Claude Code

Use the Val Town plugin to read, edit, run, and deploy vals from Claude Code. For Claude web/desktop/Cowork, use the Claude guide.

Install the plugin#

Inside a Claude Code session, paste:

/plugin install valtown@claude-plugins-official

Alternatively, run this in your terminal, outside Claude Code:

claude plugin install valtown@claude-plugins-official

Choose either method. Both install the plugin from Claude Code’s official marketplace.

Connect your Val Town account#

1. In Claude Code, run /reload-plugins to load the installed plugin, or restart Claude Code.
2. Run /mcp and select the Val Town server.
3. Follow the sign-in link, sign in to Val Town, and approve access.

Check the connection#

Start a new chat or session after installation and send:

Use Val Town to list my vals. Don’t create or change anything.

A response from Val Town listing your vals, even an empty list, confirms the connection. If the agent only explains how to list vals, ask it to use the Val Town tools.

Troubleshooting#

• The slash command fails in your terminal: slash commands belong inside Claude Code. Use the claude plugin install command in your terminal.
• The plugin is installed but no tools appear: run /reload-plugins or restart, then check /mcp.
• Tools appear but requests fail: select the server in /mcp and complete authentication.
• The marketplace or plugin is unavailable: check your Claude Code version and organization’s plugin policy. See Claude Code’s plugin documentation.

Alternative: MCP only#

The plugin includes MCP and platform skills. If you only want the MCP connection, run this in your terminal:

claude mcp add --transport http --scope user val-town https://api.val.town/v3/mcp

The user scope makes the connection available across your local projects. Start Claude Code, run /mcp, select val-town, and sign in. Skip this if you already installed the plugin, to avoid duplicate connections.

Alternative: sync local files with the Val Town CLI#

Caution We recommend the plugin, which includes the MCP server and skills, over the CLI.

1. Install Claude Code
2. Install the Val Town CLI

deno install -grAf jsr:@valtown/vt

3. Copy-paste our system prompt into CLAUDE.md at the root of your local directory for vals
4. vt create, vt remix, or vt clone a val*
5. cd into your val's directory
6. (Optional) vt checkout -b <branch> to isolate changes
7. vt watch to sync with Val Town
8. claude to start your Claude Coding session

* Running vt create|remix|clone will ask you to add editor files including AGENTS.md, which Claude doesn't support as of this writing (use CLAUDE.md instead).

As an example, watch this 4-minute video creating a customer support val.