Claude Code
Claude's native VS Code extension. It reads your project files, makes multi-file edits, runs terminal commands, and executes your CLAUDE.md build plan step by step. This is where the actual building happens.
What Is Claude Code?
Claude Code is a VS Code extension built by Anthropic. It brings Claude directly into your editor — not as a chatbot on the side, but as a tool that can actually read and edit your files, run commands, and understand the full structure of your project.
File Access
Claude Code can read every file in your project folder. It understands how they relate to each other and edits them with that full context in mind.
Multi-File Edits
It doesn't just edit one file at a time. It can update your HTML, CSS, and JavaScript simultaneously — keeping everything consistent across the whole project.
Terminal Commands
Claude Code can run terminal commands inside VS Code — install packages, run build scripts, start dev servers. It's a full build partner, not just a code suggester.
How to Install Claude Code
Three steps. Five minutes. You need VS Code and a Claude account — both free.
Get VS Code
Download VS Code free from code.visualstudio.com. It's available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Install it and open it — you don't need to configure anything yet.
Install the Extension
In VS Code, click the Extensions icon on the left sidebar (it looks like four squares). Search for Claude Code. Click Install. It's published by Anthropic — make sure you're installing the official one.
Sign In
After installing, you'll be prompted to sign in with your Claude account. Use the same account as claude.ai. If you're on Claude Pro or Max, Claude Code can use those same tokens. Free accounts can use Claude Code with the free tier limits.
How to Use Claude Code to Build
This is the exact process for every project on this site. Follow this and you'll have a working build loop.
Open Your Project Folder
In VS Code, go to File → Open Folder and select your project directory. Claude Code works with the entire folder — it can see every file inside.
Drop in the CLAUDE.md
Place your filled-out CLAUDE.md file in the root of your project folder. This is the document that tells Claude everything about what you're building — the vision, tech stack, features, and scope.
Download the template →Ask for the Build Plan
Open Claude Code and type: "Read the CLAUDE.md file in this project and write a complete numbered build plan — every step to build this from scratch." Claude will read the file and produce a step-by-step plan tailored to your specific project.
Execute One Step at a Time
Tell Claude Code to execute Step 1. When it's done, test it. If it works, say "Step 2." If it doesn't, screenshot the error, take it to ChatGPT, and bring the fix back. Never skip ahead — one step at a time keeps the build solid.
Claude Code is what makes this whole workflow possible. The web interface is great for conversation, but Claude Code is where you actually build. It reads your CLAUDE.md, understands your whole project, and makes edits across multiple files without breaking the stuff that was already working. That's what makes it different from just pasting code into a chat window.
What Claude Code Does Well
Why this tool is the centerpiece of the Alchemy AI workflow.
CLAUDE.md Integration
Read the context file once and it knows your entire project. Every subsequent instruction builds on that foundation — no re-explaining needed.
Multi-File Awareness
Edits HTML, CSS, and JS simultaneously. Changes stay consistent across the whole project because it sees the whole project.
Structured Execution
Give it a numbered step and it executes exactly that step. It doesn't go rogue and rebuild things you didn't ask it to touch.
Terminal Access
Runs npm commands, firebase deploys, git commits — all without you having to leave VS Code or type a command yourself.
Understands Errors
When something breaks, paste the error into Claude Code. It reads the full project context and finds fixes that make sense for your specific codebase.
No Copy-Paste Required
It edits files directly. You don't copy code out of a chat window and paste it into a file. It writes the code where it needs to go.
Honest Limitations
No tool is perfect. Here's where Claude Code can frustrate you and how to handle it.
Token Consumption
Claude Code uses your Claude Pro/Max tokens. Long sessions with large codebases can burn through your daily limit faster than you expect.
Circular Errors
Sometimes it fixes one bug and introduces another, then tries to fix that and loops. It happens. It's fixable.
Overreach
Occasionally Claude Code will edit something you didn't ask it to touch. Usually it's trying to be helpful, but it can introduce changes that break working features.
Ready to Build?
Get the CLAUDE.md template, fill it out, drop it in VS Code, and tell Claude Code to read it. That's the whole setup.