The period of getting to copy-paste code from an AI chat tab into your code editor has come to an finish some time in the past. AI-powered coding assistants have change into more and more subtle, with instruments like Aider exhibiting how highly effective command-line AI integration will be for growth workflows. As a draw back, these instruments typically require you to study particular instructions and syntax to speak successfully with the AI.
Claude Code builds on this basis with a extra intuitive method. As a substitute of memorizing instructions, you may describe what you need to do utilizing pure language.
Getting Began
Obtain the venture supplies through the Obtain Supplies hyperlink on the prime and backside of this web page. Subsequent, unzip the venture someplace for later use.
To comply with together with this tutorial, you’ll have to have the next put in:
With that taken care of, it’s time to take a more in-depth take a look at what you are able to do with Claude Code and how one can set up it.
What’s Claude Code?
Claude Code is an agentic command line instrument. That’s a elaborate time period for a CLI program that may perceive what you need to accomplish after which determine and execute the steps to do it, moderately than simply working one particular command at a time. As a substitute of getting to modify forwards and backwards between your code editor and an AI chat tab, you may delegate coding duties on to Claude proper out of your command line.
Consider it as a wise assistant that may show you how to with something it’s essential do, with entry to a variety of instruments and sources. It’s designed to streamline your growth course of by bringing Claude‘s coding capabilities proper the place you’re already working.
Establishing Claude Code
Earlier than delving into the set up, it’s essential know that utilizing Claude Code isn’t free.
Claude Code wants both a Claude subscription or an Anthropic API key to operate. If you happen to can swing it, I’d strongly suggest getting an annual Claude Professional subscription — it’s way more cost-effective than paying per API name since Claude Code can burn by means of tokens shortly.
Undecided if Claude Code is price it? Seize an API key and cargo it with $10 in credit score. That’ll get you thru this tutorial with some tokens left over to experiment.
No matter choice you go along with, the following step is to put in Claude Code!
Set up
Open a brand new terminal window and run the command beneath to put in Claude Code:
npm set up -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code
You need to see the next message after the set up is full:
Configuring Claude Code
Whenever you run Claude Code for the primary time, it can ask you to set a coloration mode, select no matter appears to be like finest in your terminal. After that, you’ll get requested to your login methodology:
In case you have a Claude Professional or Max account, select choice 1 right here and it’ll attempt to open an internet browser to register along with your account. If you happen to choose to make use of your Anthropic Console account, select choice 2 and enter your API key when requested.
Notice: If the browser window doesn’t open routinely, you may copy the URL from the terminal and paste it into your browser manually to get the code. Copy that code and paste it again into the terminal when prompted.
When you’re logged in, you’ll get a last disclaimer. Press Enter to dismiss it and also you’ll be good to go.
If all went nicely, you must see a field with a message asking you if you happen to belief the information within the folder just like the one beneath.
Select no for now and prepare to discover ways to use Claude Code.
Making a Challenge From Scratch
To get your toes moist, begin by making a contemporary Python venture utilizing Claude Code.
Create a brand new folder to your venture and identify it “hello_claude_code“. Open a brand new terminal in that folder and run the next command:
claude
If it asks if you happen to belief the information within the folder, select sure. You need to now see the welcome message and a immediate enter.
Speaking with Claude
Now you can begin speaking with Claude Code. Kind your immediate and press Enter to ship it to Claude. For a primary immediate, strive saying “Hiya”.
Claude will “assume” for a short time earlier than responding.
To get Claude to create a venture for you, copy and paste the next immediate into the terminal and press Enter:
Create a Mad Libs Python program that:
1. Prompts the consumer for various kinds of phrases (nouns, verbs, adjectives, and so on.)
2. Shops a enjoyable story template with placeholders
3. Substitutes the consumer's phrases into the story
4. Shows the finished foolish story
5. Contains enter validation and the choice to play once more
6. Use clear variable names and add useful feedback
Notice: At all times be particular in your prompts, don’t anticipate Claude to learn your thoughts. For the perfect outcomes, add clear particulars and context. Brief and imprecise prompts will end in less-than-ideal outcomes.
After a a while, the agent side of Claude Code will kick in. It received’t write code within the terminal simply but, however will as an alternative give you a plan of motion.
If all goes nicely Claude will need to write a file. It received’t do that with out asking to your permission, so that you’ll see the code it needs to write down, adopted by a query just like the one beneath:
You may have three choices right here:
- Sure: this may permit Claude to write down this explicit file.
- Sure, and don’t ask once more this session: Claude will write this file and received’t ask you once more if it may well write information.
- No: Claude received’t write the file and can watch for a brand new immediate.
Examine if the code appears to be like good after which press Enter to proceed and select the default choice for now, which is “sure”.
At this level you may examine if the file truly exists within the venture folder.
For such a easy venture, there’s a superb likelihood Claude will use a single file. If it does ask to write down extra, reply with sure.
As soon as Claude is completed, it can write a abstract of what it has accomplished and directions so that you can comply with up. I received the next message:
Strive working the venture as instructed and examine if every little thing works as anticipated. For me, it labored, and I received the next output:
A very good begin, however you may refine it to make it higher. For instance, if you happen to thought it wasn’t clear what sort of phrases it wished, suggest so as to add examples to every phrase immediate:
Please add examples to every phrase immediate. It wasn't at all times clear what was anticipated of me.
This time, Claude will ask if it’s okay to edit a file:
Select choice 2 right here so future edits will be utilized with out having to ask you.
Now strive working the venture once more with the enhancements in place.
This back-and-forth is key to working with Claude Code. Making gradual modifications and iterating on the outcomes is an effective way to refine your code.
Shut the terminal window and prepare to dive deeper. Within the subsequent part, you’ll discover ways to work with current tasks and how one can get probably the most out of Claude Code.
