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 turn into more and more subtle, with instruments like Aider displaying how highly effective command-line AI integration could be for improvement workflows. As a draw back, these instruments typically require you to be taught 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 need to do utilizing pure language.
Getting Began
Obtain the challenge supplies through the Obtain Supplies hyperlink on the high and backside of this web page. Subsequent, unzip the challenge someplace for later use.
To comply with together with this tutorial, you’ll must 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 way to 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 work out and execute the steps to do it, reasonably than simply operating one particular command at a time. As an alternative of getting to change 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 wise assistant that may show you how to with something it’s good 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.
Establishing Claude Code
Earlier than delving into the set up, it’s good 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 via tokens rapidly.
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 beneath 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
Whenever you run Claude Code for the primary time, it’s going to ask you to set a shade mode, select no matter seems finest in your terminal. After that, you’ll get requested to your login technique:
When you have a Claude Professional or Max account, select possibility 1 right here and it’ll attempt to open an internet browser to sign up 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 effectively, you need to see a field with a message asking you if you happen to belief the recordsdata within the folder just like the one beneath.
Select no for now and prepare to discover ways to use Claude Code.
Making a Venture From Scratch
To get your ft moist, begin by making a contemporary Python challenge utilizing Claude Code.
Create a brand new folder to your challenge and title 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 recordsdata 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, strive saying “Hey”.
Claude will “suppose” for a short time earlier than responding.
To get Claude to create a challenge 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 several types of phrases (nouns, verbs, adjectives, and so forth.)
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
Be aware: All the time be particular in your prompts, don’t count on Claude to learn your thoughts. For the perfect outcomes, add clear particulars and context. Brief and imprecise prompts will lead to 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 effectively 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 desires to jot down, adopted by a query just like the one beneath:
You have got three choices right here:
- Sure: this may permit Claude to jot 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 recordsdata.
- No: Claude received’t write the file and can look forward to a brand new immediate.
Examine if the code seems good after which press Enter to proceed and select the default possibility for now, which is “sure”.
At this level you possibly can test if the file really exists within the challenge folder.
For such a easy challenge, there’s an excellent likelihood Claude will use a single file. If it does ask to jot down extra, reply with sure.
As soon as Claude is completed, it’s going to write a abstract of what it has executed and directions so that you can comply with up. I acquired the next message:
Attempt operating the challenge as instructed and test if the whole lot works as anticipated. For me, it labored, and I acquired the next output:
A very good begin, however you possibly can refine it to make it higher. For instance, if you happen to thought it wasn’t clear what sort of phrases it needed, 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 alright to edit a file:
Select possibility 2 right here so future edits could be utilized with out having to ask you.
Now strive operating the challenge once more with the enhancements in place.
This back-and-forth is prime 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 present initiatives and the way to get essentially the most out of Claude Code.
