# Best IDE Recommendations for Developing the i-have-adhd Plugin: A Complete Setup Guide > Discover the best IDE for developing the i-have-adhd plugin. Learn why VS Code offers the smoothest Node.js TypeScript experience for this Claude extension. - Repository: [Ayoub Ghriss/i-have-adhd](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd) - Tags: best-practices - Published: 2026-08-30 --- **Any modern IDE with TypeScript support works for developing the i-have-adhd plugin, though Visual Studio Code offers the smoothest experience for this Node.js-based Claude extension.** The i-have-adhd repository by ayghri is a standard TypeScript/JavaScript codebase built for the Claude ecosystem, making IDE recommendations for developing i-have-adhd straightforward for anyone familiar with Node.js projects. While the repository does not enforce a specific editor, the project structure—including files like [`extensions/i-have-adhd.ts`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/extensions/i-have-adhd.ts) and [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md)—requires tools that handle TypeScript autocompletion, JSON schema validation, and NPM script execution. ## Essential IDE Features for i-have-adhd Development Because the plugin relies on the Zod library for schema validation and standard NPM scripts for build processes, your development environment must handle three core requirements. ### TypeScript Language Support The core implementation lives in TypeScript source files such as [`extensions/i-have-adhd.ts`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/extensions/i-have-adhd.ts) and [`extensions/context-compat.ts`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/extensions/context-compat.ts). Your IDE must provide **intelligent autocomplete**, **real-time type checking**, and **refactoring tools** to navigate the compatibility shims and main extension logic safely. ### Integrated Terminal Support The project uses NPM scripts defined in [`package.json`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/package.json) for testing and installation. You need an **integrated terminal** to execute commands like `npm test` and `npm install` without context-switching between applications. ### Git Integration Version control is essential when modifying the 10-rule skill behavior documented in [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md) or updating plugin manifests. Native **Git integration** helps track changes across the repository's documentation and runtime files. ## Recommended IDEs for the i-have-adhd Codebase While the repository accepts contributions from any editor, these four environments provide optimal support for the project's TypeScript-heavy architecture. ### Visual Studio Code (VS Code) **VS Code** remains the most commonly used editor for this stack. It offers built-in TypeScript support, direct integration with Node.js debugging, and extensions for Zod schema validation. The editor handles the repository's JSON configuration files—such as [`package.json`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/package.json) and various runtime manifests—without additional setup. ### JetBrains WebStorm **WebStorm** provides advanced refactoring capabilities and deep NPM script integration. Its TypeScript compiler integration catches errors in [`extensions/context-compat.ts`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/extensions/context-compat.ts) before runtime, making it ideal for developers working extensively with the compatibility layer. ### Neovim with LSP For terminal-centric workflows, **Neovim** configured with a Language Server Protocol (LSP) client offers lightweight TypeScript support. Install the TypeScript language server to gain autocomplete and diagnostics when editing [`extensions/i-have-adhd.ts`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/extensions/i-have-adhd.ts) or modifying skill definitions. ### GitHub Codespaces **GitHub Codespaces** provides a cloud-based VS Code environment pre-configured with Node.js. This option works immediately with the repository's standard NPM commands, requiring no local installation for quick documentation edits or minor code changes. ## Key Source Files to Understand First Navigating these critical files in your chosen IDE will accelerate your development workflow: - **[`extensions/i-have-adhd.ts`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/extensions/i-have-adhd.ts)** — The main TypeScript implementation containing the plugin's core logic and runtime behavior. - **[`extensions/context-compat.ts`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/extensions/context-compat.ts)** — Compatibility shim that handles different runtime contexts within the Claude ecosystem. - **[`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md)** — The canonical skill description defining the 10-rule behavior guide that governs plugin interactions. - **[`package.json`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/package.json)** — Declares NPM dependencies, build scripts, and entry points for the extension system. ## Setting Up Your Development Environment Once you've selected an IDE, configure your workspace using the repository's standard Node.js workflow. ### Installing Dependencies Open the integrated terminal in your IDE and run the standard installation command: ```bash npm install ``` This installs the Zod library and other dependencies required for schema validation throughout the extension. ### Running Tests Execute the unit test suite to verify your environment: ```bash npm test ``` This command validates the TypeScript compilation and ensures the compatibility layers function correctly across different contexts. ### Modifying the Core Skill When editing the skill definition, open [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md) in your editor. After making changes to the 10-rule behavior guide, reinstall the plugin to test modifications: ```bash claude plugin uninstall i-have-adhd claude plugin marketplace add /i-have-adhd claude plugin install i-have-adhd@i-have-adhd ``` ## Summary - The i-have-adhd repository requires **TypeScript support**, **terminal integration**, and **Git capabilities** from your development environment. - **Visual Studio Code** provides the most seamless experience for this Node.js-based plugin, though WebStorm, Neovim with LSP, and GitHub Codespaces are fully compatible alternatives. - Key entry points for development include [`extensions/i-have-adhd.ts`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/extensions/i-have-adhd.ts) for logic and [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md) for behavior rules. - Standard NPM commands (`npm install`, `npm test`) manage the workflow regardless of IDE choice. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Do I need a specific IDE to contribute to i-have-adhd? No, the repository does not prescribe a specific development environment. Any editor that supports TypeScript and JavaScript will handle the codebase effectively, as the project uses standard Node.js conventions without proprietary extensions. ### What makes VS Code the preferred choice for this repository? VS Code offers native TypeScript intelligence, built-in debugging for Node.js applications, and seamless integration with NPM scripts defined in [`package.json`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/package.json). Its handling of JSON schemas also assists when editing the plugin's runtime manifests and configuration files. ### How do I test changes to the SKILL.md file? After modifying [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md) in your IDE, you must reinstall the plugin through the Claude CLI to load the updated 10-rule behavior guide. Use the `claude plugin uninstall` and `claude plugin install` commands sequence to refresh the local installation. ### Can I use GitHub Codespaces for i-have-adhd development? Yes, GitHub Codespaces works effectively because it provides a cloud-based VS Code instance with Node.js pre-installed. This environment supports all standard NPM scripts and allows you to edit TypeScript files like [`extensions/context-compat.ts`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/extensions/context-compat.ts) without configuring a local toolchain.