Claude Code: Anthropic's Agentic Coding CLI

Claude Code is Anthropic’s agentic coding tool. Unlike a chat window, it works inside your project: it reads files, runs commands, edits code, and works through multi-step tasks while you watch, steer, or step away. It is the hub that most of the other tools in this directory plug into.

What it does

• Explores and explains an unfamiliar codebase without you pasting files.
• Plans and implements features, fixes bugs, writes tests, and runs them.
• Handles git: commits, branches, merge conflicts, pull requests.
• Extends with skills, subagents, hooks, MCP servers and plugins.

Install

Native installer (recommended, auto-updates):

# macOS, Linux, WSL
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash

# Windows PowerShell
irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex

Package managers (no auto-update):

brew install --cask claude-code
winget install Anthropic.ClaudeCode
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code   # requires Node.js 22+

Then run claude inside a project folder and sign in when prompted. Check the install with claude --version. Our getting started guide walks through the first session, CLAUDE.md, and the commands you will use daily.

Use cases

• Onboarding: “explain the folder structure and where requests are handled”.
• Feature work: plan in plan mode, then implement with tests as the verification loop.
• Automation: claude -p "query" runs headless in scripts and CI; see Claude Code Action for GitHub.
• Integrations: connect GitHub, databases or browsers through MCP, for example GitHub MCP Server or Playwright MCP.

Pros

• Works on real files and real commands, so it can verify its own output.
• Deep extension model (skills, subagents, hooks, MCP, plugins) shared across terminal, IDE and desktop.
• Runs in many places from one configuration.

Cons

• Requires a paid plan or API credits; heavy use consumes plan limits.
• Context management takes practice: long sessions degrade unless you /clear and scope tasks.
• It runs commands as you, so permissions and review matter.

Comparing editors? Read Claude Code vs Cursor. Want a ready-made setup on top of it? See what a Claude kit is.