Can you use Claude Code with multiple codebases simultaneously?

Yes, open a separate terminal window for each codebase. Each Claude Code instance runs independently with its own context and session.

Does Claude Code work on Windows?

Yes, Claude Code works smoothly on Windows via WSL2 (Windows Subsystem for Linux). Install WSL2, then install Claude Code within the Linux environment. You can edit files in Visual Studio Code while Claude Code runs in the WSL terminal.

Can you use Claude Code on a VPS/remote server?

Yes, Claude Code can be installed and run on VPS with proper security setup. This allows you to work on projects with more computational resources or maintain persistent sessions. Ensure proper firewall configuration and secure access methods.

How do you stop Claude Code from asking for permissions every time?

Use Shift+Tab to enable auto-accept mode, or configure allowedTools in ~/.claude.json for granular control. Avoid --dangerously-skip-permissions as it removes all safety checks.

How do I enable auto-accept mode in Claude Code?

Press Shift+Tab repeatedly to cycle through modes until you see 'auto-accept edit on' in the UI. This eliminates permission prompts for file edits and operations.

What's the difference between auto-accept mode and plan mode?

Auto-accept mode eliminates permission prompts for immediate execution, while plan mode restricts Claude to read-only research until you approve a plan. They represent opposite ends of the safety spectrum.

Can I customize which tools are auto-accepted in Claude Code?

Yes, configure allowedTools in your ~/.claude.json file to specify exactly which operations proceed without prompts. This provides granular control over permissions.

What is --dangerously-skip-permissions in Claude Code?

A CLI flag that bypasses all safety checks and permission prompts. However, configuring allowedTools provides better security with similar workflow benefits.

Is --dangerously-skip-permissions safe to use?

No, it removes all safety guardrails and can lead to system damage. Use explicit allowedTools configuration instead for secure automation.

What's the difference between auto-accept and dangerous skip permissions?

Auto-accept uses UI toggle (Shift+Tab) with configurable restrictions, while dangerous skip is a CLI flag that bypasses ALL safety checks. Auto-accept is the safer approach.

How should you structure your CLAUDE.md file?

Break it into clear sections using markdown headers to organize different workflows. Include specific examples and step-by-step procedures rather than general instructions. Tell Claude exactly which files it should read or avoid. Since Claude follows CLAUDE.md more strictly than prompts, be thorough and specific.

How do I configure an MCP server with Claude Code?

Configure MCP servers in ~/.claude.json or ~/.claude/mcp_servers.json to connect external tools. See Configuration for setup details.

How do you add multiple working directories in Claude Code?

Use the --add-dir CLI argument to access multiple directories beyond your current working directory. For example: claude --add-dir /path/to/other/project or claude --add-dir ../backend-api to work across multiple repositories simultaneously. This enables cross-project collaboration while maintaining context.

How do you activate Plan Mode in Claude Code?

Press Shift+Tab twice in Claude Code version 1.0.16+

What does Auto-Compact mean in Claude Code?

When context window approaches limit, Claude Code automatically summarizes the conversation to free up space and continue working. You can also manually compact using /compact command.

What is the Task tool in Claude Code and when should you use it?

The Task tool launches parallel sub-agents. Each Task creates a sub-agent, indicated within the Claude Code UI by a flashing bubble that turns green when complete.

What is Todo List in Claude Code?

Claude Code includes a built-in todo list system that tracks progress and shows what Claude plans to do next during your coding session. Todo items have three states: pending, in_progress, and completed.

How do you enable terminal bell notifications in Claude Code?

Enable terminal bell notifications with 'claude config set --global preferredNotifChannel terminal_bell' to get audio alerts when Claude completes tasks. Test with 'echo -e "\a"' to verify your terminal supports bell sounds. No restart required after configuration.

Can I use Claude Code with the Pro subscription?

Yes, Claude Code works with Claude Pro, but you're limited to the Claude 4 Sonnet model and have lower usage limits compared to Claude Max.

What's the difference between Claude Max 5X and regular Pro for Claude Code?

Claude Max 5X provides 5x higher usage limits and access to Claude 4 Opus in Claude Code. Pro plan can only use Sonnet and Haiku in Claude Code. With Max using Sonnet you rarely hit limits; with Opus you hit limits after ~2 hours.

Should you use many small files or few large files with Claude Code?

Use many small files organized by logical boundaries. This reduces context window usage since Claude only loads relevant files, improves code comprehension, and prevents token waste from loading massive files for small changes.

Where can I find additional tools, extensions, and community projects for Claude Code?

Check out Awesome Claude Code (https://github.com/hesreallyhim/awesome-claude-code) for a curated collection of community tools, extensions, tips, and additional resources.

What is CLAUDE.md and why is it important?

CLAUDE.md is a project-specific configuration file that gives Claude Code detailed instructions about your project. It's crucial because Claude follows CLAUDE.md instructions more strictly than regular prompts, making it essential for consistent behavior and optimal results.

How do I install Claude Code?

Install Claude Code using npm: 'npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code'. You'll need Node.js 18.0+ and either an Anthropic API key or Claude Max subscription. Configure with 'claude config' after installation.

Which Claude model should I use with Claude Code?

For most development work, use Claude 4 Sonnet for balanced performance and speed. Use Claude 4 Opus for complex tasks requiring maximum capability. Claude 3.5 Haiku is cost-effective but has limitations for serious development work.

What are the system requirements for Claude Code?

Claude Code requires Node.js 18.0+, 4GB RAM minimum (16GB recommended), 500MB disk space, and internet connectivity. Supports macOS 10.15+, Windows 10+, and Linux (Ubuntu 18.04+, CentOS 7+).

How do I troubleshoot Claude Code installation issues?

Common solutions: 1) Verify Node.js 18.0+ is installed, 2) Check API key setup with 'claude config', 3) Ensure internet connectivity, 4) Try reinstalling with 'npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code --force', 5) For permission issues on macOS/Linux, use sudo or fix npm permissions.

How do I check my Claude Code usage to avoid unexpected API costs?

API users can check usage in the Anthropic Console (https://console.anthropic.com). Subscription users should use the CC Usage tool (https://github.com/ryoppippi/ccusage): install with 'npm install -g ccusage', then run 'ccusage' for detailed token and cost breakdowns.

Is Claude Code slower on WSL compared to native Linux?

Yes, Claude Code typically runs more efficiently on native Linux due to direct system access and reduced overhead. WSL2 introduces virtualization layers that can impact performance, especially for file operations and process spawning.

Can Claude Code analyze images and screenshots from my computer?

Yes, Claude Code can analyze images from your computer. Reference image file paths in your conversation or paste images directly into the terminal. Useful for debugging UI issues, analyzing screenshots, and visual documentation.

How do auto-compact, /compact, and /clear work in Claude Code?

Claude Code has three context management options: 1) Auto-compact automatically summarizes conversations when approaching context limits, 2) '/compact [instructions]' lets you manually summarize with specific preservation instructions (e.g., '/compact only keep the names of the websites we reviewed'), and 3) '/clear' starts a fresh conversation. You can disable auto-compact in '/config' for manual control.

Can I use Visual Studio Code with Claude Code on Windows WSL?

Yes, you can edit files in Visual Studio Code while Claude Code runs in the WSL terminal. This provides the best of both worlds: a familiar editor interface with Claude Code's powerful terminal capabilities. VS Code integrates seamlessly with WSL2. To install the Claude Code VS Code extension: 1) Open VS Code, 2) Open the integrated terminal, 3) Run 'claude' - the extension will auto-install, 4) Use '/ide' command in any external terminal to connect to the IDE.

How do I switch between different Claude models in Claude Code?

Use the command line flag '--model' when starting Claude Code. For example: 'claude --model claude-sonnet-4-20250514' for Sonnet 4 or 'claude --model claude-opus-4-20250514' for Opus 4. You can also use '/model' command within an active session to switch models.

How do I set up terminal bell notifications on Windows WSL?

For Windows WSL users, if the standard terminal bell doesn't work, Claude Code can run these PowerShell commands for audio notifications: Default beep: 'powershell.exe -c "[System.Media.SystemSounds]::Beep.Play()"' or Question sound: 'powershell.exe -c "[System.Media.SystemSounds]::Question.Play()"'. Enable notifications with: 'claude config set --global preferredNotifChannel terminal_bell'.

How do sub-agents work in Claude Code and when should I use them?

Sub-agents are parallel task executors that run independently with their own context window. They're useful for tasks requiring multiple file operations or research phases. For example, if Claude needs to write several different files on different topics, each sub-agent can research and write independently. Sub-agents perform tasks significantly faster than the interactive Claude instance.

Do sub-agents consume the main agent's context window?

Sub-agents have their own separate context windows and are provided with the task and light context. Only the results they return consume space in the main agent's context window, not their internal processing. This makes them efficient for complex multi-step tasks.

Can I use both API keys and subscription plans with Claude Code?

Yes, Claude Code supports both Anthropic API keys and Claude subscription plans (Pro and Max). Configure your preferred authentication method with 'claude config'. Subscription users get different usage limits and model access compared to API users.

Why is Claude Code showing 503 error? Is my Claude Code broken?

No, a 503 error indicates server issues, not problems with your Claude Code installation. This means Anthropic's servers are temporarily busy or under maintenance. The error usually resolves in 2-5 minutes automatically. Check https://status.anthropic.com/ for official server status or r/ClaudeAI for community reports.

Is Claude Code down for everyone right now? How do I check if Claude Code is just me?

To check if Claude Code is down for everyone: visit https://status.anthropic.com/ for official status and r/ClaudeAI for user reports. Test other websites to verify your internet connection. Widespread outages show multiple Reddit reports within minutes, while individual issues usually resolve in 1-2 minutes.

Why am I getting Claude Code API errors? Is there a Claude Code API outage?

Claude Code API errors are usually temporary connectivity issues, not API outages. Common causes include connection timeouts, server overload (503 errors), or rate limiting. Check https://status.anthropic.com/ for API status and restart Claude Code. True API outages affecting all users are rare and announced on the status page.

What does Claude Code internal server error mean? How do I fix it?

Claude Code internal server errors are temporary backend processing issues on Anthropic's servers, not problems with your setup. These usually resolve automatically within 1-3 minutes. Check https://status.anthropic.com/ for backend issues and avoid reinstalling Claude Code as it won't help with server-side errors.

Claude Code is Anthropic's official CLI for AI-assisted coding. It's a terminal-based development tool with file management, code analysis, multi-model support, and MCP server integration that works directly in your development environment.

How do I get started with Claude Code?

Install via npm, navigate to your project, run 'claude', then ask 'explain what this repo is about' to get immediate project-specific guidance. The key is understanding the conversation-based workflow that makes it different from traditional coding tools.

What can Claude Code do?

Claude Code handles code analysis, feature development, refactoring, debugging, testing, documentation, and works with virtually any programming language and framework. It can read files directly, make coordinated changes across multiple files, and maintain context throughout your session.

Claude Code is free to install but requires a Claude subscription ($20-200/month) or Anthropic API credits for usage. Claude Pro costs $20/month, Claude Max costs $200/month with higher limits and Opus access, while API pricing is pay-per-use.

How do I write better prompts for Claude Code?

Be specific about what you want, provide context about your project and constraints, set clear scope, and leverage CLAUDE.md for persistent context. Instructions in CLAUDE.md are followed more strictly than prompts, so document your project structure and coding standards there.

How do I use Claude Code for debugging?

Claude Code excels at error analysis, stack trace interpretation, and logic tracing. Provide full error messages and context for best results. It can trace bugs across multiple files, recognize patterns, and identify edge cases that cause failures.

How do I use Claude Code for code review?

Claude Code provides comprehensive code reviews covering quality, security, performance, and best practices. It can analyze entire files or specific functions, check for patterns, and provide detailed improvement suggestions with context awareness.

What programming languages work best with Claude Code?

JavaScript/TypeScript, Python, and Java have excellent support. Claude Code works with virtually any language but excels with popular frameworks and well-structured projects. Python shows the strongest community satisfaction based on user feedback.

What is the difference between Claude API and subscription?

API offers pay-per-use pricing with detailed usage tracking, while subscriptions provide fixed monthly costs ($20 Pro, $200 Max) with predictable billing. API users get dedicated limits and detailed cost breakdowns, while subscription users have shared limits with web usage.

Does Claude Code store my data?

Claude Code sends your code to Anthropic's servers for processing. Consumer products retain data for 30 days standard, with longer retention for flagged content. Enterprise API customers may be eligible for Zero Data Retention agreements. Consider data sensitivity when working with proprietary code.

Claude Code Changelog

Complete version history of Claude Code releases, from early beta versions to the latest stable release. Each version includes feature additions, improvements, bug fixes, and links to relevant documentation. Features are documented in their first release version to help track when specific functionality became available.

Relevant posts: Plan Mode|Auto-Accept Permissions|Dangerous Skip Permissions

v1.0.27

Streamable HTTP MCP servers are now supported
Remote MCP servers (SSE and HTTP) now support OAuth
MCP resources can now be @-mentioned

v1.0.25

Slash commands: moved "project" and "user" prefixes to descriptions
Slash commands: improved reliability for command discovery
Improved support for Ghostty
Improved web search reliability

v1.0.24

Improved /mcp output
Fixed a bug where settings arrays got overwritten instead of merged

v1.0.23

Released TypeScript SDK: import @anthropic-ai/claude-code to get started
Released Python SDK: pip install claude-code-sdk to get started

v1.0.22

SDK: Renamed total_cost to total_cost_usd

v1.0.21

Improved editing of files with tab-based indentation
Fix for tool_use without matching tool_result errors
Fixed a bug where stdio MCP server processes would linger after quitting Claude Code

v1.0.18

Added --add-dir CLI argument for specifying additional working directories
Added streaming input support without require -p flag
Improved startup performance and session storage performance
Added CLAUDE_BASH_MAINTAIN_PROJECT_WORKING_DIR environment variable to freeze working directory for bash commands
Added detailed MCP server tools display (/mcp)
MCP authentication and permission improvements
Added auto-reconnection for MCP SSE connections on disconnect
Fixed issue where pasted content was lost when dialogs appeared

v1.0.17

We now emit messages from sub-tasks in -p mode (look for the parent_tool_use_id property)
Fixed crashes when the VS Code diff tool is invoked multiple times quickly
MCP server list UI improvements
Update Claude Code process title to display claude instead of node

v1.0.11

Claude Code can now also be used with a Claude Pro subscription
Added /upgrade for smoother switching to Claude Max plans
Improved UI for authentication from API keys and Bedrock/Vertex/external auth tokens
Improved shell configuration error handling
Improved todo list handling during compaction

See Also: Pricing | Model Comparison | Installation

v1.0.10

Added markdown table support
Improved streaming performance

v1.0.8

Fixed Vertex AI region fallback when using CLOUD_ML_REGION
Increased default otel interval from 1s -> 5s
Fixed edge cases where MCP_TIMEOUT and MCP_TOOL_TIMEOUT weren't being respected
Fixed a regression where search tools unnecessarily asked for permissions
Added support for triggering thinking non-English languages
Improved compacting UI

v1.0.7

Renamed /allowed-tools -> /permissions
Migrated allowedTools and ignorePatterns from .claude.json -> settings.json
Deprecated claude config commands in favor of editing settings.json
Fixed a bug where --dangerously-skip-permissions sometimes didn't work in --print mode
Improved error handling for /install-github-app
Bugfixes, UI polish, and tool reliability improvements

v1.0.6

Improved edit reliability for tab-indented files
Respect CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR everywhere
Reduced unnecessary tool permission prompts
Added support for symlinks in @file typeahead
Bugfixes, UI polish, and tool reliability improvements

v1.0.1

Added DISABLE_INTERLEAVED_THINKING to give users the option to opt out of interleaved thinking
Improved model references to show provider-specific names (Sonnet 3.7 for Bedrock, Sonnet 4 for Console)
Updated documentation links and OAuth process descriptions

v1.0.0

Claude Code is now generally available
Introducing Sonnet 4 and Opus 4 models

v0.2.125

Breaking change: Bedrock ARN passed to ANTHROPIC_MODEL or ANTHROPIC_SMALL_FAST_MODEL should no longer contain an escaped slash (specify / instead of %2F)
Removed DEBUG=true in favor of ANTHROPIC_LOG=debug, to log all requests

v0.2.117

Breaking change: --print JSON output now returns nested message objects, for forwards-compatibility as we introduce new metadata fields
Introduced settings.cleanupPeriodDays
Introduced CLAUDE_CODE_API_KEY_HELPER_TTL_MS env var
Introduced --debug mode

v0.2.108

You can now send messages to Claude while it works to steer Claude in real-time
Introduced BASH_DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_MS and BASH_MAX_TIMEOUT_MS env vars
Fixed a bug where thinking was not working in -p mode
Fixed a regression in /cost reporting
Deprecated MCP wizard interface in favor of other MCP commands
Lots of other bugfixes and improvements

v0.2.107

CLAUDE.md files can now import other files. Add @path/to/file.md to ./CLAUDE.md to load additional files on launch

v0.2.106

MCP SSE server configs can now specify custom headers
Fixed a bug where MCP permission prompt didn't always show correctly

v0.2.105

Claude can now search the web
Moved system & account status to /status
Added word movement keybindings for Vim
Improved latency for startup, todo tool, and file edits

v0.2.102

Improved thinking triggering reliability
Improved @mention reliability for images and folders
You can now paste multiple large chunks into one prompt

v0.2.100

Fixed a crash caused by a stack overflow error
Made db storage optional; missing db support disables --continue and --resume

v0.2.98

Fixed an issue where auto-compact was running twice

v0.2.96

Claude Code can now also be used with a Claude Max subscription

v0.2.93

Resume conversations from where you left off from with claude --continue and claude --resume
Claude now has access to a Todo list that helps it stay on track and be more organized

v0.2.82

Added support for --disallowedTools
Renamed tools for consistency: LSTool -> LS, View -> Read, etc.

v0.2.75

Hit Enter to queue up additional messages while Claude is working
Drag in or copy/paste image files directly into the prompt
@-mention files to directly add them to context
Run one-off MCP servers with claude --mcp-config <path-to-file>
Improved performance for filename auto-complete

See Also: MCPs & Add-ons | Configuration

v0.2.74

Added support for refreshing dynamically generated API keys (via apiKeyHelper), with a 5 minute TTL
Task tool can now perform writes and run bash commands

v0.2.72

Updated spinner to indicate tokens loaded and tool usage

v0.2.70

Network commands like curl are now available for Claude to use
Claude can now run multiple web queries in parallel
Pressing ESC once immediately interrupts Claude in Auto-accept mode

v0.2.69

Fixed UI glitches with improved Select component behavior
Enhanced terminal output display with better text truncation logic

v0.2.67

Shared project permission rules can be saved in .claude/settings.json

v0.2.66

Print mode (-p) now supports streaming output via --output-format=stream-json
Fixed issue where pasting could trigger memory or bash mode unexpectedly

v0.2.63

Fixed an issue where MCP tools were loaded twice, which caused tool call errors

v0.2.61

Navigate menus with vim-style keys (j/k) or bash/emacs shortcuts (Ctrl+n/p) for faster interaction
Enhanced image detection for more reliable clipboard paste functionality
Fixed an issue where ESC key could crash the conversation history selector

v0.2.59

Copy+paste images directly into your prompt
Improved progress indicators for bash and fetch tools
Bugfixes for non-interactive mode (-p)

v0.2.54

Quickly add to Memory by starting your message with #
Press ctrl+r to see full output for long tool results
Added support for MCP SSE transport

v0.2.53

New web fetch tool lets Claude view URLs that you paste in
Fixed a bug with JPEG detection

v0.2.50

New MCP "project" scope now allows you to add MCP servers to .mcp.json files and commit them to your repository

v0.2.49

Previous MCP server scopes have been renamed: previous "project" scope is now "local" and "global" scope is now "user"

v0.2.47

Press Tab to auto-complete file and folder names
Press Shift + Tab to toggle auto-accept for file edits
Automatic conversation compaction for infinite conversation length (toggle with /config)

v0.2.44

Ask Claude to make a plan with thinking mode: just say 'think' or 'think harder' or even 'ultrathink'

v0.2.41

MCP server startup timeout can now be configured via MCP_TIMEOUT environment variable
MCP server startup no longer blocks the app from starting up

v0.2.37

New /release-notes command lets you view release notes at any time
claude config add/remove commands now accept multiple values separated by commas or spaces

v0.2.36

Import MCP servers from Claude Desktop with claude mcp add-from-claude-desktop
Add MCP servers as JSON strings with claude mcp add-json <n> <json>

See Also: MCPs & Add-ons | Configuration

v0.2.34

Vim bindings for text input - enable with /vim or /config

v0.2.32

Interactive MCP setup wizard: Run claude mcp add to add MCP servers with a step-by-step interface
Fix for some PersistentShell issues

v0.2.31

Custom slash commands: Markdown files in .claude/commands/ directories now appear as custom slash commands to insert prompts into your conversation
MCP debug mode: Run with --mcp-debug flag to get more information about MCP server errors

v0.2.30

Added ANSI color theme for better terminal compatibility
Fixed issue where slash command arguments weren't being sent properly
(Mac-only) API keys are now stored in macOS Keychain

v0.2.26

New /approved-tools command for managing tool permissions
Word-level diff display for improved code readability
Fuzzy matching for slash commands

v0.2.21

Fuzzy matching for /commands

v1.0.27​

v1.0.25​

v1.0.24​

v1.0.23​

v1.0.22​

v1.0.21​

v1.0.18​

v1.0.17​

v1.0.11​

v1.0.10​

v1.0.8​

v1.0.7​

v1.0.6​

v1.0.1​

v1.0.0​

v0.2.125​

v0.2.117​

v0.2.108​

v0.2.107​

v0.2.106​

v0.2.105​

v0.2.102​

v0.2.100​

v0.2.98​

v0.2.96​

v0.2.93​

v0.2.82​

v0.2.75​

v0.2.74​

v0.2.72​

v0.2.70​

v0.2.69​

v0.2.67​

v0.2.66​

v0.2.63​

v0.2.61​

v0.2.59​

v0.2.54​

v0.2.53​

v0.2.50​

v0.2.49​

v0.2.47​

v0.2.44​

v0.2.41​

v0.2.37​

v0.2.36​

v0.2.34​

v0.2.32​

v0.2.31​

v0.2.30​

v0.2.26​

v0.2.21​