Claude Code

Claude Code is Anthropic's coding-agent harness. These notes describe the tool environment, not the underlying Claude model.

Summary

Claude Code is Anthropic's coding-agent harness. These notes describe the tool environment, not the underlying Claude model.

Instruction files

CLAUDE.md

Repository-level instruction files this harness reads. Treat their effective permissions as part of the setup.

Recommended

  • Put durable project-specific instructions in the repository's supported CLAUDE.md scope.
  • Choose permission settings deliberately for the work being performed.
  • Use non-interactive output modes only when their structured behavior fits the workflow.

Avoid

  • Attributing CLAUDE.md discovery or CLI permission behavior to the model.
  • Skipping permission checks without understanding the consequences.

Context & tool use

Claude Code exposes interactive and print modes, configurable tool permissions, and project-scoped memory behavior.

Evidence

official

Sources