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Terminal - VSCODE extension comparison

This document lists the available features using claude code in a linux terminal and via vscode extension.

It can change in newer versions

Ways to open claude code

From a linux terminal

Open a linux terminal and type "claude" or CTRL+P + "Claude Code: Open in Terminal" (needs the claude code extension installed)

From the vscode terminal

Open a vscode terminal and type "claude"

Using the vscode extension tab

  • Via Ctrl+Esc shortcut.
  • Click the Claude Code icon

There is a vscode setting that changes this behaviour and make this icon open the vscode terminal, not the extension tab

"claude-code.useTerminal": true
  • CTRL+P + "Claude Code: Open in new tab"

Slash Commands table

Features terminal vscode extension Description
/ ✅ ✅ Show all available features
/add-dir ✅ ❌ Add a new working directory
/agents ✅ ❌ Manage agent configurations
/bashes ✅ ❌ List and manage background tasks
/clear ✅ ✅ Clear conversation history and free up context
/command ✅ ✅ Execute a command
/compact ✅ ✅ Clear conversation history but keep a summary in context
/config ✅ ❌ Open config panel
/context ✅ ✅ Visualize current context usage as a colored grid
/cost ✅ ✅ Show the total cost and duration of the current session
/doctor ✅ ❌ Diagnose and verify your Claude Code installation and settings
/exit ✅ ❌ Exit the REPL
/export ✅ ❌ Export the current conversation to a file or clipboard
/feedback ✅ ❌ Submit feedback about Claude Code
/help ✅ ❌ Show help and available commands
/hooks ✅ ❌ Manage hook configurations for tool events
/ide ✅ ❌ Manage IDE integrations and show status
/init ✅ ✅ Initialize a new CLAUDE.md file with codebase documentation
/install-github-app ✅ ❌ Set up Claude GitHub Actions for a repository
/login ✅ ✅ Sign in with your Anthropic account
/logout ✅ ❌ Sign out from your Anthropic account
/mcp ✅ ✅ Manage MCP servers
/migrate-installer ✅ ❌ Migrate from global npm installation to local installation
/model ✅ ✅ Set the AI model for Claude Code
/output-style ✅ ❌ Set the output style directly or from a selection menu
/output-style:new ✅ ✅ Create a custom output style
/permissions ✅ ❌ Manage allow & deny tool permission rules
/pr-comments ✅ ✅ Get comments from a GitHub pull request
/privacy-settings ✅ ❌ View and update your privacy settings
/release-notes ✅ ✅ View release notes
/resume ✅ ✅ Resume a conversation
/review ✅ ✅ Review a pull request
/security-review ✅ ✅ Complete a security review of the pending changes on the current branch
/status ✅ ❌ Show Claude Code status including version, model, account, API connectivity, and tool statuses
/statusline ✅ ❌ Set up Claude Code's status line UI
/terminal-setup ✅ ❌ Install Shift+Enter key binding for newlines
/todos ✅ ✅ List current todo items
/upgrade ✅ ❌ Upgrade to Max for higher rate limits and more Opus
/usage ✅ ❌ Check plan usage limits
/vim ✅ ❌ Toggle between Vim and Normal editing modes

Keyboard shortcuts

Shortcuts terminal vscode extension Description
! ✅ ❌ Shortcut to run bash commands directly
# ✅ ❌ Shortcut to add to memory
@ ✅ ✅ Mention a file
\ + ENTER ✅ ❌ Multiline input (quick escape, all terminals)
ALT+CTRL+K ✅ ❌ Mention a focused file
Attach a file ❌ ✅
CTRL+B ✅ ❌ Move bash command to background
CTRL+C ✅ ❌ Cancel current input or generation
CTRL+D ✅ ❌ Exit Claude Code session
CTRL+J ✅ ❌ Line feed character (multiline input)
CTRL+L ✅ ❌ Clear terminal screen
CTRL+R ✅ ❌ Reverse search command history
ESC + ESC ✅ ❌ Rewind code/conversation
SHIFT+ENTER ✅ ❌ Multiline input (after /terminal-setup)
SHIFT+TAB ✅ ❌ Cycle through modes: Default → Auto-Accept (⏵⏵) → Plan Mode (⏸) → Default...
TAB ✅ ❌ Toggle extended thinking
Up/Down arrows ✅ ❌ Navigate command history
  • Optimize your terminal setup

https://docs.claude.com/en/docs/claude-code/terminal-config

  • Interactive mode

https://docs.claude.com/en/docs/claude-code/interactive-mode

  • Visual Studio Code

https://docs.claude.com/en/docs/claude-code/vs-code