Claude Code on the web
The web version connects to a repository on GitHub, clones it into an isolated cloud environment, and runs the agent there. You describe a task, it works asynchronously, and the result comes back as a branch or pull request. It is the right surface for kicking off several independent tasks, and for working from a machine that has no toolchain installed. It is the wrong surface for anything that needs your local services, databases or secrets.
The desktop app
The desktop app wraps the CLI in a native window: multiple sessions side by side, file and diff previews, and no terminal knowledge required. It uses the same configuration, so ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL and a gateway key set in your shell profile apply to it as well.
How to use Claude Code in VS Code (and JetBrains)
Install the Claude Code extension from the VS Code marketplace (or the JetBrains plugin), open a project, and click the Claude icon in the sidebar — the CLI is installed on first launch if it is missing. Select code and it is passed as context; ask for a change and the diff appears inline for you to accept or reject. It reads the same environment as the terminal, so a gateway key in your shell profile applies inside the editor too; run /status in the panel to confirm the endpoint.
The extensions open Claude Code in a panel inside the editor. Selected code becomes context automatically, edits show as inline diffs you accept or reject, and the CLI is installed for you on first launch. For day-to-day editing this is where most people settle.
Which one for which job
- Long autonomous refactors, scripts, CI → terminal (print mode) or the Agent SDK.
- Several parallel tasks on a repo you are not currently editing → web.
- Interactive pair-programming → editor extension.
- A GUI without an editor → desktop app.
Gateway on every surface
The terminal, desktop app and editor extensions all honour the environment's ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL and key, so a gateway account works across them unchanged. The web version runs in Anthropic's cloud and uses the account you are signed in with there.
Frequently asked questions
Does Claude Code have a GUI?
Yes: the desktop app, the web interface, and the VS Code and JetBrains extensions. The terminal is one of five surfaces.
Is Claude Code on the web the same as the CLI?
Same agent, different environment: the web version runs in a cloud sandbox against a GitHub repository, so it cannot reach your local machine.
Can I use a gateway key with the VS Code extension?
Yes — it reads the same environment variables as the CLI.
Run Claude Code on the gateway
Same models, two environment variables, credits at 7.69× face value — or a flat-rate unlimited plan.
Get an API key See unlimited plansAI Prime Tech is an independent API gateway and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Anthropic. “Claude” and “Claude Code” are trademarks of Anthropic. Claude Code features described here follow Anthropic’s public documentation at the time of writing and change frequently; prices and model lists on this page are read from this gateway’s live settings.