Claude Code Skills vs VS Code Extensions
Two different philosophies. Skills are AI-first. Extensions are editor-first. Here's how they compare.
Claude Code Skills
AI-native workflows that teach Claude expert patterns. Works in terminal, no GUI required.
VS Code Extensions
Editor plugins that add visual features to VS Code. Rich UI integration.
Key insight: Skills and Extensions solve different problems. Skills make Claude smarter. Extensions make VS Code more powerful. Many developers use both together.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Skills | Extensions | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI Integration | Native (built for Claude) | Varies (plugin dependent) | |
| Context Understanding | Full codebase context | File/selection only | |
| Setup Time | 30 seconds (drop folder) | 1-5 minutes (install + config) | |
| Customization | Edit markdown files | JSON settings or GUI | |
| UI Integration | CLI-based | Full GUI (panels, menus) | |
| Multi-step Workflows | Native (agentic) | Limited (task-based) | |
| Language Server | Uses Claude Code LSP | Language-specific LSPs | |
| Ecosystem Size | 4,600+ skills | 50,000+ extensions |
Unique Advantages
Skills Excel At...
- AI-native: Built specifically for Claude Code workflows
- Context-aware: Understands your entire codebase
- Agentic: Handles multi-step tasks autonomously
- Portable: Works across any machine with Claude Code
- Simple: Just markdown files, no compilation
Extensions Excel At...
- Visual UI: Panels, menus, and status bars
- Ecosystem: 50,000+ extensions available
- Language tools: Dedicated language servers
- Debugging: Integrated debugging tools
- Git UI: Visual git operations
The Bottom Line
"Use Skills when you want Claude to be smarter. Use Extensions when you want VS Code to do more."
For AI-powered development: Skills are the clear winner. They're designed from the ground up for Claude Code and provide the deepest AI integration available.
For traditional tooling: VS Code Extensions still dominate for language servers, debugging, and visual git tools.
Best practice: Use Claude Code + Skills for AI workflows, and keep your favorite VS Code extensions for specialized tooling.
Experience AI-First Development
Browse 4,600+ Skills designed specifically for Claude Code and start shipping 60X faster.