Install Idea Builder for VS Code
Idea Builder installs like any other VS Code extension. Here’s how to find it — and how to be sure you’re installing the real thing.
Install from inside VS Code
- Open VS Code and go to the Extensions view — the square icon in the Activity Bar, or press Ctrl + Shift + X (Cmd + Shift + X on Mac).
- In the search box, type Idea Builder.
- Pick the result published by barryweber with the bar-chart icon below. Click Install.
- Once it’s installed, open the Command Palette (Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + P) and run “Idea Builder: Enter License Key”, then paste the key from your purchase email.
Make sure it’s the right one. The correct listing is published by barryweber and uses the three-bar icon shown here. If a result has a different publisher or icon, it isn’t Idea Builder — don’t install it.
Want to check the listing first?
You can also view the listing in your browser on the VS Code Marketplace to confirm the publisher and icon before you search for it in the editor.
Before you start
Idea Builder drives Claude Code sessions inside VS Code, so you’ll need Claude Code installed and signed in. Activation needs a connection just once; after that Idea Builder works offline. Don’t have a key yet? Get your license key.