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Claude Code

Claude Code is Claude's command-line tool for software development. It reads your entire codebase, understands how it fits together, and writes, edits, and runs code — not just suggests it.

This one is not for everyone. If you're not a developer, or you don't manage developers, this page probably isn't for you yet. Come back to it when it becomes relevant.

What it actually does​

Standard AI coding tools (GitHub Copilot, Cursor) work at the level of individual files or functions — you highlight something, it suggests a change.

Claude Code works at the level of the whole project. You describe what you want to build or fix, and it:

  • Reads the relevant files across the entire codebase
  • Works out what needs to change and where
  • Makes the edits across multiple files simultaneously
  • Runs the code, reads the error, fixes the problem
  • Iterates until it works

You're directing, not typing. The distinction is significant.

What this means in practice​

For developers: the ceiling of what one person can build shifts considerably. Tasks that would take a day get done in an hour. You can move across unfamiliar codebases faster. The bottleneck becomes knowing what to build, not how to build it.

For non-technical founders or MDs: if you manage a development team, this is worth understanding. Claude Code changes the throughput of a small dev team substantially. It's worth a conversation with your developers about whether they're using it.

How it works​

Claude Code runs in your terminal. You open it in a project directory and describe what you want:

"Add a CSV export button to the reports page"

"There's a bug where new users aren't getting the welcome email — find it and fix it"

"Refactor the authentication module to use the new library we added"

It reads the code, reasons about what needs to change, makes the changes, and checks its work. You review, approve, or redirect.

Who it's designed for​

  • Developers who want to move faster, especially across large or unfamiliar codebases
  • Technical founders building their own product
  • Small teams where developers are wearing multiple hats

It's not a replacement for understanding code — you still need to review what it produces and understand whether it's right. But the volume and speed of what's possible increases substantially.

Getting started​

Claude Code is available via the Claude CLI. You'll need a Claude Max subscription.

Anthropic's documentation is the best place to start: docs.anthropic.com/claude-code

note

If you're a non-technical founder curious about building something with AI — Claude Code, combined with a clear brief and some patience, has enabled people with limited coding background to build real tools. It's not trivial, but it's more accessible than it used to be.