Step 2 · Set up your agent
App or VS Code?
You can run the agent in two places. The app path runs in a browser with nothing to install, or in the Claude app on your phone. The VS Code path runs on your computer. Pick one now; you can add the other later.
Time: 2 min
The two paths
| The app path | The VS Code path | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Claude Code in the Claude app | VS Code with the Claude Code extension or the Codex extension |
| Where the agent works | On a fresh copy of your repo in the cloud | In a folder on your computer |
| What to install | Nothing in a browser. On a phone, the Claude app. | VS Code and the extension. The agent then installs Git and Node.js for you; the GitHub CLI is optional. On Windows, one setting to allow scripts. |
| Devices | A phone or tablet, any web browser, or the Claude desktop app | A Mac or Windows computer |
| What you do by hand | Sign in, connect GitHub and install the Claude GitHub App, once. Turn on GitHub Pages in your repo's settings on github.com. | Install VS Code and the extension, sign in, and approve the agent's requests. Turn on GitHub Pages on github.com, or let the GitHub CLI do it. |
| Cost | A paid Claude plan: Pro, Max, Team or an Enterprise seat that includes Claude Code | For Claude Code, a paid Claude plan. For Codex, ChatGPT Plus or higher. |
| Best for | Beginners, phones, and the fastest start | Seeing and opening your files on your computer, or using Codex |
Everything else, on both paths, you type or dictate to the agent. GitHub is free on both paths. The free Claude plan doesn't include Claude Code.
Which one?
- New to this, or on a phone? Start with the app path. It's the fastest way to a live site.
- Want to see the files on your computer? Pick the VS Code path. Codex users take this path too.
- Can't decide? You don't have to. Both paths work on the same repo, because the real copy lives on GitHub. Push from one, then pull in the other.
Start your path
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