Claude Code

Overview

Claude Code is an AI-powered coding assistant that helps you build features, fix bugs, and automate development tasks. It understands your entire codebase and can work across multiple files and tools to get things done. It is available in the terminal, IDE extensions, desktop app, and web.

Key Features

• Agentic coding tool that reads your codebase, edits files, runs commands, and integrates with your development tools.
• Available in terminal, IDE extensions, desktop app, and browser.
• Executes routine tasks, explains complex code, and handles git workflows through natural language commands.
• Connects to external data sources and tools through the Model Context Protocol (MCP).
• Customizable with CLAUDE.md instructions, skills, hooks, and auto memory.
• Supports parallel agents and custom agent workflows, including the Agent SDK.

Use Cases

• Automate tedious tasks such as writing tests, fixing lint errors, resolving merge conflicts, updating dependencies, and writing release notes.
• Build features and fix bugs by describing what you want in plain language; Claude Code plans the approach, writes code across multiple files, and verifies it works.
• Create commits and pull requests, including staging changes, writing commit messages, creating branches, and opening pull requests.
• Connect external tools through MCP to read design docs in Google Drive, update tickets in Jira, or pull data from Slack.

Getting Started

• Install on macOS, Linux, or WSL with the native install script: curl -fsSL https://claude\.ai/install\.sh | bash
• Install on Windows PowerShell with: irm https://claude\.ai/install\.ps1 | iex
• Alternatively install with Homebrew: brew install --cask claude-code
• Alternatively install with WinGet: winget install Anthropic.ClaudeCode
• After installation, navigate to your project directory and run claude.

Deployment & Requirements

• Most surfaces require a Claude subscription or Anthropic Console account.
• The Terminal CLI, VS Code, and JetBrains also support third-party providers.
• The desktop app requires a paid subscription.
• The JetBrains plugin requires the Claude Code CLI, installed separately.
• Teleport and the /desktop handoff require a claude.ai subscription.

Before You Adopt

• No recognizable license was detected; verify permission to use, modify, and distribute the project before adoption.
• Installing via npm is deprecated in favor of recommended installation methods.
• Most Claude Code surfaces require a Claude subscription or Anthropic Console account, though some CLI and IDE surfaces support third-party providers.
• Homebrew installations do not auto-update, so users must manually upgrade to get the latest features and security fixes.
• WinGet installations do not auto-update, so periodic upgrades are required for the latest features and security fixes.
• The desktop app is in beta on Ubuntu and Debian.