The anthropic code agent is revolutionizing development assistance. The AI passes into a new dimension and becomes almost entirely autonomous.
Its ambition is to become the first reflex of developers. Anthropic presented Claude Code at the end of February, an AI agent for development. More than just code co-pilot, Claude Code acts almost autonomously from a console. The AI can be used to create a Zero project in the majority of programming languages, analyze projects already developed, test and debug code or even manage the Commit to Git fairly finely. The tool will certainly become a must have developers.
How does Claude Code work?
Unlike traditional coding assistants such as Github Copilot which are mainly limited to suggesting code supplements, Claude Code operates directly in the developer terminal with remarkable autonomy. Claude Code’s fundamental difference lies in his ability to act rather than simply suggest. The AI can run bash commands in your environment, install outbuildings, read and modify files through your code base, and even search for relevant information in the Git history. Even more impressive, he can execute his own code, identify errors, then automatically correct them without constant human intervention, thus creating a feedback loop which allows him to improve his solutions in real time.
At the heart of the system, the latest anthropic model: Claude 3.7 Sonnet. Claude 3.7 Sonnet analyzes the context of your project, includes the relationships between files, and generates a coherent action plan. Claude Code’s architecture is based on a set of specialized tools that the model can invoke to act on your environment:
- Bashtool : execute Shell orders in your terminal
- FileREADTOOL And FileeditTool : read and modify the files to add / modify the code
- Globtool : search for files using regular expressions
- Gregtool : search for occurrence in a file (equivalent of “GREP”) and
- Lstool: List the files present in a directory (equivalent of “LS”)
- Agenttool: Allows Claude Code to delegate complex tasks requiring several stages to “sub-agents”
Claude Code uses a system of permission on several levels to ensure security. Sensitive operations such as the modification of files or the execution of BASH commands require temporary or permanent approval (for the duration of the session, according to our tests).
From code creation to analysis through improvement
To use Claude Code, it will be necessary to have a UNIX environment: Mac or Linux. For Windows users, it is possible to use WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) a Kernel Linux simulator directly integrated into your terminal and developed by Microsoft. The installation is done in a single order: “NPM Installer -g @anthropic -i/Claude-Code.” Once Claude Code has been installed, just go to the file of your development project (existing or newly created) and launch the “Claude” command to launch Claude Code. After configuring the tool with the anthropic console (via the official API), the agent is immediately operational. It is then enough to prompt the assistant in natural language so that he begins to generate code, create the project files and execute it.
For example, we ask the AI to create an one-page website from a CV.
Prompt:
"En utilisant le fichier CV.pdf dans le dossier, analyse en détail son contenu complet et crée un site web one-page élégant et professionnel qui présente l'intégralité des informations du CV (profil, expériences, formations, compétences, langues, projets) dans une interface fluide à défilement vertical avec des sections distinctes et des ancres de navigation. Développe une structure HTML5 sémantique pour une seule page qui organise harmonieusement toutes les informations extraites, avec un en-tête fixe contenant une barre de navigation permettant d'accéder rapidement à chaque section. Implémente un design responsive avec CSS3 (flexbox/grid et media queries) garantissant une adaptation parfaite et une lisibilité optimale sur tous les appareils. Utilise JavaScript pour ajouter des fonctionnalités interactives comme un défilement fluide entre les sections, des animations subtiles à l'apparition des éléments, et un bouton de retour en haut de page. Optimise le SEO avec des balises meta pertinentes, une hiérarchie de titres logique, des données structurées schema.org pour CV, et assure la performance avec des images optimisées et du code propre. Utilise une palette de couleurs professionnelle cohérente qui met en valeur les informations clés du CV."
Claude Code fails to open the PDF file, we then put all the information in a text file (.TXT). In all autonomy, Claude Code generates the code and will then create the files. As specified above, the AI systematically requests the permission of the user before creating or modifying files (one of the many sensitive operations requiring user approval). It is possible to give it permission for the entire code session, more practical.
Claude Code ends the development of our small web project in less than 3 minutes (177 seconds). Several files are created: the index.html with the entire HTML code, a style file in CSS and finally a file with JS functions (scripts.js). The end result is quite convincing and truly stunning (see below). The whole will have cost us 0.3682 dollar for 1176 lines of code generated.
Another use case, it is possible to use Claude Code to analyze the code of a project already developed or even to improve the code, or the general architecture of the project.
Example of a quick to analyze the code of a project and understand the different implications:
"Réalise une analyse approfondie et structurée de l'ensemble du code source de ce projet en identifiant son architecture globale, les relations entre les différents composants, les dépendances principales et les patterns de conception utilisés. Explique de manière claire et accessible le fonctionnement technique du code, en détaillant le flux d'exécution, les algorithmes clés et les mécanismes importants, tout en évitant le jargon technique excessif. Identifie également les forces et faiblesses potentielles de l'implémentation actuelle, les points d'amélioration possibles et les risques de sécurité éventuels. Fournis ensuite une analyse des cas d'utilisation concrets pour lesquels ce projet a été conçu, en précisant le problème qu'il résout, le public cible, les contextes d'application possibles et comment il pourrait être adapté ou étendu pour répondre à des besoins connexes ou plus larges. Propose enfin des recommandations vraiment novatrices et disruptives pour améliorer l'efficience du code et des processus, en explorant des approches non conventionnelles, des technologies émergentes ou des paradigmes alternatifs qui pourraient transformer radicalement les performances, l'expérience utilisateur ou le modèle économique sous-jacent, sans te limiter aux solutions évidentes ou incrémentales."
Claude Code will then analyze the entire code to give an overview of its operation and any improvements to apply. A real time saving for a developer who begins on a new project without context.
A tool still in preview
Claude Code excels in a multitude of development tasks that far exceed the simple code suggestion. You can use it to quickly understand an existing code, automate complex git operations, intelligently modify your codebase, test and debug your code and even solve complex problems by asking it to “think more deeply” (anthropic suggestion) to performance, efficiency, UX … The possibilities offered by the tool are quite diverse.
Claude Code marks an important step in the evolution of development tools, but remains a product in preview with its imperfections. It sometimes generates errors or sub-optimal code that it is imperative to check, especially for security reasons. However, Claude Code is only the beginning of a deeper transformation of the sector. Tomorrow, with even smarter models, it will be possible to generate a project from A to Z without human developer, for only a few euros per day.
