Claude Code - The AI Programming Assistant from Anthropic

Claude Code is Anthropic's CLI tool that revolutionizes software development. Discover how this AI programming assistant can accelerate your workflow, understand your entire codebase, and help you code more efficiently through natural language commands.

Claude Code - The AI Programming Assistant from Anthropic
Robert Cojocaru
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Claude Code: The AI Programming Assistant from Anthropic

Introduction

In the world of software development, artificial intelligence is radically transforming how programmers work. According to Google's 2025 DORA Report, 90% of developers now use AI coding assistants, with 65% reporting heavy reliance on these tools. In this context, Anthropic has launched Claude Code, an agentic CLI tool that promises to take programming assistance to the next level.

What is Claude Code

Claude Code is an agentic coding tool that lives directly in your terminal. Unlike traditional autocomplete solutions, Claude Code functions as an autonomous agent capable of understanding entire codebases, executing multi-step tasks, and maintaining context across complex projects.

What makes Claude Code special is that it's not another chat window or another IDE. It integrates where you already work, with the tools you already know and love. It can edit files directly, run commands, and create commits, all through natural language commands.

Main Features

1. Native Terminal and IDE Integration

Claude Code runs directly in your terminal and now features a native VS Code extension. Version 2.0 of the terminal interface, powered by Sonnet 4.5, handles longer and more complex development tasks in both terminal and IDE.

2. Subagents for Parallel Work

One of the most powerful features is the ability to delegate specialized tasks to subagents. For example, you can have an agent building a backend API while the main agent develops the frontend, enabling parallel development workflows.

3. Checkpoint System

The new checkpoint system automatically saves your code state before each change. You can instantly rewind to previous versions by pressing Esc twice or using the /rewind command.

4. Automated Hooks

Hooks allow you to automatically trigger actions at specific points, such as running your test suite after code changes or linting before commits.

5. Background Tasks

Keep long-running processes like dev servers active without blocking Claude Code's progress on other work.

6. Persistent Memory

Claude Code remembers your project details across sessions. When you return to a project after days off, it instantly recalls context, decisions, and pending tasks without needing to re-explain everything.

7. Unix Philosophy and Scripting

Claude Code is composable and scriptable. Commands like this work perfectly:

tail -f app.log | claude -p "Slack me if you see any anomalies appear in this log stream"

Your CI can run commands like:

claude -p "If there are new text strings, translate them into French and raise a PR for @lang-fr-team to review"

Getting Started with Claude Code

System Requirements

  • Operating Systems: macOS 10.15+, Ubuntu 20.04+/Debian 10+, or Windows 10+ (with WSL 1, WSL 2, or Git for Windows)
  • Node.js: Version 18.0+ (only for npm installation)

Recommended Installation Method (Native Binary)

Anthropic recommends using the native binary installation to avoid package manager conflicts:

curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash

After running the script, reload your shell configuration:

source ~/.bashrc  # or source ~/.zshrc for zsh users

Verify the installation:

claude --version
claude doctor

npm Installation

If you prefer using npm, you can install Claude Code globally:

npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

Important: Do NOT use sudo npm install -g as this can lead to permission issues and security risks.

First Steps

  1. Navigate to your project directory
  2. Run claude
  3. Connect through Claude Console and complete the OAuth process

Access and Plans

You can access Claude Code with:

  • A Claude Pro or Max plan
  • A Team or Enterprise plan premium seat
  • A Claude Console account

Practical Use Cases

1. Complete Feature Development

Claude Code can build complete projects with thousands of lines of code, including audit logging, Prisma databases, complete architecture, and implementation roadmaps.

2. Advanced Debugging

Debugging is where Claude Code truly shines. It remembers previous debugging attempts and tailors its suggestions accordingly, which can save hours of troubleshooting.

3. Git Workflow Management

Handle git workflows seamlessly, from creating commits to managing branches and pull requests, all through natural language commands.

4. Code Review and Explanation

It can explain complex code, perform code reviews, and suggest improvements based on best practices.

5. Automation with GitHub Actions

Claude Code supports background tasks via GitHub Actions, enabling continuous automation in your CI/CD pipelines.

6. MCP Integration

Through MCP (Model Context Protocol), Claude can read your design docs in Google Drive, update your tickets in Jira, or use your custom developer tooling.

Best Practices

The CLAUDE.md File

CLAUDE.md is a special file that Claude automatically pulls into context when starting a conversation. It's ideal for documenting:

  • Repository etiquette (branch naming, merge vs. rebase, etc.)
  • Developer environment setup
  • Unexpected behaviors or warnings particular to the project

Multi-Language Support

Claude Code supports virtually every programming language, from Python and JavaScript to Rust, Go, and even legacy languages like COBOL. It can work with different frameworks, libraries, and development paradigms.

Important Considerations

While Claude Code is extremely powerful, it's important to keep some considerations in mind:

  • Results can be inconsistent depending on context and task complexity
  • It's recommended to always review generated code, especially for security aspects
  • Excessive reliance on AI assistants can affect the development of your own skills

Conclusion

Claude Code represents a significant advancement in AI-assisted development tools. With its agentic approach, native terminal and IDE integration, and advanced capabilities like subagents and checkpoints, it offers developers a more efficient and natural way to work with code.

Top-performing teams report saving 2-6 hours per week using AI coding tools, and Claude Code is positioned to maximize these benefits. Whether you're building a new application from scratch, debugging complex code, or automating workflows, Claude Code can be a valuable companion in your development journey.

To get started, visit the official documentation and experience how Claude Code can transform your development workflow.

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