Claude Code is Anthropic's official agentic coding tool that runs in the terminal. It edits files, runs commands, and iterates under version control, powered by Claude models via a ChatGPT-style subscription or an API key.
What Claude Code is
Claude Code is Anthropic’s official coding agent. It runs in your terminal, understands your codebase, and can write, edit, test, and debug code on its own. You describe what you want, and Claude Code figures out the steps.
Key features
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Codebase-aware - indexes and searches your project to find the right files.
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Autonomous editing - creates, modifies, and deletes files across the repo.
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Shell commands - runs tests, linters, and build commands and reads the output.
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Interactive approval - can ask before expensive or destructive actions.
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MCP support - connects to Model Context Protocol servers for external tools.
Install
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code
Or use the official installer from Anthropic.
Supported models
Built for Anthropic’s Claude models, including Sonnet and Opus, through Anthropic’s API.
Use case
Claude Code is best for developers who want a capable terminal agent backed by Anthropic’s models. It is particularly strong on large, complex codebases where reasoning and context matter.
License and pricing
Closed-source, available through Anthropic’s API or subscription plans.
Honest caveat
Claude Code is powerful but requires trust. It can run arbitrary shell commands and rewrite files. Use it in version-controlled projects and review its commits before pushing.