What is Claude Code? Your Complete Guide to the Revolutionary Coding Tool

Claude Code in a Nutshell

Claude Code is an AI-powered coding tool from Anthropic that works directly in your Terminal (command line).

The key difference: While ChatGPT and Claude Web work in browsers, Claude Code operates in your local environment and can:

Read your project files
Execute commands
Edit code directly
Understand your entire project context

When Was It Released?

February 2025: Initial release (Beta)
March 2025: General availability
2025-2026: Continuous updates and new features

How Is It Different from ChatGPT/Claude Web?

Feature	Claude Code	ChatGPT/Claude Web
Environment	Local Terminal	Browser
File Access	✅ Direct	❌ Copy/paste
Command Execution	✅	❌
Code Editing	✅ Direct	❌ Suggests only
Project Understanding	✅ Complete	❌ Limited
Git Integration	✅	❌

Why Terminal and Not an IDE?

1. Speed

Terminal is faster than any GUI. One command does what takes multiple clicks.

2. Flexibility

Works with any text editor (VS Code, Vim, Neovim, Emacs...).

3. Automation

Can be integrated with scripts and CI/CD tools.

4. Full Access

Claude Code sees what you see in Terminal—no limits.

How Does It Work?

Step 1: Installation

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

Step 2: Launch

cd your-project
claude

Step 3: Interact

Type what you want in plain English:

> Add a user authentication system

Claude Code reads your project, understands the structure, and suggests changes.

What Can Claude Code Do?

1. Understand the Entire Project

> Explain the structure of this project

Reads all files and gives you a comprehensive overview.

2. Write New Code

> Create an API endpoint to add a new product

Understands the technologies used and writes compatible code.

3. Fix Bugs

> There's an error on the login page, fix it

Analyzes the bug and fixes it with explanation.

4. Refactor

> Improve the performance of this function

Suggests improvements and applies them.

5. Execute Commands

> Run the tests and fix any failures

Runs commands and handles results.

6. Git Operations

> Save the changes with an appropriate commit message

Handles Git automatically.

Practical Example

Task: Add dark mode to a website

Without Claude Code:

Research how to implement dark mode
Understand CSS variables
Create toggle button
Add localStorage for persistence
Modify all affected files
Test on different browsers

With Claude Code:

> Add dark mode to the site with a toggle button and save user preference

Claude Code does all of the above automatically.

System Requirements

System

macOS, Linux, or Windows (WSL)
Node.js 18+
Modern terminal

Subscription

Anthropic account
Claude Pro or Max subscription
Or API credits

Claude Code vs Cursor

Aspect	Claude Code	Cursor
Interface	Terminal	Full IDE
Learning Curve	Higher	Easier for beginners
Flexibility	Higher	Medium
Cost	Pay-per-use	$20/month
Integration	Any tool	VS Code only
Autonomy	Very high	Medium

Who Is Claude Code For?

✅ Good fit if you:

Like working in Terminal
Have large, complex projects
Want high automation
Need tool flexibility

❌ May not suit you if:

You're a beginner programmer
You prefer GUIs
Your projects are small and simple

What's Next?

In the next article, we'll explain in detail:

CLI Commands: All available commands
Hooks: How to customize Claude Code behavior
Skills: Extending capabilities