VSCode with Claude Code or GitHup Copilot

Overview: I have seen people really struggling with understanding that Claude is not GitHub Copilot (GHCP).  And GitHub Copilot is not an LLM. 

Terminology: 

Claude by Anthropic is made up of various parts, and it helps to be more specific.  Calusde is amazing at providing great Large Language Models (LLMs).  There are Claude Opus (for programming the lastest us 4.7), Claud Sonnet, and Claude Haiku.  GPT-5.4 is OpenAI's current flagship LLM.  Gemini 3.1 Pro is known for UI-focused coding. I found Gemini 3.0 good, but I don't use it that often.   

Claude also offers other services beyond supplying LLMs like Claude Code and Claude CLI.  These are the key ones for me:

Claude in Chrome — a browsing agent

Cowork — a desktop tool for non-developers to automate file and task management, rival to Microsoft 365 Copilot.

GitHub Copilot for VS Code is the equivalent of Claude Code for VS Code

Developing in VS Code:

In the screen below, I am using both Claude Code and GitHub Copilot in the VS Code IDE.

Here I have some C# code that creates and deploys an Azure Function. I can use either option until I run out of credits with my monthly (GHCP) or hourly (Claude) subscription allowance.  When I go over my GHCP allowance, I have it set up to use my Azure Credits.

Playwright Agents in VS Code

I started looking at the latest version of Playwright late last night. The Agents add-in for VS Code is amazing.  I can't stop improving my code, my tests, and my automation.  It is highly addictive.

Playwright 1.56.1 includes the new Playwright CLI, which has the test agents as shown in VS Code above:

Node: v22.21.0
npx: 11.6.2
Playwright test package: ^1.56.1

AI for developers and Architects

The cost of prototypes is unbelievably low using AI. 

Rapidly creating a prototype, especially with new or less well-known technology, is where I derive significant benefits from AI.

How to build application prototypes?

1. Write /reverse prompt/Adjust instructions into md file
2. Agentic AI (specialising in Doc Extraction) to extract and refine from md file
3. Run using IDE-based copilot (VS Code with GitHub Copilot) (AmazonQ) (Cursor, Windsurf, Steamlit) 

Thoughts: Developers are adjusting to using Ai to support software solutions.  The developer role will continue the trend of making technical implementation more accessible, allowing knowledgeable IT engineers or domain experts to build faster and better than citizen/amateur developers.  Ai assists in complex decisions!  

What needs to improve?

• Knowledge is key.  AI needs to have narrow expertise at the right time. i.e. only domain knowledge, not influenced by other data.  Quality of input data used to train.  Allows for dynamic reasoning.
• Session/long-term contact agreement/understanding to improve the understanding between your IDE and me.  Remember how I prompt and provide feedback on how I digest information.  Context between the human developer and Ai is Paramount.
• Control of IDE integration with coding copilots, clear return to the user developer to make better decisions.  Context is Paramount.
• Governance & Data (Connectors, API's, code complex processes (MCP maybe), quality of data).

Retrieval Augmentation Generate (RAG)

AI needs to be able to connect to my existing Tool Landscape:
I use Azure, C#, Playwright, and GitLab.  I want my IDE to work with these tools and many more.  MCP servers publish their functionality, and I can connect my Copilot/Agent to use multiple MCP servers.  This is what GHCP does for VS Code, allowing you to add MCP clients dynamically to use existing MCP Servers. 

Model Context Protocol (MCP) MCP is a protocol (created by Anthropic) that allows an MCP client to connect to an MCP server, which in turn provides specialist knowledge. Authentication should use OAuth to secure access. My Applications/Agents use the MCP to ask the MCP Server, 'What can you do?' so they know how to use it.  The MCP server allows you to interact with a system.  It is often referred to as the "Arms and Legs" of AI. The MCP Server, when built, informs the client of its capabilities and then performs actions, such as updates, via an API.   Summary: Use MCP to enable the client to communicate with other resources/tools. NB: An Agent can utilise multiple MCP Servers.

Agents-to-agent (A2A) 

A2A allows agents to work together.  So two agents can leverage each other; the other agent solves the issue and returns the answer for the first agent to use.  Whereas MCP allows any agent to speak to a source.  Agents complete a task and give it back to the calling agent. 

 

Summary: Use A2A to talk to specialised Agents, and the agent returns the calling agent's answers.

Pulumi to create App Insights on Azure with VS Code

Overview: Provision Azure App Insights using Pulumi on VS Code using TypeScript, code generate by Pulumi's AI web code engine.  It is so lovely. 

Series on Pulumi:

Introduction and setup Pulumi on VS Code

Pulumi to create App Insights on Azure with VS Code (This post)

OpenAPI Tooling working with WebAPI and APIM Notes

Editor.swagger.io is a great tool for building OAS files.  The Swagger editor is easy to use and has a preview for changes.

VS Code is a great IDE for working with OpenAPI  specification 2.0 and 3.0 files (also know and Swagger specification).  These 3 extensions are a good idea for working with a OpenAPI specification file.

Spotlight also has an editor which is nice.  Takes a little bit of getting use to, but make complex API design first easier.

Azure Powershell from VS Code

Overview:  I am moving over to using Visual Studio code for everything including PowerShell.  Historically, I would use PowerGUI as it was the best IDE for PS for many years but PS ISE is excellent and I don't see a material difference these days.  Basically, I use VS code for my ISE for JS, SPFx, C# unless the full versions of Visual Studio speed up my delivery rate, this allows me to remain in VS code without going to PowerGUI or 1 of the Windows PS consoles/IDE.

Get the VS code debugger working: 

Get the IDE (VS Code) ready
On a new VS Code install, add the VS Extension "PowerShell", the VSIX has the description "Develop PowerShell scripts in Visual Studio Code!"

Run and Verify PS is working and output returned is working

Add the Azure Account Extension

Sign into Azure

A notification pops up to authenticate the machine/laptop with you Miscrofot credentials.  Run the popup and sign in to authenticate the local dev IDE.

 Open the Cloud Shell

Verify you are signed in

Visual Studio Code - IDE Tips

VS Code - Short cuts

Ctrl + S = Save the current page

Alt+ Shift + A = Comment out multiple lines

Ctrl + / = Comment out a single line of code, same cmd to toggle the comment off

VS Code is perfect for comparing two files.  Select the two source file, right click > Select to Compare >