Claude CLI Companion

A VS Code extension that bridges your editor and the Claude Code CLI. Send precise file references to Claude with a single keybind.

Features

Send file context to Claude (Cmd+L / Ctrl+L)

Press the keybind while your cursor is in the editor. The extension sends a native Claude Code @file:lines reference to your Claude terminal — no raw code pasted, minimum tokens, maximum accuracy.

• No selection — focuses the Claude terminal
• Selection — sends @src/utils.ts:38-55 (line range)

Claude Code resolves the reference directly without an extra tool call, keeping your prompt clean and token-efficient.

Open Claude terminal and send context (Cmd+Shift+L / Ctrl+Shift+L)

Same as above, but creates a new terminal named claude code and starts the Claude CLI automatically if no Claude terminal is open yet.

Requirements

• Claude Code CLI installed and accessible as claude in your PATH
• A terminal open in VS Code whose name contains claude (case-insensitive) — the CLI names its terminal Claude by default

Note: The extension identifies the Claude terminal by looking for the word claude in the terminal name. If Cmd+L shows a "no terminal found" warning, check that Claude Code is running and its terminal tab is named something containing claude. Use Cmd+Shift+L to automatically create and name a terminal correctly if one isn't open yet.

Keybindings

Both shortcuts trigger only when the text editor has focus (editorTextFocus).

Note: Cmd+L / Ctrl+L is bound to Expand Line Selection in VS Code by default. To use this extension's binding, open Keyboard Shortcuts (Cmd+K Cmd+S), search for expandLineSelection, and remove or rebind that entry.

How it works

1. Select lines in the editor
2. Press Cmd+L — the extension writes @src/yourfile.ts:startLine-endLine into the Claude terminal input (without pressing Enter)
3. Finish typing your prompt and submit
4. Claude reads the exact lines referenced and responds

Release Notes

0.0.1

Initial release.

• @file:lines reference format for token-efficient context passing
• Auto-create Claude terminal on Cmd+Shift+L