Set up Claude Code

Anthropic's terminal coding agent. Set two environment variables to run it on CherryChat's Claude models

• API format: Anthropic Messages
• Base URL format: Domain only (https://gpt.cherrychat.org)
• Recommended model: claude-sonnet-5-5, claude-opus-5-5
• Background model: claude-haiku-5-5
• Platforms: macOS, Windows, Linux, VS Code, JetBrains

Steps

1. Install Claude Code (skip if installed)

   Open Terminal on macOS or PowerShell on Windows, paste the matching command and press Enter. Run claude --version afterwards to confirm. If the script download fails, install with npm instead (requires Node.js 22 or later).

   macOS / Linux

   curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash

   Windows (PowerShell)

   irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex

   Or install with npm

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

2. Option 1 (recommended): settings.json

   Open ~/.claude/settings.json in your home folder (%USERPROFILE%\.claude\settings.json on Windows) with the command below and paste the block in. If the file already has content, merge only the "env" section instead of overwriting it. The file is strict JSON: no comments and no trailing commas. This applies to every terminal and to the VS Code / JetBrains extensions.

   • ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL (API address): https://gpt.cherrychat.org (Domain only, without /v1)
   • ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN (API key): sk-your-key
   • ANTHROPIC_MODEL (main model): claude-sonnet-5-5
   • ANTHROPIC_DEFAULT_HAIKU_MODEL (background model): claude-haiku-5-5 (Used for titles, summaries and other background tasks; cheap and fast)

   Open the file (macOS)

   mkdir -p ~/.claude && touch ~/.claude/settings.json && open -e ~/.claude/settings.json

   Open the file (Windows)

   mkdir $HOME\.claude -Force; notepad $HOME\.claude\settings.json

   settings.json content

   {
     "env": {
       "ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL": "https://gpt.cherrychat.org",
       "ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN": "sk-your-key",
       "ANTHROPIC_MODEL": "claude-sonnet-5-5",
       "ANTHROPIC_DEFAULT_HAIKU_MODEL": "claude-haiku-5-5"
     }
   }

3. Option 2: environment variables

   Use this if you prefer not to edit settings.json. "Permanent" appends to ~/.zshrc (use ~/.bashrc for bash) or uses setx on Windows; reopen the terminal afterwards. "This window only" is handy for a quick try and disappears when the window closes. Pick one option, not both.

   Permanent (append to ~/.zshrc)

   cat >> ~/.zshrc <<'EOF'
   export ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL="https://gpt.cherrychat.org"
   export ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN="sk-your-key"
   export ANTHROPIC_MODEL="claude-sonnet-5-5"
   export ANTHROPIC_DEFAULT_HAIKU_MODEL="claude-haiku-5-5"
   EOF
   source ~/.zshrc

   This window only

   export ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL="https://gpt.cherrychat.org"
   export ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN="sk-your-key"
   export ANTHROPIC_MODEL="claude-sonnet-5-5"
   export ANTHROPIC_DEFAULT_HAIKU_MODEL="claude-haiku-5-5"
   claude

   Permanent (setx, then reopen PowerShell)

   setx ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL "https://gpt.cherrychat.org"
   setx ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN "sk-your-key"
   setx ANTHROPIC_MODEL "claude-sonnet-5-5"
   setx ANTHROPIC_DEFAULT_HAIKU_MODEL "claude-haiku-5-5"

   This window only

   $env:ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL = "https://gpt.cherrychat.org"
   $env:ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN = "sk-your-key"
   $env:ANTHROPIC_MODEL = "claude-sonnet-5-5"
   $env:ANTHROPIC_DEFAULT_HAIKU_MODEL = "claude-haiku-5-5"
   claude

4. Verify the connection

   Open a new terminal, go to your project folder and run the command below; a reply means it works. Inside claude, type /status: the "Anthropic base URL" line should show https://gpt.cherrychat.org and the "Auth token" line should name ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN.

5. If it asks you to log in

   A login screen means Claude Code did not pick up ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN. Make sure you started it from a terminal opened after the change, or use option 1 and put it in ~/.claude/settings.json. You do not need an Anthropic account. If you used to sign in with claude.ai and see a warning about two credentials, run /logout inside Claude Code.

6. Use it in the VS Code extension (optional)

   The VS Code extension checks credentials before it starts, so add them to VS Code settings too: press Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + P, run "Preferences: Open User Settings (JSON)", add the block below inside the outer braces, save and restart VS Code.

   "claudeCode.environmentVariables": [
     { "name": "ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL", "value": "https://gpt.cherrychat.org" },
     { "name": "ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN", "value": "sk-your-key" },
     { "name": "ANTHROPIC_MODEL", "value": "claude-sonnet-5-5" },
     { "name": "ANTHROPIC_DEFAULT_HAIKU_MODEL", "value": "claude-haiku-5-5" }
   ]

Common pitfalls

• Use the domain only (https://gpt.cherrychat.org), without /v1. Claude Code appends /v1/messages itself.
• Put the key in ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN. Do not also set ANTHROPIC_API_KEY; the two conflict.
• Never put the key in a project's .claude/settings.json; it gets committed with the code. Use ~/.claude/settings.json in your home folder.
• When both settings.json and shell variables are set, settings.json wins; update both when you change the key.
• ANTHROPIC_SMALL_FAST_MODEL is the old, deprecated name; current versions use ANTHROPIC_DEFAULT_HAIKU_MODEL (set both on very old versions). To switch Opus / Sonnet with /model, also set ANTHROPIC_DEFAULT_OPUS_MODEL=claude-opus-5-5 and ANTHROPIC_DEFAULT_SONNET_MODEL=claude-sonnet-5-5.
• Claude Code's built-in WebSearch tool is not supported yet, and the Claude desktop app ignores these settings. This guide covers the CLI and the VS Code / JetBrains extensions.

Error → cause → fix

Guide checked 2026-11-02. The tool's screens may change; the official docs win if they differ.

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