Resources›Claude Code›Getting Started with Claude Code
Guide6 min read·Updated April 10, 2026

Getting Started with Claude Code

Claude Code is Anthropic's AI coding agent that lives in your terminal. Here's how to install it, configure your first project, and get productive fast.

Getting Started with Claude Code

Claude Code is Anthropic's official CLI for Claude — a coding agent that works across entire codebases directly from your terminal. You describe what you want in plain English, and it reads files, writes code, runs commands, and ships changes. Current version: 2.1.76.

What Claude Code Actually Does

It's not an autocomplete tool. Claude Code is an agent — it can:

  • Read and understand your entire codebase
  • Create, edit, and delete files
  • Run shell commands and tests
  • Open apps, navigate browsers, and click on-screen (Computer Use — no setup required)
  • Connect to external tools via MCP (Model Context Protocol)

The key mental model: you're not prompting a chatbot. You're directing an agent that has full context and the ability to act.

Installation

You need Node.js 18+ and an Anthropic API key.

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

On first launch, Claude Code will prompt you to authenticate with your Anthropic account. API usage is billed per token — keep that in mind for large codebases.

Your First Session

Open a terminal inside your project directory and run claude. From here, start with a task in plain language:

"Read the codebase and give me an overview of how authentication works"

Claude Code will scan your files and respond with an accurate summary. Then you can start making changes:

"Add input validation to the signup form — email format and minimum password length of 8"

It reads the relevant files, makes the changes, and shows you a diff. You approve before anything is committed.

CLAUDE.md — Your Project Brain

Create a CLAUDE.md file in your project root. This is where you tell Claude Code what it needs to know:

# My Project

## Tech Stack
- Next.js 14 (App Router), TypeScript, Tailwind, Prisma + PostgreSQL

## Conventions
- Use server components by default; client components only when needed
- All API routes go in src/app/api/
- Run `npm run typecheck` before finishing any task

Claude Code reads this file automatically at the start of every session. Good CLAUDE.md files = dramatically better results.

Plan Mode

Before making changes, use Plan Mode (/plan or --plan) to see exactly what Claude Code intends to do before it acts. For complex changes, this prevents surprises.

Key Commands

| Command | What it does | |---|---| | /help | Show all available commands | | /plan | Think through a task without acting | | /clear | Reset context | | /teleport | Resume a remote session | | --tools | Specify which tools Claude can use |

MCP Integration

Claude Code connects to external tools via MCP (Model Context Protocol) — the protocol now at 97M installs across the AI ecosystem. This means you can give Claude Code access to databases, APIs, Notion, GitHub, Slack, and more. Configure MCP servers in your settings file.

Skills Framework

The skills system lets you create custom /commands that invoke pre-written instructions. Drop skill files into .claude/skills/ and they're auto-discovered. Useful for repeatable workflows like deployment checklists or code review patterns.

Learning Resources

  • Official Docs — Full reference: code.claude.com/docs
  • Official Quickstart — code.claude.com/docs/en/quickstart
  • Anthropic Discord — #claude-code channel for tips and workflows
  • r/ClaudeAI — Community workflows and troubleshooting
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