The same Claude Code underneath. Only the window around it differs.
CLI
The original. Type claude in a terminal. Everything else here is this same program.
Claude Desktop
Anthropic’s own app, with four versions of Claude. Claude Code Local is the version that matches.
IDE extension
An embedding of Claude Code in a software development tool, for example VS Code or JetBrains.
Academic Studio
A specialized build of VS Code, that strips out tools we don’t need for using Claude and adds a Claude menu and pre-installed extensions.
Download for your machine at academic-studio.com and run it — on Windows an installer, on a Mac a disk image you drag into Applications. Accept the license agreement and all the defaults.
If Windows objects
SmartScreen may say it protected your PC. Choose More Info, then Run Anyway — you may have to expand the More Info box before the button appears.
On a Mac
A warning here too, but a milder one. Because the build is signed and notarized, macOS asks rather than blocks — are you sure you want to open an app downloaded from the internet? Choose Open.
On first launch, Run Setup — from the Welcome tab, or Help → Run Setup.
Choose a profile and then check or uncheck anything you want. Apply for the extensions, then Install Selected Programs for the supporting software.
Like Claude Desktop, Academic Studio uses Claude inside a folder.
Open the folder you want to work in from the Welcome tab or File → Open Folder. Claude Code opens automatically beside it.
On first use, you need to connect to your Anthropic account.
Enter /login at the prompt window and follow the instructions. Your $20 Pro account will work fine (same as Claude Desktop).
From the Welcome tab or Help → Tour of Academic Studio, take the tour — a short slide deck explaining how to work in Academic Studio
Tell Claude you are working in Academic Studio and give Claude the link academic-studio.com. Then ask Claude for help on anything about working in Academic Studio.