Claude Code Overview (official docs)

Source: https://code.claude.com/docs/en/overview

"Claude Code is an agentic coding tool that reads your codebase, edits files, runs commands, and integrates with your development tools. Available in your terminal, IDE, desktop app, and browser."

Surfaces

Surface	Notes
Terminal CLI	claude command. Native install via curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash (mac/Linux/WSL) or iex (irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1) (Windows). Also Homebrew (brew install --cask claude-code), WinGet, apt/dnf/apk.
VS Code / Cursor	Inline diffs, @-mentions, plan review, history.
JetBrains	Plugin for IntelliJ, PyCharm, WebStorm, etc.
Desktop app	macOS, Windows, Windows ARM64. Visual diff review, parallel sessions, schedules, cloud sessions.
Web	claude.ai/code — long-running tasks, multi-task parallelism.

Each surface connects to the same engine; CLAUDE.md, settings, MCP servers work across all of them.

What Claude Code can do

• Automate tedious tasks (tests for untested code, lint sweeps, dep upgrades).
• Build features and fix bugs from natural-language descriptions.
• Git operations: commits, branches, PRs.
• Connect tools via MCP.
• CLAUDE.md memory + auto memory.
• Skills for repeatable workflows.
• Hooks for pre/post action shell commands.
• Sub-agents and agent teams.
• Pipe-and-script CLI usage (tail -200 app.log | claude -p "Slack me if you see anomalies").
• Scheduled tasks (Routines on Anthropic infra, Desktop scheduled tasks, /loop).
• Multi-surface continuity: Remote Control, Dispatch from mobile, claude --teleport, /desktop handoff.
• Slack: @Claude in a channel for bug-report-to-PR.

CLI pipe patterns

tail -200 app.log | claude -p "Slack me if you see any anomalies"
claude -p "translate new strings into French and raise a PR for review"
git diff main --name-only | claude -p "review these changed files for security issues"

Integration matrix

Need	Option
Continue local session from phone	Remote Control
Push events from Telegram/Discord/iMessage/webhooks	Channels
Start local, continue mobile	Web + iOS app
Recurring schedule	Routines, Desktop scheduled tasks
Automate PR review / triage	GitHub Actions, GitLab CI/CD
Auto code review on every PR	GitHub Code Review
Slack bug reports → PRs	Slack integration
Debug web apps	Chrome integration
Build custom agents	Agent SDK

Subscription / auth

Most surfaces need a Claude subscription or Anthropic Console account. Terminal CLI and VS Code support third-party providers (Bedrock, Vertex).

Documentation URL change

Documentation moved from docs.claude.com/en/docs/claude-code/* → code.claude.com/docs/en/*. Update any bookmarks; old URLs 301 to the new location.

Why this matters for CCA-F

The cert tests Claude Code as a platform, not just a CLI. Memorize:

• Surfaces and what works where.
• That CLAUDE.md / settings / MCP follow you across surfaces.
• Routines vs Desktop scheduled tasks vs /loop (the difference is execution location and trigger model).
• That Agent SDK is the foundation for custom agents.