AI programming has transitioned from the era of dialogue to the era of agents. The Claude Code launched by Anthropic is no longer a passive dialogue box for answering questions, but a virtual programmer with "hands" and "eyes". It can directly operate your file system, run terminal commands, execute git commits, and work with Claude 3.7 Sonnet's reasoning ability to independently complete complex development tasks.

1、 Core principle: Why is it stronger than traditional plugins?

Traditional AI plugins (such as Copilot) mainly focus on "code completion", while Claude Code is an agent loop that operates in a loop:

1. Observe: Read your code directory structure and file contents.

2. Think: Activate the "deep thinking" mode to analyze logical dependencies across files.

3. Act: Automatically execute terminal commands (such as testing, searching, building) or modify code.

4. Verify: Automatically correct the plan based on the execution results (such as error messages) until the task is completed.

2、 Environmental Preparation (Pit Avoidance Guide)

Before starting, please ensure that your system meets the following conditions:

1. Software environment

Node.js: Must be version 18.19.0 or higher.

Operating System: Supports macOS, Linux, and Windows (WSLs). Note: The native CMD/PowerShell experience on Windows is slightly inferior to that of WSLs.

Git: It is recommended to use it in a Git repository for Claude to easily view commit history and perform version rollback.

2. Account and API Key

You need an Anthropic Console account.

Important: Ensure that your API balance is sufficient. Claude Code's Agent mode involves extensive file reading and deep thinking, resulting in faster token consumption compared to regular conversations.

3、 Installation and initialization process

1. Global installation

Open the terminal and execute:

Bash

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

2. Initial startup and authentication

Enter claim on the terminal:

Bash

claude 

At this point, the terminal will display a 15 minute valid verification code and automatically open the browser. Login to your Anthropic account and confirm authorization to complete the binding.

3. Project initialization (key steps)

Go to the root directory of your project and run:

Bash

claude 

At this point, Claude will inquire whether to create CLAUDE.md in the project. Please make sure to select 'Yes'!

4、 Mastering the 'Soul File': CLAUDE.md

If Claude Code is the brain, CLAUDE.md is its operating manual. This file determines whether the agent can work like your team's senior developers.

Suggest including the following content in CLAUDE.md:

Build and test commands: such as npm run test or make build.

Code style: For example, "use tab indentation" and "prohibit type, use interface uniformly".

Common path: Tell it which folder the core business logic is located in.

Example template:

Markdown

#Project Guide

##Common commands

-Build: npm run build

-Test: npm run test: unit

-Format: npm run lint: fix

##Coding standards

-Prioritize using functional components.

-Unified use of Zustand for status management.

-All API requests must be placed in the/src/app directory.

5、 Practical Exercise: What can you make it do?

Scenario A: Autonomous Debug (most commonly used)

Instruction: "Run npm test. If an error occurs, please help me fix all failed test cases. ”

Agent action: It will first run a test, analyze the error logs one by one upon seeing the red error, locate the source code, and automatically retest after making changes until it is completely green.

Scenario B: Cross file Refactoring

Instruction: "I have added an email field to the User interface. Please help me synchronize and update the frontend form and backend mock data. ”

Agent action: It searches the entire project, finds all places that reference the User interface, and modifies multiple files at once.

Scenario C: Understanding a Large Code Base

Instruction: "How does this project handle permission verification? Please track the entire process from login to route interception

Agent action: It will perform grep search for keywords, read multiple files, and finally provide you with a detailed process report.

6、 Common slash instructions and interactions

At the claude>prompt, you can use the shortcut command:

Instruction: Purpose

1. Permission confirmation: By default, Claude will query [y/N] when modifying files or executing commands. Although the - y mode can be enabled, it is recommended to manually review it before becoming familiar with its logic.

2. Token consumption: Claude 3.7's "Extended Thinking" mode generates a large number of internal tokens when dealing with extremely complex problems. If it's just a simple code modification, you can turn off deep mode appropriately according to the prompts to save money.

3. Ignore files: It will strictly adhere to your. gitignore, so don't worry about it reading your. env sensitive files.

8、 Summary: From "Writing Code" to "Solving Problems"

The emergence of Claude Code marks a shift from "prompt driven development" to "goal driven development". You no longer need to tell AI how to write every line, you just need to give it a goal, and it will try, error, learn, and ultimately deliver like a novice developer.

Have you figured out which old bug you want this 24-hour standby agent to help you solve?