A practitioner's guide to Claude Code.
Claude Code is Anthropic's CLI for using Claude as a coding partner in your terminal. This guide is a short, opinionated orientation from people who use it every day. It is not affiliated with Anthropic.
What Claude Code actually is
Claude Code runs Claude inside your working directory. It reads files, proposes edits, executes commands you approve, and iterates. Think of it as a senior engineer you can pair with on any repository, not a chat window bolted onto your editor.
Setting it up
Follow Anthropic's current install steps for the CLI, sign in, and open it from the root of a real project. A minimal starting posture that holds up over time:
- Start each session with a clear, bounded objective.
- Keep the repository clean so diffs stay readable.
- Review every proposed edit before accepting.
- Commit in small, meaningful chunks.
Habits that separate serious practice
The gap between casual use and serious practice is not model quality. It is workflow. Practitioners who ship keep sessions scoped, write down what worked, keep a personal library of prompts and skills, and pair regularly with someone further along than they are.
The CCCA credential
The Certified Claude Code Architect (CCCA) is an Anthropic Academy credential issued via Skilljar. Get My Claude Coach is an independent training partner: our coaches help you prepare, but the credential itself is not ours to grant.
Frequently asked
What is Claude Code?
Claude Code is Anthropic's command-line interface for using Claude as a coding partner directly inside your terminal and editor. It reads your repository, edits files, runs commands, and pairs on tasks like refactors, tests, and reviews.
How do I install Claude Code?
Install the CLI from Anthropic's official distribution channel, sign in with your Anthropic account, and run it from the root of a repository. Always follow the current install steps on Anthropic's documentation; version and package details change often.
What is the CCCA credential?
The Certified Claude Code Architect (CCCA) is an Anthropic Academy credential for practitioners who ship serious work with Claude Code. Get My Claude Coach is an independent training partner; the credential itself is issued by Anthropic Academy via Skilljar.
How do I get better at Claude Code?
Work on real problems, keep sessions scoped, write down what worked, and get feedback from a practitioner who ships. A coach on our network reviews your practice, your prompts, and your workflow so improvement compounds instead of drifting.