCalling": true,
    "models": [ { "id": "claude-sonnet-5" } ] }
]

The complete three-leg setup, Copilot CLI BYOK and known limits (inline completions still run through GitHub) are on the dedicated page: GitHub Copilot Integration.

Troubleshooting¶

Extension Won't Start¶

1. Confirm Claude Code CLI is properly installed

2. Check environment variable configuration

3. Verify config.json file format is correct

primaryApiKey Error¶

1. Confirm file path is correct:

2. Windows: C:\Users\YourUsername\.claude\config.json

3. macOS/Linux: ~/.claude/config.json

4. Confirm it's config.json not settings.json

5. Confirm JSON format is valid

Connection Timeout¶

1. Check network connection

2. Verify ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL environment variable

3. Try running claude in terminal to confirm CLI works

Next Steps¶

• Explore CLI Tips to boost efficiency

• Learn Workflow Tips to optimize development flow