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Claude Code

A terminal-based agentic coding tool from Anthropic that reads, edits and runs code in your own repository.

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Overview

What it is

Claude Code is a command-line coding agent built by Anthropic. Instead of a chat window bolted onto an editor, it runs in your terminal, can read your entire project, make multi-file edits, run shell commands, and iterate against test output on its own.

It's built around an agentic loop: you give it a task in plain language, it plans, edits files, runs commands to check its work, and reports back — asking for your approval on anything destructive.

Who it's for

Is this the right tool for you?

  • Developers who prefer working in the terminal over a heavily AI-integrated editor
  • Teams that want an agent to work across an existing, possibly large, codebase
  • People automating repetitive engineering tasks — migrations, refactors, dependency bumps
  • Anyone comfortable reviewing diffs and running their own test suite
Capabilities

Main capabilities

  • Reads and edits multiple files across a real project, not just a single open file
  • Runs shell commands, tests and build tools as part of its own workflow
  • Can search the web and read documentation when it needs current information
  • Supports custom instructions via a project-level configuration file
  • Works as a CLI, inside supported IDE extensions, and via an SDK for building custom agents
Strengths

Where it excels

  • Strong at understanding an existing, unfamiliar codebase before making changes
  • Comfortable with multi-step tasks — a refactor across a dozen files rather than a single function
  • Transparent about what it's doing at each step, which makes review easier
  • Good at writing and running its own tests to check its work before reporting done
Limitations

Where it falls short

  • A terminal-first workflow has a learning curve if you're used to a purely visual editor
  • Like every AI coding tool, it can misunderstand ambiguous instructions or introduce subtle bugs — everything it produces still needs review
  • Long-running agentic sessions consume more usage than a single autocomplete suggestion
  • It works best with clear, well-scoped tasks; very vague prompts produce vague results
Best use cases

What to use it for

  • Refactoring or migrating an existing codebase (e.g. upgrading a framework version)
  • Writing a first working version of a new feature from a written spec
  • Investigating and fixing a bug across multiple files
  • Automating repetitive engineering chores like adding tests or updating dependencies
Getting started

How to get started

  1. Step 1

    Install the CLI

    Install Claude Code from Anthropic and sign in with an Anthropic account that has API or subscription access.

  2. Step 2

    Open your project

    Run it inside an existing Git repository so it has full context and you can review changes as commits or diffs.

  3. Step 3

    Start with a small task

    Ask it to fix a specific bug or add a small feature before trusting it with a large refactor.

  4. Step 4

    Review every diff

    Treat its output like a pull request from a fast but junior contributor — read it before you merge it.

Example workflow

A typical session

  1. 1Describe the feature or bug in plain language, including any constraints (framework, style, files to avoid)
  2. 2Let it explore the codebase and propose a plan before it starts editing
  3. 3Review the plan, then let it implement and run tests
  4. 4Read the diff, ask for changes in follow-up messages rather than starting over
  5. 5Commit once you're satisfied, or ask it to write the commit message
Try it

Example prompts

Prompt
Find every place this API endpoint is called and update it to use the new response shape
Prompt
Add unit tests for the functions in lib/pricing.ts and tell me if any are actually broken
Prompt
This build is failing — investigate the error and fix it
FAQ

Claude Code — questions people ask

Does Claude Code replace a developer?

No. It speeds up the mechanical parts of coding — reading, editing, testing — but decisions about architecture, security and what to build still need a human. Review its output the way you'd review a colleague's pull request.

Can it work on a codebase it's never seen before?

Yes — it's designed to explore an unfamiliar repository, read relevant files, and build context before making changes, rather than requiring you to paste code into a chat window.

Is it only for the terminal?

The CLI is the primary interface, but it's also available inside supported IDEs and as an SDK, so you're not limited to one environment.

Alternatives

Compare with related tools

OpenAI Codex

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GitHub Copilot

GitHub's AI pair programmer, available as an extension across major editors with autocomplete, chat and agent modes.

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Ready to try Claude Code?

Pair it with a prompt from the library and build your first real project this week.

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