Claude Code: Your AI
Pair Programming
Assistant

Claude Code is a revolutionary AI-powered coding tool that serves as your intelligent pair programming assistant powered by Claude Opus 4.1 and Claude Sonnet 4.5. Designed for modern organizations committed to software development, enabling you to code faster and smarter than ever before.

Unlike traditional code assistants, Claude Code understands your entire codebase context, can make complex edits across multiple files, and follows your natural language instructions with remarkable accuracy.

Sonnet 4.5 is the latest AI model powering Claude Code 2.0, representing a major breakthrough in autonomous coding capabilities:

• Extended Autonomy: Can work continuously for ~30 hours (up from ~7 hours), enabling complex multi-day tasks
• Enhanced Agent Reasoning: Superior ability to plan, execute, and self-correct during long-running development tasks
• Better Code Understanding: Stronger performance on coding benchmarks and complex refactoring operations
• Improved Computer Use: More reliable interaction with development tools and environments
• Long-Duration Reliability: Maintains quality and consistency even in extended coding sessions

Released alongside Claude Code 2.0, Sonnet 4.5 enables the rewindable checkpoints and IDE-native features that make autonomous development safer and more practical. Learn more about /blog/claude-code-2-0.

Claude Code 2.0 introduced a native VS Code extension that brings AI assistance directly into your editor. Here's how to get started:

1. Install the Extension: Search for "Claude Code" in the VS Code marketplace or visit the VS Code Extension Marketplace
2. Authenticate: Sign in with your Claude account (requires Max subscription for beta access)
3. Open the Sidebar: Click the Claude icon in the VS Code activity bar to open the assistant panel
4. Start Coding: Describe what you want to build or change in natural language
5. Review Changes: Claude will show inline diffs with proposed changes directly in your editor
6. Accept or Rewind: Use the accept button or press Esc Esc to undo changes

Key Features in VS Code:

• Real-time inline diffs showing exactly what will change
• Sidebar chat for continuous collaboration with Claude
• Auto-checkpoints before every change for safe experimentation
• Seamless integration with your existing VS Code workflow
• No need to switch between terminal and editor

Check out our /blog/claude-code-2-0 for detailed instructions and best practices.

Claude Code transforms your development workflow by providing intelligent assistance throughout the entire development process:

• Code Understanding: Claude Code can analyze and understand your entire codebase, including dependencies, architecture, and patterns.
• Efficient Coding: Write code faster with intelligent suggestions and auto-completions that understand your project context.
• Debugging Support: Get help identifying and fixing bugs with contextual understanding of your code.
• Refactoring Assistance: Safely refactor code with intelligent suggestions for improvements.
• Documentation Generation: Create high-quality documentation for your code automatically.
• Learning and Skill Development: Learn new programming concepts, frameworks, and best practices directly in your coding environment.

Claude Code offers a comprehensive set of powerful features designed to enhance every aspect of your development experience:

• Intelligent Code Understanding: Deep semantic analysis of your codebase with context-aware suggestions
• Real-time Collaboration: Seamless pair programming experience with your AI assistant
• Full-stack Development Support: Assistance across all languages and frameworks
• Semantic Code Search: Find relevant code by describing functionality in natural language
• Live Code Editing: Get intelligent suggestions while you write code
• Project-wide Refactoring: Safely improve your codebase with comprehensive changes
• Database Design: Get help designing and optimizing database schemas
• API Development: Assistance creating and documenting APIs
• Git Integration: Seamless integration with version control workflows
• MCP Protocol Support: Advanced multi-agent collaboration features

Getting started with Claude Code is simple. Follow these steps:

1. Connect Your Repository: Link Claude Code to your Git repository or local development environment
2. Describe Your Task: Tell Claude Code what you need help with using natural language
3. Review & Collaborate: Work with Claude as it provides intelligent suggestions and code edits

Claude Code seamlessly integrates with your existing development workflow and tools. Check out our /install for detailed instructions for your specific environment.

Yes, Claude Code is built with security as a foundational principle. We implement enterprise-grade security measures to protect your code and intellectual property:

• Local Processing Options: Code can be processed locally without leaving your environment
• End-to-End Encryption: All data in transit is encrypted using industry-standard protocols
• Data Isolation: Your code is processed in isolated environments
• No Training on Your Code: We never use your proprietary code to train our models
• SOC 2 Compliance: Our infrastructure follows strict security standards
• Access Controls: Granular permission settings for team environments

Our secure integration ensures that your codebase remains protected while still benefiting from AI assistance.

Absolutely! Claude Code excels at real-time processing and problem-solving. It can:

• Analyze code issues as you type and suggest improvements
• Help debug complex problems by understanding the full context
• Suggest optimizations for performance bottlenecks
• Provide immediate assistance for coding challenges
• Help implement new features based on your specifications
• Generate test cases to verify your solutions

Claude Code's real-time capabilities make it an invaluable partner for tackling difficult programming challenges and accelerating your development process.

Claude Code supports a comprehensive range of programming languages and technologies, including:

Claude Code's language support is continuously expanding, and it can also help with configuration files, build scripts, and documentation in various formats.

Claude Code distinguishes itself from other AI coding assistants in several key ways:

• Whole Codebase Understanding: Unlike most assistants that only see snippets, Claude Code can understand your entire project's context.
• Advanced Reasoning: Powered by Claude Opus 4.1 and Claude Sonnet 4.5, our assistant has superior reasoning capabilities for complex coding tasks.
• Multi-file Edits: Can make coordinated changes across multiple files to implement features or fixes.
• Human-like Collaboration: Works more like a human pair programmer with natural conversation and explanations.
• Learning Your Style: Adapts to your coding style and preferences over time.
• MCP Protocol: Supports Multi-agent Collaboration Protocol for more sophisticated workflows.

While other AI coding tools offer helpful suggestions, Claude Code functions as a true collaborator that understands your project goals and can help implement complex features from start to finish. See our /comparison to learn more.

Yes, Claude Code is an excellent learning companion for programmers at all skill levels:

• Provides contextual explanations of code concepts as you work
• Can generate example code to demonstrate programming patterns
• Offers interactive tutorials for learning new frameworks or languages
• Suggests best practices and improvements to your code
• Can simplify complex documentation into practical examples
• Answers questions about how to implement specific features

Claude Code bridges the gap between theory and practice by providing real-time guidance in your actual coding environment, making it easier to apply new concepts immediately in your projects. Explore our /guides for structured learning paths.