Ship Code Faster with Claude Code
Master AI-powered development from the terminal
Claude Code is Anthropic's CLI for AI-powered development. Learn how to configure it, build agent workflows, and ship faster with hands-on exercises that teach real-world skills.
Claude Code is Anthropic's agentic command-line interface that lets developers write, test, and deploy code using natural language. It runs directly in your terminal, reads your entire project, and executes multi-step tasks autonomously — editing files, running tests, creating commits, and opening pull requests without you touching a single file.
What is Claude Code?
Claude Code is Anthropic's command-line tool that brings Claude directly into your terminal. It reads your codebase, runs commands, edits files, and manages multi-step workflows — all through natural language. Think of it as a senior engineer that lives in your terminal and understands your entire project.
Curriculum
What You'll Learn
# Project Configuration
## Commands
- Build: `npm run build`
- Test: `npm test`
- Lint: `npm run lint`
## Style Guide
- Use TypeScript strict mode
- Prefer named exports
- Max line length: 100 charsLearn to configure Claude Code for any project
Getting Started
How to Use Claude Code
Run npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code to install the CLI globally. You need Node.js 18 or newer. Authenticate with claude login or set your ANTHROPIC_API_KEY environment variable.
Add a CLAUDE.md file to your project root. This tells Claude about your tech stack, coding conventions, key commands, and project-specific rules. Claude reads it automatically at the start of every session.
Navigate to your project directory and type claude followed by a natural language instruction. For example: "Fix the failing tests in src/auth" or "Add input validation to the signup form and write tests for it."
Claude shows you what it plans to do before executing. You can approve, modify, or reject changes. For trusted workflows, use --yes to auto-approve non-destructive operations.
Real-World Usage
Common Claude Code Workflows
Bug fixing
Describe the bug and Claude reads the relevant code, identifies the root cause, applies the fix, and runs your test suite to verify. One prompt replaces 30 minutes of debugging.
Code review
Paste a PR diff or point Claude at changed files. It checks for security issues, performance problems, missing error handling, and style violations — then suggests specific fixes.
Feature implementation
Describe what you want to build. Claude scaffolds the files, writes the implementation, adds tests, and updates related code. You review the output and iterate.
Refactoring
Ask Claude to refactor a module for readability, extract shared logic, or migrate from one pattern to another. It understands your full codebase context, so renames propagate correctly.
What is CLAUDE.md?
CLAUDE.md is the project-level configuration file that gives Claude Code persistent context about your codebase. It acts like a senior engineer's onboarding document — describing the tech stack, coding standards, key commands, and project-specific rules that Claude should follow every session.
Tech stack and framework versions, build and test commands, coding conventions, file structure overview, and any rules Claude must follow (e.g., "always use parameterized queries").
Place CLAUDE.md in your project root. Claude also supports ~/.claude/CLAUDE.md for global preferences and nested CLAUDE.md files in subdirectories for module-specific rules.
Treat CLAUDE.md like living documentation. When you add a new dependency, change a convention, or discover a pattern Claude should follow, update the file. Better CLAUDE.md means better Claude output.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Claude Code free?
Claude Code requires an Anthropic API key with usage-based billing, or a Claude Pro/Max subscription. There is no separate license fee for the CLI itself — you pay for the API usage.
What languages does Claude Code support?
Claude Code works with any programming language. It is especially strong with Python, TypeScript, JavaScript, Go, Rust, and Java, but it can read and edit any text-based file in your project.
Can Claude Code run on remote servers?
Yes. Claude Code runs anywhere bash runs — local machines, remote servers over SSH, Docker containers, and CI/CD pipelines like GitHub Actions. No GUI required.
How is Claude Code different from Cursor?
Claude Code is a terminal CLI built for autonomous, multi-step tasks. Cursor is a VS Code fork built for inline editing and code completion. Claude Code excels at agentic workflows; Cursor excels at interactive coding. Many developers use both.
What is the best way to learn Claude Code?
The best way to learn Claude Code is through hands-on exercises that teach real workflows. Claude Academy's Track 3 and Track 7 cover Claude Code from installation to advanced agent patterns, with every lesson requiring you to write actual commands and build real projects in your terminal.
Is Claude Code better than GitHub Copilot?
Claude Code and GitHub Copilot serve different purposes. Claude Code is a terminal-native agentic tool that autonomously handles multi-step tasks like refactoring, testing, and deployment. Copilot is primarily an inline code completion tool in your IDE. Claude Code excels at complex, multi-file operations; Copilot excels at line-by-line suggestions.
Ready to master Claude Code
Hands-on exercises. Real workflows. No fluff.