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Claude Code is a CLI tool built by Anthropic that brings Claude directly into your development workflow. Rather than switching between your editor, a browser, and a chat interface, you interact with Claude where you already work — the terminal. It understands your codebase, reads files, runs commands, edits code, and handles entire workflows on your behalf. You describe what you want in plain English; Claude Code figures out how to do it.

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What makes it different

Most AI coding assistants are chat interfaces bolted onto an editor. Claude Code is a full agent: it can read your repository, write and edit files, execute shell commands, manage git history, and chain multi-step tasks together — all without you having to copy and paste code back and forth.

Codebase understanding

Claude Code reads your actual files and understands the structure of your project before taking any action.

File editing

Make targeted edits across multiple files in a single request — refactors, renames, and structural changes included.

Terminal commands

Run build scripts, tests, linters, and arbitrary shell commands. Claude Code can act on the output to iterate automatically.

Git workflows

Stage changes, write commit messages, create branches, and manage pull requests without leaving Claude Code.

Natural language tasks

Describe what you want in plain English. Claude Code translates intent into actions against your actual codebase.

IDE and GitHub integration

Use Claude Code in your terminal, inside your IDE, or tag @claude directly in GitHub pull requests and issues.

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How it fits into your workflow

Claude Code is designed to handle the repetitive and time-consuming parts of software development so you can focus on the decisions that matter. Routine tasks — writing boilerplate, updating tests after a refactor, formatting files, bumping dependency versions — can be delegated entirely. Exploratory tasks — understanding an unfamiliar codebase, tracing a bug through multiple files, summarizing what a function does — are faster when Claude Code can read the relevant code itself rather than relying on you to paste it in. Git workflows — authoring commit messages, opening PRs, reviewing diffs — are streamlined because Claude Code has the full context of what changed and why. You remain in control. Claude Code asks for confirmation before making destructive changes, and you can review every edit before it lands.

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Where to run it

  • Terminal — the primary interface. Run claude from any project directory.
  • IDE — integrations bring Claude Code into VS Code, JetBrains, and other editors.
  • GitHub — tag @claude in issues or pull requests to trigger agentic tasks in CI.

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Ready to get started?

Quickstart

Install Claude Code and complete your first task in under five minutes.

Installation

Full installation instructions, authentication setup, and troubleshooting.