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?

Start Claude Code with 'claude --dangerously-skip-permissions' OR configure allowedTools in ~/.claude.json. See Configuration for details.

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.

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.

Plan Mode

Plan mode is a feature in Claude Code that separates research and analysis from execution, significantly improving the safety.

When activated, Claude will not edit files, run commands, or change anything until you approve the plan.

You activate it by pressing shift+tab twice. To exit Plan Mode you can press shift+tab again. (I must say the UX of Claude Code is seamless, well done Anthropic)

This feature dropped (in stealth in v1.0.16) one month after I was using Claude Code daily and yet it instantly changed my workflow especially when working with Claude 4 Opus.

Prior to Plan Mode

I would frequently start or end prompts with:

Do not code, just make suggestions

And generally speaking this worked. However, when Claude did provide suggestions it was unfortunately inconsistent in format and verbosity.

Other folks on r/ClaudeAI have mentioned similar inconsistent results when requesting inaction from Claude. This led to an unpredictable UX and feedback loop.

With Plan Mode

Plan Mode not only provides security but it 'forces' Claude to deliver consistently formatted responses in a reasonable verbosity.

When I asked for suggestions on improving shader time complexity, Claude elegantly provided multiple numbered options with clear benefits outlined for each approach (e.g. speed delta, amount of changes required, etc.). No more guessing whether Claude will edit files or just suggest. The output is structured, predictable, and you get to approve before execution.

I have also observed plan mode is incredibly fast! This in combination with the compactness of the plan's produced has made using Opus much more efficient in terms of speed and token usage.

Available Tools & Restricted Tools

In plan mode, Claude has access to read-only and research tools:

Available tools:

Read - Files and content viewing
LS - Directory listings
Glob - File pattern searches
Grep - Content searches
Task - Research agents
TodoRead/TodoWrite - Task management
WebFetch - Web content analysis
WebSearch - Web searches
NotebookRead - Jupyter notebooks

Restricted tools:

Edit/MultiEdit - File edits
Write - File creation
Bash - Command execution
NotebookEdit - Notebook edits
MCP tools that modify state

Claude can research and plan without touching anything until you approve.

Extra Cautious

When exiting plan mode, Claude is extra cautious and will ask for additional confirmation about the task he is about to execute. It's a nice touch that further ensures safety is maintained.

Prior to Plan Mode​

With Plan Mode​

Available Tools & Restricted Tools​

Prior to Plan Mode

With Plan Mode

Available Tools & Restricted Tools