---
title: "Claude Code Overview"
aliases: [claude-code-overview, claude-code-product]
tags: [claude-code, anthropic, cli, ai-coding-assistant, agentic]
sources: [raw/Claude Code overview.md]
created: 2026-04-17
updated: 2026-04-17
---

# Claude Code Overview

Claude Code is Anthropic's agentic coding assistant — reads your codebase, edits files, runs commands, and integrates with dev tools across terminal, IDE, desktop, and browser.

---

## Installation

**macOS / Linux / WSL:**
```sh
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash
```

**Windows PowerShell:**
```powershell
irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex
```

**Windows CMD:**
```bat
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.cmd -o install.cmd && install.cmd && del install.cmd
```

- Native Windows installs require **Git for Windows** first
- Native installs auto-update in background
- Start in any project: `cd your-project && claude`

---

## Core Capabilities

### Automate tedious tasks
- Write tests for untested code
- Fix lint errors across a project
- Resolve merge conflicts, update dependencies, write release notes

```sh
claude "write tests for the auth module, run them, and fix any failures"
```

### Build features & fix bugs
- Describe in plain language → Claude plans, writes across files, verifies
- Paste an error message → Claude traces root cause, implements fix

### Git integration
```sh
claude "commit my changes with a descriptive message"
```
- Stages changes, writes commit messages, creates branches, opens PRs
- CI automation via GitHub Actions or GitLab CI/CD

### MCP (Model Context Protocol)
- Connect Claude to Google Drive, Jira, Slack, custom tools
- Open standard for AI ↔ external data integration
- See [[wiki/agent-sdk/overview|Agent SDK Overview]] for programmatic MCP use

### Customization
- **`CLAUDE.md`** — project-root file Claude reads every session; set coding standards, preferred libs, review checklists
- **Auto memory** — Claude saves learnings (build commands, debugging insights) across sessions automatically
- **Custom commands (skills)** — package repeatable workflows: `/review-pr`, `/deploy-staging`
- **Hooks** — shell commands before/after Claude actions (auto-format after edit, lint before commit)

### Multi-agent & Agent SDK
- Spawn multiple Claude Code agents working simultaneously on subtasks
- Lead agent coordinates, assigns, and merges results
- For fully custom workflows: [[wiki/agent-sdk/overview|Agent SDK]] gives full control over orchestration and tool access

### CLI scripting & Unix composability
```sh
# Pipe logs
tail -200 app.log | claude -p "Slack me if you see any anomalies"

# CI translation
claude -p "translate new strings into French and raise a PR for review"

# Security review on changed files
git diff main --name-only | claude -p "review these changed files for security issues"
```

### Scheduled / recurring tasks
| Option | Where it runs | Use case |
|--------|--------------|---------|
| Routines | Anthropic-managed infra | Morning PR reviews, overnight CI analysis — runs without your computer |
| Desktop scheduled tasks | Local machine | Direct access to local files/tools |
| `/loop` | CLI session | Quick polling within a session |

---

## Surfaces

All surfaces share the same CLAUDE.md files, settings, and MCP servers.

| Surface | Best for |
|---------|---------|
| Terminal CLI | Full-featured; edit files, run commands |
| VS Code / JetBrains | IDE-integrated editing |
| Desktop app | Visual diff review, Dispatch task routing |
| Web app | Start tasks, continue on mobile |
| iOS app + `--teleport` | Mobile continuation of terminal sessions |
| Remote Control | Continue local session from any device/phone |
| Slack (`@Claude`) | Route bug reports → pull requests from chat |
| GitHub Actions / GitLab CI | Automated PR review and issue triage |
| Chrome extension | Debug live web applications |
| Agent SDK | Build fully custom agents programmatically |

---

## Key Takeaways

- Claude Code works **across your entire codebase**, not just open files
- **`CLAUDE.md`** is the primary way to give Claude persistent project context
- **MCP** enables connections to any external data source or tool
- **Hooks** automate pre/post actions (format, lint, notify) around Claude's edits
- **Routines** run scheduled tasks on Anthropic infrastructure — no local machine needed
- All surfaces (CLI, IDE, desktop, web, mobile) share the same underlying engine
- The **Agent SDK** is the programmable layer on top of Claude Code for custom automation

---

## Related Articles

- [[wiki/agent-sdk/overview|Agent SDK Overview]] — build custom agents programmatically
- [[wiki/agent-sdk/hooks-guide|Hooks Guide]] — all 25 hook events, matchers, exit codes
- [[wiki/agent-sdk/agent-skills-plugins|Agent Skills & Plugins]] — loading skills and MCP servers

---

## Sources

- `raw/Claude Code overview.md` — clipped from code.claude.com/docs/en/overview