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 may be for improvement workflows. As a draw back, these instruments usually require you to study particular instructions and syntax to speak successfully with the AI.
Claude Code builds on this basis with a extra intuitive strategy. As an alternative of memorizing instructions, you possibly can describe what you wish to do utilizing pure language.
Getting Began
Obtain the mission supplies by way of the Obtain Supplies hyperlink on the high and backside of this web page. Subsequent, unzip the mission 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 better take a look at what you are able to do with Claude Code and the right way to set up it.
What’s Claude Code?
Claude Code is an agentic command line device. That’s a flowery time period for a CLI program that may perceive what you wish to accomplish after which work out and execute the steps to do it, somewhat than simply operating one particular command at a time. As an alternative of getting to modify forwards and backwards between your code editor and an AI chat tab, you possibly can delegate coding duties on to Claude proper out of your command line.
Consider it as a sensible assistant that may enable you to with something you might want to do, with entry to a variety of instruments and assets. It’s designed to streamline your improvement course of by bringing Claude‘s coding capabilities proper the place you’re already working.
Organising Claude Code
Earlier than delving into the set up, you might want to know that utilizing Claude Code isn’t free.
Claude Code wants both a Claude subscription or an Anthropic API key to perform. When you 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 possibility you go together with, the following step is to put in Claude Code!
Set up
Open a brand new terminal window and run the command under to put in Claude Code:
npm set up -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code
It is best to see the next message after the set up is full:
Configuring Claude Code
Once you run Claude Code for the primary time, it would ask you to set a colour mode, select no matter appears to be like finest in your terminal. After that, you’ll get requested on your login technique:
In case you have a Claude Professional or Max account, select possibility 1 right here and it’ll attempt to open an internet browser to check in together with your account. When you favor to make use of your Anthropic Console account, select possibility 2 and enter your API key when requested.
Be aware: If the browser window doesn’t open routinely, you possibly can 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, it’s best to see a field with a message asking you in the event you belief the information within the folder just like the one under.
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 mission utilizing Claude Code.
Create a brand new folder on your mission and identify it “hello_claude_code“. Open a brand new terminal in that folder and run the next command:
claude
If it asks in the event you belief the information within the folder, select sure. It is best 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, attempt saying “Hi there”.
Claude will “suppose” for a short time earlier than responding.
To get Claude to create a mission for you, copy and paste the next immediate into the terminal and press Enter:
Create a Mad Libs Python program that:
1. Prompts the person for various kinds of phrases (nouns, verbs, adjectives, and many others.)
2. Shops a enjoyable story template with placeholders
3. Substitutes the person'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
Be aware: All the time be particular in your prompts, don’t anticipate Claude to learn your thoughts. For the very best outcomes, add clear particulars and context. Quick and obscure 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 a substitute give you a plan of motion.
If all goes nicely Claude will wish to write a file. It received’t do that with out asking on your permission, so that you’ll see the code it needs to write down, adopted by a query just like the one under:
You might have three choices right here:
- Sure: this can permit Claude to write down this specific file.
- Sure, and don’t ask once more this session: Claude will write this file and received’t ask you once more if it might probably write information.
- No: Claude received’t write the file and can look ahead to a brand new immediate.
Examine if the code appears to be like good after which press Enter to proceed and select the default possibility for now, which is “sure”.
At this level you possibly can examine if the file really exists within the mission folder.
For such a easy mission, there’s 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 would write a abstract of what it has accomplished and directions so that you can comply with up. I received the next message:
Strive operating the mission as instructed and examine if every part works as anticipated. For me, it labored, and I received the next output:
A superb begin, however you possibly can refine it to make it higher. For instance, in the event you 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 all the time clear what was anticipated of me.
This time, Claude will ask if it’s okay to edit a file:
Select possibility 2 right here so future edits may be utilized with out having to ask you.
Now attempt operating the mission once more with the enhancements in place.
This back-and-forth is prime to working with Claude Code. Making gradual adjustments 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 initiatives and the right way to get probably the most out of Claude Code.
