VS Code + Claude experience

[Didier99]

I started using Claude Code with VS Code a week ago. It has been a life changing experience. The project was migrating an embedded system from an 8051 to an ESP32, while (of course) adding new features. I did in a weekend what I had anticipated would take 1-2 months (of working at home on weekends and evenings) and it was pleasant, unlike rewriting code you have already written. The refactoring alone was absolutely on point. I would guess a 10x to 20x multiplier compared to writing code the old fashion way (you know, the way you actually do write code yourself like we used to do in the old days). I would expect the multiplier to increase once I get better used to it.

Claude code is easy to read, documented, functionally and logically broken down and organised, and typically runs the first time. If something is missing, I tell Claude what's missing and it has very rarely taken more than one fix for each step.

And I am barely scratching the surface (no skills or agents yet.)

For those who have not tried it yet, you ought to.

Interesting anecdote: I wanted to archive the conversation I had with Claude because it was so fascinating. So I googled it. Google came back with a relatively onerous procedure where I had to download and configure another extension, and check several files by myself to see how they were setup. I started that and quickly gave up. Instead, I asked Claude to archive the conversation in an html file with the same color coding as the conversation itself in the terminal. Which Claude did. I checked the html file and it was what I expected. When it was done, I told it that I may want to do that again so to streamline the process. Claude created a python program that automatically archive the current conversation for any project I am working on. Voila!

 

[MichalK73]

How did you find CloudeCode's pricing for your project?
I considered using it, but the cost of writing a small Python app was about $15.

I've now purchased DeepSeek 4 (DS4) for $5 as a trial. I generated an API key and connected it via a plugin designed for DS4 that connects to VSCode's Copilot. I had them write the same app as before. It was a bit different, but it worked. It cost 25 cents.

Yesterday, I tried this method to see if it worked with B4X in VSCode and the plugin: https://www.b4x.com/android/forum/threads/b4x-vs-code-b4x-ide-companion-%E2%80%94-a-complete-tutorial-for-cross-platform.170777/
Surprisingly, DS4 handles our B4X code remarkably well. In my large project with ABMaterial, I asked him to add new features: buttons, edit fields, and implement the logic according to the specified rules. He did everything well. He placed the code where it should be and created almost perfect user logic. Perhaps if I had been more specific, the results would have been better. Overall, it was a positive experience.