Documentation Index

Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://code.claude.com/docs/llms.txt Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

Overview

Claude Code is an agentic coding tool that reads your codebase, edits files, runs commands, and integrates with your development tools. Available in your terminal, IDE, desktop app, and browser.

Claude Code is an AI-powered coding assistant that helps you build features, fix bugs, and automate development tasks. It understands your entire codebase and can work across multiple files and tools to get things done.

Get started

Claude Code runs on several surfaces: the terminal, IDE extensions, a desktop app, and the web. Choose one from the tabs below to get started. Most surfaces require a Claude subscription or Anthropic Console account. The Terminal CLI, VS Code, and JetBrains also support third-party providers.

To install Claude Code, use one of the following methods:

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Native Install (Recommended)">
    **macOS, Linux, WSL:**

    ```bash theme={null}
    curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash
    ```

    **Windows PowerShell:**

    ```powershell theme={null}
    irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex
    ```

    **Windows CMD:**

    ```batch theme={null}
    curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.cmd -o install.cmd && install.cmd && del install.cmd
    ```

    If you see `The token '&&' is not a valid statement separator`, you're in PowerShell, not CMD. If you see `'irm' is not recognized as an internal or external command`, you're in CMD, not PowerShell. Your prompt shows `PS C:\` when you're in PowerShell and `C:\` without the `PS` when you're in CMD.

    If the install command fails with `syntax error near unexpected token '<'`, a `403`, or another curl error, see [Troubleshoot installation](/docs/en/troubleshoot-install#find-your-error) to match the error to a fix and for alternative install methods.

    [Git for Windows](https://git-scm.com/downloads/win) is recommended on native Windows so Claude Code can use the Bash tool. If Git for Windows is not installed, Claude Code uses PowerShell as the shell tool instead. WSL setups do not need Git for Windows.

    <Info>
      Native installations automatically update in the background to keep you on the latest version.
    </Info>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Homebrew">
    ```bash theme={null}
    brew install --cask claude-code
    ```

    Homebrew offers two casks. `claude-code` tracks the stable release channel, which is typically about a week behind and skips releases with major regressions. `claude-code@latest` tracks the latest channel and receives new versions as soon as they ship.

    <Info>
      Homebrew installations do not auto-update. Run `brew upgrade claude-code` or `brew upgrade claude-code@latest`, depending on which cask you installed, to get the latest features and security fixes.
    </Info>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="WinGet">
    ```powershell theme={null}
    winget install Anthropic.ClaudeCode
    ```

    <Info>
      WinGet installations do not auto-update. Run `winget upgrade Anthropic.ClaudeCode` periodically to get the latest features and security fixes.
    </Info>
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

You can also install with [apt, dnf, or apk](/docs/en/setup#install-with-linux-package-managers) on Debian, Fedora, RHEL, and Alpine.

Then start Claude Code in any project. Replace `your-project` with the path to a project directory on your machine:

```bash theme={null}
cd your-project
claude
```

You'll be prompted to log in on first use. If you've set the `ANTHROPIC_API_KEY` environment variable, Claude Code skips the login prompt and asks you to approve the key instead. That's it! [Continue with the Quickstart →](/docs/en/quickstart)

<Tip>
  See [advanced setup](/docs/en/setup) for installation options, manual updates, or uninstallation instructions. Visit [installation troubleshooting](/docs/en/troubleshoot-install) if you hit issues.
</Tip>

* [Install for VS Code](vscode:extension/anthropic.claude-code)
* [Install for Cursor](cursor:extension/anthropic.claude-code)

Or search for "Claude Code" in the Extensions view (`Cmd+Shift+X` on Mac, `Ctrl+Shift+X` on Windows/Linux). After installing, open the Command Palette (`Cmd+Shift+P` / `Ctrl+Shift+P`), type "Claude Code", and select **Open in New Tab**.

[Get started with VS Code →](/docs/en/vs-code#get-started)

Download and install:

* [macOS](https://claude.ai/api/desktop/darwin/universal/dmg/latest/redirect?utm_source=claude_code\&utm_medium=docs) (Intel and Apple Silicon)
* [Windows](https://claude.ai/api/desktop/win32/x64/setup/latest/redirect?utm_source=claude_code\&utm_medium=docs) (x64)
* [Windows ARM64](https://claude.ai/api/desktop/win32/arm64/setup/latest/redirect?utm_source=claude_code\&utm_medium=docs)
* On Ubuntu or Debian, where the app is in beta, install it with apt by following the [Linux install instructions](/docs/en/desktop-linux)

After installing, launch Claude, sign in, and click the **Code** tab to start coding. The app includes Claude Code, so you don't need to install the CLI separately. A [paid subscription](https://claude.com/pricing?utm_source=claude_code\&utm_medium=docs\&utm_content=overview_desktop_pricing) is required.

[Learn more about the desktop app →](/docs/en/desktop-quickstart)

Start coding at [claude.ai/code](https://claude.ai/code).

[Get started on the web →](/docs/en/web-quickstart)

Install the [Claude Code plugin](https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/27310-claude-code-beta-) from the JetBrains Marketplace and restart your IDE. The plugin requires the Claude Code CLI, installed separately; see the [JetBrains setup steps](/docs/en/jetbrains#installation).

[Get started with JetBrains →](/docs/en/jetbrains)

What you can do

Here are some of the ways you can use Claude Code:

```bash theme={null}
claude "write tests for the auth module, run them, and fix any failures"
```

For bugs, paste an error message or describe the symptom. Claude Code traces the issue through your codebase, identifies the root cause, and implements a fix. See [common workflows](/docs/en/common-workflows) for more examples.

```bash theme={null}
claude "commit my changes with a descriptive message"
```

In CI, you can automate code review and issue triage with [GitHub Actions](/docs/en/github-actions) or [GitLab CI/CD](/docs/en/gitlab-ci-cd).

Create [skills](/docs/en/skills) to package repeatable workflows your team can share, like `/review-pr` or `/deploy-staging`.

[Hooks](/docs/en/hooks) let you run shell commands before or after Claude Code actions, like auto-formatting after every file edit or running lint before a commit.

To run several full sessions in parallel and watch them from one screen, use [background agents](/docs/en/agent-view). For fully custom workflows, the [Agent SDK](/docs/en/agent-sdk/overview) lets you build your own agents powered by Claude Code's tools and capabilities, with full control over orchestration, tool access, and permissions.

```bash theme={null}
# Analyze recent log output
tail -200 app.log | claude -p "Slack me if you see any anomalies"

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

# Bulk operations across files
git diff main --name-only | claude -p "review these changed files for security issues"
```

See the [CLI reference](/docs/en/cli-reference) for the full set of commands and flags.

* [Routines](/docs/en/routines) run in the cloud, so they keep running even when your computer is off. They can also trigger on API calls or GitHub events. Create them from the web, the Desktop app, or by running `/schedule` in the CLI.
* [Desktop scheduled tasks](/docs/en/desktop-scheduled-tasks) run on your machine, with direct access to your local files and tools
* [`/loop`](/docs/en/scheduled-tasks) repeats a prompt within a CLI session for quick polling

* Step away from your desk and keep working from your phone or any browser with [Remote Control](/docs/en/remote-control)
* Message [Dispatch](/docs/en/desktop#sessions-from-dispatch) a task from your phone and open the Desktop session it creates
* Kick off a long-running task on the [web](/docs/en/claude-code-on-the-web) or the [Claude mobile app](/docs/en/mobile), then pull it into your terminal with `claude --teleport`. Teleport requires a claude.ai subscription.
* Run `/desktop` to continue your current terminal session in the [Desktop app](/docs/en/desktop), where you can review diffs visually. The `/desktop` handoff requires a claude.ai subscription. Available on macOS and x64 Windows.
* Route tasks from team chat: mention `@Claude` in [Slack](/docs/en/slack) with a bug report and get a pull request back

Use Claude Code everywhere

Each surface connects to the same underlying Claude Code engine, so your repo's CLAUDE.md files, settings, and MCP servers work across all of them.

Beyond the Terminal, VS Code, JetBrains, Desktop, and Web surfaces above, Claude Code integrates with CI/CD, chat, and browser workflows:

Next steps

Once you've installed Claude Code, these guides help you go deeper.

• Quickstart: walk through your first real task, from exploring a codebase to committing a fix
• Store instructions and memories: give Claude persistent instructions with CLAUDE.md files and auto memory
• Common workflows and best practices: patterns for getting the most out of Claude Code
• A harness for every task: how the Claude Code team uses dynamic workflows to orchestrate many subagents at once
• Settings: customize Claude Code for your workflow
• Troubleshooting: solutions for common issues
• code.claude.com: demos, pricing, and product details