2026 Latest Claude Code Installation Tutorial: Complete Steps + Configuring Third-Party Models (DeepSeek) ​

Claude Code is Anthropic's powerful AI coding assistant that can be used directly in the terminal or in VS Code. Based on the latest version (tested in January 2026), this tutorial explains in detail the complete Claude Code installation process and how to easily switch to third-party models (such as DeepSeek, Groq, and OpenAI) through the modded Claude Code YOLO plugin, dramatically cutting costs and boosting speed.

This article takes you step by step from scratch through installation and configuration — all steps verified on Windows/macOS/Linux.

1. Install Claude Code ​

1.1 Download and Install Node.js ​

Go to the Node.js official site and download the latest LTS version for your system:

https://nodejs.org/en/download

After installation, open a command line (CMD or PowerShell on Windows, Terminal on macOS/Linux) and run the following commands to verify:

node -v
npm -v

Seeing version numbers means Node.js and npm are installed correctly.

1.2 Install Claude Code Globally ​

Run the following command in PowerShell or Terminal:

npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

1.3 Create the config.json Configuration File ​

Depending on your system, create a .claude folder in the corresponding directory and add config.json:

• Windows: C:\Users\your-username\.claude\
• macOS / Linux: ~/.claude/

File contents (any string works):

{
  "primaryApiKey": "any-string-is-ok-here"
}

One-click creation commands:

• Windows PowerShell:

$path = "$HOME\.claude"; if (!(Test-Path $path)) { New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path $path -Force }; Set-Content -Path "$path\config.json" -Value '{"primaryApiKey": "any-string-is-ok-here"}'

• macOS / Linux:

mkdir -p ~/.claude && echo '{"primaryApiKey": "any-string-is-ok-here"}' > ~/.claude/config.json

1.4 Skip the Onboarding Wizard (Add .claude.json) ​

Create a .claude.json file in your home directory with the following content:

{
  "hasCompletedOnboarding": true
}

Windows one-click add (Node.js must be installed first):

node --eval "
    const os = require('os');
    const path = require('path');
    const fs = require('fs');
    const homeDir = os.homedir();
    const filePath = path.join(homeDir, '.claude.json');
    if (fs.existsSync(filePath)) {
        const content = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(filePath, 'utf-8'));
        fs.writeFileSync(filePath, JSON.stringify({ ...content, hasCompletedOnboarding: true }, null, 2), 'utf-8');
    } else {
        fs.writeFileSync(filePath, JSON.stringify({ hasCompletedOnboarding: true }, null, 2), 'utf-8');
    }"

At this point, the Claude Code terminal version is fully installed.

2. Use Claude Code in VS Code and Configure Third-Party Models ​

2.1 Install VS Code and the Claude Code YOLO Plugin ​

1. Download and install the official VS Code version:
   https://code.visualstudio.com/

2. Open VS Code → Extensions Marketplace (Ctrl+Shift+X) → search for Claude Code YOLO and install it.

The biggest advantage of this modded plugin is its built-in third-party model configuration, with no dependency on official restrictions.

2.2 Launch Claude Code ​

After installation, a Claude icon will appear in the top-right corner of VS Code. Click it to open the sidebar.

2.3 Recommended Setting: Switch to "Ask before edits" Mode ​

This way the AI asks before modifying code, avoiding accidental changes.

2.4 Configure the Third-Party Model API ​

Type / in the Claude Code input box and select API configuration to enter the model configuration page.

Using DeepSeek as an Example: ​

1. Register and log in to the DeepSeek platform:
   https://platform.deepseek.com/api_keys

2. Create an API Key.

3. Fill in the following parameters on the plugin configuration page:

Common third-party model configuration examples (copy-paste ready):

• DeepSeek (recommended, excellent value for money):
  • Base URL: https://api.deepseek.com/v1
  • API Key: Your DeepSeek key
  • Model: deepseek-R1

After configuring, type anything in the input box to test — the AI responding normally means success.

2.5 Verify the Third-Party Model Is Active ​

In VS Code's Claude Code panel or terminal, run the claude command and ask any programming question. Observing the response speed and quality will confirm the third-party model has been switched successfully.

Summary ​

Through the steps above, you have completed the installation of the latest Claude Code and successfully connected a third-party model. Compared with the official version, the combination of the YOLO plugin + a third-party API significantly reduces costs and improves response speed — currently the most practical solution.