Agent SDK & IDE Integrations

Two distinct products, one common framework

Claude Code CLI is the command-line tool for developers. Claude Agent SDK is Anthropic’s framework for building Claude-powered developer tools in other environments. These are two separate products that share the same agent execution engine.

The architectural implication: IDE integrations (VS Code, Xcode, JetBrains) are not ports of Claude Code CLI. They use the same Agent SDK as Claude Code, but expose capabilities through the IDE’s native interface.

Available IDE integrations

VS Code: extension available in the marketplace. Activated via Ctrl+Shift+P > Claude Code: Start Session or by selecting code for Ask Claude.

JetBrains (IntelliJ, WebStorm, PyCharm): plugin installable via Settings > Plugins. Persistent window accessible via Ctrl+Shift+A > Claude Code.

Xcode (v2.1.32+, Feb 2026): the most recent integration. Xcode 26.3 RC+ includes native support for the Claude Agent SDK, exposing the same capabilities as the CLI directly in the Apple IDE. Configuration via Xcode > Preferences > Claude.

IDE integration pattern via MCP

The architectural rule: IDE integrations go through a local MCP server, not the Agent SDK directly. A local MCP server exposes IDE capabilities (open file context, selection, diagnostics) to Claude, which can then use them as tools.

IDE ──→ Local MCP Server ──→ Claude Agent SDK
       (exposes: active file,  (reasons, generates,
        selection, diagnostics)  modifies)

This pattern ensures that IDE integrations follow the same permission and security conventions as standard MCPs.

Most-used MCPs (Jan. 2026)

Figma MCP: Claude accesses Figma designs directly, generates components that visually match mockups without an intermediate screenshot. Useful for reducing the design/implementation gap.

Linear MCP: tickets and their context are accessible in Claude without manually copy-pasting specs. Claude can reference a ticket in its reasoning.

MCP vetting rules before installation

# 1. Check the source (stars, recent activity)
gh repo view <mcp-repo>

# 2. Check the version (never use "latest")
# Always pin: @1.2.3 not @latest

# 3. Scan if available
npx mcp-scan ./skill-directory

Never approve an MCP from an unknown source without verification. Once approved, updates execute without re-consent (the “rug pull” vector documented in security-hardening.md).

Custom Agent SDK use cases

The Agent SDK allows building integrations beyond standard IDEs: CI/CD tools that call Claude for PR analysis, code quality dashboards, automated review systems. Official documentation is available at code.claude.com/docs.