VibeYoga

HKUST(GZ) vibe coding hackathon for skills, tools, and agent harnesses

AI Coding Tool Setup Guide

This guide covers installation and configuration of mainstream AI coding tools, tailored for university students in China.

Network note: Some tools require access to overseas services. Make sure you have a working proxy (e.g. Clash, V2Ray). Common default ports: Clash 7890, V2Ray 10808.

Windows users: Except for Cursor, terminal tools are recommended to run inside WSL 2 (same experience as macOS / Linux). To install WSL: open PowerShell (Admin), run wsl --install, restart, and follow the prompts. All terminal commands below apply to macOS / Linux / WSL.

Comparison

Tool Type Cost Highlights Payment
Claude Code Terminal CLI $20/mo (Pro) – $200/mo (Max) Highest quality, autonomous planning & execution Requires non-mainland China credit card
Codex CLI Terminal CLI Included with ChatGPT Plus ($20/mo) Open-source (Rust), good value Works with existing OpenAI account
OpenCode Terminal CLI Free tool (built-in free models available) Open-source, 75+ model providers, bring your own API key Zero-cost entry, or pay per model

1. Claude Code - Best Support for Skills and Harnesses

Claude Code is Anthropic’s official AI coding assistant. It can autonomously plan, edit, run tests, call tools, and fix issues, which makes it a strong fit for skill-plus-tool harnesses. Available as a terminal CLI, VS Code / JetBrains extension, desktop app, and web interface.

Docs: code.claude.com/docs

Note: Claude Code subscription requires a non-mainland China credit card (e.g. Hong Kong or US card, or a virtual card service).

1.1 Installation

See the official setup guide. Quick install:

curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash
claude doctor       # verify installation

1.2 Authentication

On first run of claude, follow the prompts to log in with a Claude Pro or Max account. See claude.ai/pricing for plans.

2. Codex CLI — OpenAI Terminal Tool

Codex CLI is OpenAI’s open-source (Apache-2.0) terminal AI coding assistant, written in Rust. If you already have a ChatGPT Plus account, you can use it at no extra cost.

Repository: github.com/openai/codex

Best for: Users with an existing OpenAI account.

2.1 Installation

See the official setup guide. Supports npm, Homebrew, and direct binary download.

3. OpenCode — Open-Source Free Terminal Tool

OpenCode is a fully open-source (MIT) AI coding assistant supporting 75+ model providers. It’s ideal for:

Website: opencode.ai GitHub: github.com/anomalyco/opencode

Pros: Free tool; start with built-in free models, or plug in your own API key. Cons: Quality depends on the chosen model; generally not as good as Claude Code.

3.1 Installation

See the official setup guide. Quick install:

curl -fsSL https://opencode.ai/install | bash

Also available via Homebrew (brew install opencode-ai/tap/opencode), Go install, and AUR.

In addition to the international models above:

FAQ

Q: Proxy is configured but still can’t connect? A: Check the following:

  1. Is your proxy software running (e.g. Clash, V2Ray)?
  2. Is the port correct (Clash default 7890, V2Ray default 10808)?
  3. Run curl -I https://api.anthropic.com to test connectivity.
  4. If using Pandafan, enable “Enhanced Mode” for the proxy to work properly.

Q: Should Windows users use WSL or native? A: We recommend WSL 2 (wsl --install). Terminal tools (Claude Code, Codex CLI, OpenCode) work the same as on macOS / Linux under WSL. Cursor is a standalone IDE — install it natively on Windows.

Q: Should I use Chinese or English when coding with AI? A: English reportedly produces better results.