Claude Code is Anthropic's agentic coding tool that lives in your terminal. It understands your entire codebase, can edit files, run commands, debug issues, and ship features—all through natural conversation. Works in terminal, VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, and integrates with GitHub, Slack, and more via MCP.
Quick Reference
claude: Start an interactive coding session
claude -p 'prompt': Non-interactive single command
/help: Show available commands in session
/clear: Clear conversation history
/compact: Toggle compact output mode
Ctrl+C: Cancel current operation
Let Claude read files before asking questions
Review all file changes before approving
Use with CI/CD: claude -p 'task' in GitHub Actions
MCP integration: Connect Drive, Jira, Figma, Slack
Setup Guide
# Getting Started with Claude Code
## Installation
### macOS/Linux
```bash
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash
```
### Homebrew
```bash
brew install --cask claude-code
```
### Windows
```powershell
irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex
```
Or via WinGet:
```
winget install Anthropic.ClaudeCode
```
## Quick Start
```bash
cd your-project
claude
```
## What Claude Code Can Do
### 1. Build Features from Descriptions
Tell Claude what you want in plain English. It will:
- Make a plan
- Write the code
- Run tests to ensure it works
### 2. Debug and Fix Issues
Paste an error message or describe a bug. Claude will:
- Analyze your codebase
- Identify the root cause
- Implement a fix
### 3. Navigate Any Codebase
Ask anything about your team's codebase:
- "Where is user authentication handled?"
- "How does the payment flow work?"
- "What files need to change to add dark mode?"
### 4. Automate Tedious Tasks
- Fix lint issues across the project
- Resolve merge conflicts
- Write release notes
- Update dependencies
## Unix Philosophy
Claude Code is composable and scriptable:
```bash
# Watch logs and alert on anomalies
tail -f app.log | claude -p "Alert me if you see errors"
# Translate new strings
claude -p "Translate new strings to French and raise a PR"
```
## MCP (Model Context Protocol)
Extend Claude with external data sources:
- Read design docs from Google Drive
- Update tickets in Jira
- Access Figma designs
- Integrate with Slack
## Best Practices
- Let Claude read your entire codebase for better context
- Break down large tasks into smaller, reviewable chunks
- Always review changes before applying
- Use Claude for code review before committing
- Leverage MCP for team workflows