Is it better to use Claude Code in Visual Studio Code or in the terminal?

Hey everyone! I’ve recently started using Claude Code more seriously, and I’m trying to figure out what the better workflow is in the long run: using Claude Code directly inside VS Code, or running it separately from the terminal . I can see the advantages of both approaches, but I haven’t really developed a strong preference yet. With VS Code, I like the idea of having everything in one place. You have the file tree, editor, diffs, terminal, and Claude Code all together, so it feels easier to keep track of what Claude is doing and review the changes as they happen. For larger features or more complex refactoring, I can see this being really useful. On the other hand, using Claude Code directly from the terminal feels more lightweight and flexible. You’re not as tied to the IDE, it seems easier to switch between projects or sessions, and the workflow feels more like a traditional command-line development environment. I could also see it being less distracting once you get used to it. But I’m not sure which approach actually works better after using it for weeks or months , rather than just trying both for a few hours. So I’d really like to hear from people who use Claude Code regularly: Do you primarily use it inside VS Code or from the terminal? Why did you choose that workflow? Do you find VS Code significantly better for certain types of tasks? Are there things that are noticeably easier or faster from the terminal? Does your preference change when working on larger codebases? Do you use any particular VS Code extensions or setup alongside Claude Code? How important is it for you to have the editor, file tree, and diffs visible while Claude is working? How do you handle multiple Claude Code sessions or multiple projects? If you had to start over today, would you choose VS Code or terminal? Do any of you actually use a combination of both? I’m especially interested in hearing from people who have used both workflows extensively , rather than just people who have tried one and prefer it. Also curious whether there’s a workflow I’m missing. For example, maybe some people run Claude Code entirely from the terminal but keep VS Code open mainly for reviewing/editing the code, or use VS Code for some tasks and the terminal for others. What’s your preferred Claude Code setup — VS Code or terminal — and what made you stick with it?