"Why is my Claude Code different from his Claude Code, even though both of us are using VS Code?"

This is one of the questions I get from my Claude Code workshop for non-techies.

So I thought it is good to write about this with a video.

There are 3 ways to use Claude Code:

1. With pure Terminal / PowerShell

2. Within the Terminal of an IDE (VS Code, Cursor, Zed, and more)

3. With the Agent Panel of an IDE

I encourage most learners to use Claude Code in Terminal (either option 1 or 2, not 3).

Why?

1. It is the “zen” way to use Claude Code.

Terminal is what Anthropic designs and ships first. The Agent Panel of an IDE is a 3rd party harness wrapping Claude Code. The native experience just feels cleaner.

2. Terminal gives you next-prompt suggestions.

After Claude Code finishes a task, Terminal usually suggests the next prompt for you. Just Tab and Enter to continue. The Agent Panel usually doesn’t have this. Small thing, but it adds up over hundreds of prompts.

3. It prevents tool lock-in.

If you master Terminal, you can switch from Claude Code to other providers like Codex easily. Same workflow. Same muscle memory.

4. AI providers are cutting 3rd party harnesses.

Recently, Anthropic just cut off Zed - their Agent Panel can no longer use Claude Pro/Max plans.

https://lnkd.in/gFHaSgRj

If you were doing your daily work inside Zed’s Agent Panel with a Pro plan, you got disrupted overnight.

I think this pattern will continue. Providers want users on the native experience where they control the UX, the context, and the agent loop. The 3rd party harness layer is the most disruptable.

If you are just starting with Claude Code, my advice is to skip the Agent Panel and start with Terminal.

And don’t worry, Terminal is not as scary as it looks. You only need one command to start Claude Code. After that, it is just chatting with AI like you always do on the web. A learner in my workshop asked: “So simple?” after seeing the step.

#AI #ClaudeCode #VibeCoding

If you want to learn the foundations of Claude Code hands-on (including the Terminal setup), my next workshop is open. Cohort #3 on 4 June, 1:30pm to 5:30pm, is the last at the launch price of $268.

Check out details at https://lnkd.in/e9r8kScw