Claude Code

Claude Code is Anthropic's agentic coding tool that reads a codebase, edits files, runs commands and opens pull requests from the terminal or IDE.

Claude Code is Anthropic's coding agent for developers, built on its Claude models. It understands a codebase, edits files, runs commands and tests, and can take on anything from a single bug fix to a multi-day migration, planning the work and asking questions along the way. It runs in the terminal on macOS, Linux and Windows, in VS Code and JetBrains IDEs, in a desktop app, on the web and on iOS and Android, and it can work from GitHub issues or Slack. Developers extend it with MCP servers, skills, hooks and subagents, and Projects in the desktop app groups related sessions so several agents can be supervised at once. Claude Code is included in Claude Pro and Max plans and in Team and Enterprise seats, and it can also be used with API billing.

Claude Code at a glance

Best for: Software engineer, Founder, Student
Runs on: macOS, Windows, Linux, CLI, VS Code, JetBrains, Web, iOS, Android, Slack
Pricing: Included with Claude Pro ($20/month), Max (from $100/month), Team and Enterprise; API billing available
Released: February 2025
Category: AI coding tool
Website: claude.com

Key features

Codebase understanding, file edits and command execution
Planning with clarifying questions before large changes
Terminal, VS Code, JetBrains, desktop, web and mobile
Issue-to-pull-request work on GitHub
MCP servers, skills, hooks and subagents
Projects for supervising several sessions at once
Auto mode for longer unattended work

Use it for

Fix a bug and add tests from a short description
Run a multi-day framework migration
Turn a GitHub issue into a pull request
Explain an unfamiliar codebase

Companions

Tools that articles about Claude Code recommend using with it, each with its job.

Context7 — Feeds Claude Code current, version-specific library docs.
Playwright MCP — Lets Claude Code drive a real browser to test what it built.
GitHub MCP Server — Reads pull requests, issues and code search on GitHub.
Superpowers — Brainstorm, plan and execute skills for bigger tasks.
gstack — Skill bundle for planning, review and shipping.
Claude Squad — Runs several Claude Code sessions in separate worktrees.

Companion to

Tools whose articles name Claude Code as a companion, each with its job for them.

Augment — Claude Code: Agent
Base44 — Claude Code: Code edits
CodeRabbit — Claude Code: Agent loop
Figma Make — Claude Code: Productionize
Firecrawl — Claude Code: Agent
Gemini — Claude Code: Coding
Genspark — Claude Code: Software development
Graphify — Claude Code: Agent
Greptile — Claude Code: Fix loop
Grok — Claude Code: Coding
Higgsfield — Claude Code: Agent control
Mistral Vibe — Claude Code: Hard coding jobs
Lovable — Claude Code: Hardening
Superwhisper — Claude Code: Talk back to agents
Warp — Claude Code: Agent harness
Wispr Flow — Claude Code: Voice prompts
Zapier — Claude Code: Coding plus actions
Zed — Claude Code: Agent thread

Alternatives to Claude Code

Claude Skills Pack — 388 production-ready skills across 13 tools with zero-dependency Python tools.
Claude Migrate — Restores missing Claude Desktop Code sidebar sessions and pins after switching accounts.
Claude Context — It reduces token costs and provides deep context for large codebases.
Claude Desktop Multiple Windows Differen — Run official and third-party AI APIs simultaneously in separate Claude Desktop windows.
claude-mem — It shares persistent, searchable agent memory across sessions and devices.
Friday — It connects multiple coding tools so they share tasks and handle limits automatically.
CleanCode — Collaborate with multiple agents on one visual canvas.
Agent Pets — Approve agent permission prompts and send replies directly from any browser tab
OpenCode — Works with 75+ model providers, local models, and existing subscriptions
Claude Tap — Inspect prompts, tool calls, and token usage locally without a hosted dashboard.
Airlock: coding agents, kept contained — Isolates coding agents in a virtual machine and lets users review file diffs before applying changes.
Agent Skills — Encodes senior-engineer workflows and quality gates into 24 skills.

All Claude Code alternatives