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Claude Code Installation Tutorial: Seamless DeepSeek V3/R1 Integration + VS Code YOLO Plugin Configuration Guide

1/27/2026 Claude Code installationDeepSeek API configurationVS Code plugin recommendationsClaude Code YOLOAI coding assistantDeepSeek R1Node.js environment setup

Abstract/Overview: This article details the installation steps for the latest 2026 version of Claude Code. By using the Claude Code YOLO VS Code plugin, you can bypass official restrictions and easily switch to cost-effective third-party models such as DeepSeek V3/R1. The tutorial covers Node.js environment setup, Config file modification, and the full API Key integration process.

# 1. Environment preparation: install Node.js

Claude Code depends on the Node.js environment, so the first step is to make sure your system has Node.js properly installed.

# 1.1 Download and install

Go to the Node.js official website and download the version for your operating system (we recommend the LTS — long-term support — version): node.js official site

# 1.2 Verify the installation

After installation, we need to verify that the environment is working.

  1. Open Command Prompt (CMD) or a terminal.
  2. Run the following commands to check the version numbers:
node -v
npm -v

If version numbers appear (as shown below), Node.js and npm have been installed successfully. cmd

# 2. Core steps: install and configure Claude Code

# 2.1 Install Claude Code globally

In PowerShell (Windows) or Terminal (macOS/Linux), run the following npm command to install globally: Install

npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

# 2.2 Configure the authentication file (bypass official login)

For Claude Code to run properly and support custom models, we need to manually create a configuration file.

File path notes:

  • Windows: C:\Users\YourUsername\.claude\config.json
  • macOS / Linux: ~/.claude/config.json

Create a new config.json in the corresponding folder and fill in the following content (the goal is to skip the official Key validation): config.json

{
  "primaryApiKey": "any-string-is-ok-here"
}

⚡️ Quick installation script (recommended):

If you don't want to create the file manually, just copy and run the following command in your terminal:

  • Windows (PowerShell):
$path = "$HOME\.claude"; if (!(Test-Path $path)) { New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path $path -Force }; Set-Content -Path "$path\config.json" -Value '{"primaryApiKey": "any-string-is-ok-here"}'
  • macOS / Linux:
mkdir -p ~/.claude && echo '{"primaryApiKey": "any-string-is-ok-here"}' > ~/.claude/config.json

# 2.3 Skip the onboarding flow

To prevent a welcome screen from popping up on every launch, we need to modify or create the .claude.json file.

  • Windows: located in the current user's home directory.
  • macOS/Linux: located in the ~/.claude/ directory.

.claude.json

Add the following configuration to .claude.json:

{
  "hasCompletedOnboarding": true
}

⚡️ One-click Windows configuration script:

node --eval "
    const homeDir = os.homedir();
    const filePath = path.join(homeDir, '.claude.json');
    const fs = require('fs'); // 补充缺失的require
    const path = require('path');
    if (fs.existsSync(filePath)) {
        const content = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(filePath, 'utf-8'));
        fs.writeFileSync(filePath, JSON.stringify({ ...content, hasCompletedOnboarding: true }, null, 2), 'utf-8');
    } else {
        fs.writeFileSync(filePath, JSON.stringify({ hasCompletedOnboarding: true }), 'utf-8');
    }"

# 3. Advanced: configure third-party models (DeepSeek) for Claude

To lower costs and use high-performance domestic models, we'll use a VS Code plugin to take over Claude Code's model calls.

# 3.1 Install the Claude Code YOLO plugin

claude code YOLO

  1. Download and install Visual Studio Code (VS Code): https://code.visualstudio.com/ (opens new window)
  2. Open VS Code and click the "Extensions" icon on the left side.
  3. Search for the keyword Claude Code YOLO.
  4. Click install. This is a modified plugin that lets users customize the API Endpoint and model.

# 3.2 Launch and mode settings

102.jpeg

After installation, a Claude icon will appear in the top-right corner of VS Code.

  1. Click the icon to launch Claude Code.
  2. Important: switch the Task Mode to Ask before edits, which prevents the AI from freely modifying your code and improves safety. Mode switch

# 3.3 Configure the DeepSeek API

This is the most critical step — we'll replace the default model with DeepSeek (or OpenAI, Groq, etc.).

  1. Type / in the Claude Code input box and select API configuration. API configuration
  2. Open the DeepSeek open platform (opens new window) to register and apply for an API Key. Apply for an API key
  3. Fill in the configuration parameters:
  • API Provider: select Compatible / Custom
  • Base URL: https://api.deepseek.com (fill in according to DeepSeek's official documentation)
  • API Key (Token): enter the key starting with sk-xxxx that you just applied for.
  • Model ID: enter deepseek-chat or deepseek-coder. Fill in the API configuration parameters

# 3.4 Final test

After configuration, enter any command in the input box (for example: "write a Hello World in Python"), or run claude on the command line in PowerShell. If the AI replies normally, congratulations! You've successfully set up a low-cost Claude Code development environment.

# Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Why use the Claude Code YOLO plugin? A: Official Claude Code is tied to Anthropic's expensive billing, while the YOLO modified plugin lets developers integrate cost-effective third-party models like DeepSeek, dramatically reducing token consumption costs.

Q: What should I do if I get an API Error after configuring? A: Check that your Base URL is correct (without extra spaces) and make sure your DeepSeek account has sufficient balance.