# Claude Code review

> Claude Code is Anthropic's agentic coding tool that reads your codebase, edits files, runs commands, and handles git workflows through natural language.

Devtoolwatch Board, the week of Oct 25–31, 2026. Canonical page: https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/claude-code/

## TL;DR

Claude Code is an agentic coding tool from Anthropic that works in your terminal, IDE, desktop app, and browser. Claude Code is for developers who want an AI assistant that understands the whole codebase and works across multiple files and tools. Claude Code can be extended with plugins that add custom commands and agents.

## Claude Code at a glance

- **Category:** [Coding agents](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/categories/coding-agents/)
- **Maintained by:** Anthropic (organization, [@anthropics](https://github.com/anthropics) on GitHub)
- **Language:** TypeScript, Python, Shell
- **Repository:** [github.com/anthropics/claude-code](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code)
- **Website:** [code.claude.com/docs/en/overview](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/overview)
- **npm package:** [@anthropic-ai/claude-code](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@anthropic-ai/claude-code) 2.1.310
- **Latest release:** [v2.1.310](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/releases/tag/v2.1.310) on GitHub, Oct 23, 2026
- **First published:** Feb 22, 2025

## What Claude Code does

- Claude Code reads your codebase, edits files, and runs terminal commands from natural language instructions.
- Claude Code explains complex code and executes routine tasks such as building features and fixing bugs.
- Claude Code handles git workflows, and you can tag @claude on GitHub.
- Claude Code supports plugins that extend it with custom commands and agents.
- Claude Code connects to MCP servers, including a config file passed with --mcp-config.
- Claude Code can run Bash commands in a sandbox on macOS and Linux, with configurable file protections.
- Claude Code emits OpenTelemetry events when permission rules, hooks, or the sandbox stop or prompt a tool call.

### How it works

Claude Code installs a `claude` command that you run inside a project directory. It is also available as IDE extensions for VS Code and JetBrains, a desktop app, and on the web. Most surfaces use a Claude subscription or Anthropic Console account. The terminal CLI, VS Code, and JetBrains also support third-party providers. Release notes mention Bedrock, Vertex, and Foundry.

## How to install Claude Code

**macOS, Linux, WSL (recommended)**

```
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash
```

**Windows PowerShell (recommended)**

```
irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex
```

**With Homebrew**

```
brew install --cask claude-code
```

### Requirements

- A Claude subscription or Anthropic Console account for most surfaces, or a supported third-party provider for the CLI, VS Code, and JetBrains.
- Node.js 22.0.0 or later for the npm package.
- macOS, Linux, WSL, or Windows.

### First steps

1. Install Claude Code with the command for your system, then open a new terminal window.
2. Run claude --version to confirm the install. A working installation prints a version number.
3. Navigate to your project directory and run claude.
4. Use the /bug command inside Claude Code to report issues.

## Who Claude Code is for

- Developers who want an AI coding agent that works from the terminal on a whole codebase.
- Teams using VS Code or JetBrains IDEs who want an agent inside the editor.
- Teams that want code review on pull requests or Claude running in their own CI.
- Organizations that route model access through Bedrock, Vertex, or Foundry.

### Limitations

- Installation via npm is deprecated. Use the native installer, Homebrew, or WinGet instead.
- Claude Code collects usage data, conversation data, and /bug feedback.
- Most surfaces require a Claude subscription or Anthropic Console account.
- Linux sandbox option allowNestedUserNamespaces lets commands get around the sandbox's file protections.

## Usage data (the week of Oct 25–31, 2026)

- Board rank: #291 overall, #92 in Coding agents, momentum score 32
- Downloads that week: 11.6M (−20% vs 4-week average)
- New GitHub stars per week (last 12 weeks): Aug 9: 944; Aug 16: 1.2k; Aug 23: 892; Aug 30: 856; Sep 6: 753; Sep 13: 2k; Sep 20: 1.5k; Sep 27: 1.1k; Oct 4: 1.1k; Oct 11: 1.8k; Oct 18: 1.6k; Oct 25: 954

## Claude Code alternatives

| Rank | Tool | Stars | Downloads/wk |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | [Cindy](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/makecindy-cindy/) | 8.8k | – |
| #2 | [OpenMausBot](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/milind-soni-openmausbot/) | 9.6k | – |
| #3 | [Orca](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/stablyai-orca/) | 111.7k | – |
| #4 | [OpenBot](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/copilotkit-openbot/) | 9.1k | – |
| #5 | [Agent Reach](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/panniantong-agent-reach/) | 107.2k | – |
| #6 | [Skill Recorder](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/microsoft-skill-recorder/) | 5.6k | – |

## Claude Code FAQ

### Is Claude Code free and open source?

Claude Code's code is on GitHub (anthropics/claude-code), but the repository doesn't declare a standard open-source license. Check its license file before using it commercially. Its website links to a pricing page: https://claude.com/pricing?utm_source=claude_code&utm_medium=docs&utm_content=overview_pricing.

### How do I install Claude Code?

Run `curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash`. It needs Node.js >=22.0.0. The install section above has the other options from the project's README.

### Is Claude Code still maintained?

Yes. The anthropics/claude-code repository was last updated on Oct 25, 2026, and the latest release, v2.1.310 on GitHub, came out on Oct 23, 2026.

### How popular is Claude Code?

Claude Code has 154.1k GitHub stars as of Nov 1, 2026. It gained 954 new stars in the week of Oct 25–31, 2026, against a 12-week average of 1.2k a week. Its main package had about 11.6M downloads that week, −20% against its own 4-week average. That made it #92 among AI coding agents on the Devtoolwatch Board.

### Claude Code vs OpenCode: how do they compare?

Claude Code and OpenCode are both tracked by Devtoolwatch as AI coding agents. Claude Code has 154.1k GitHub stars and OpenCode has 223.6k. OpenCode is an open source AI coding agent that helps you write and run code in a terminal, desktop app, or IDE extension. [OpenCode review](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/opencode/)

### What are the best alternatives to Claude Code?

Other AI coding agents on the Devtoolwatch Board in the week of Oct 25–31, 2026, by momentum: Cindy (#1), OpenMausBot (#2), Orca (#3), OpenBot (#4), Agent Reach (#5). The alternatives table above has their numbers.

### Is Claude Code an AI agent?

Yes. Claude Code is described as an agentic coding tool. It reads your codebase, edits files, runs commands, and integrates with development tools.

### How do I use Claude Code in the terminal?

Claude Code runs in the terminal once installed. Navigate to your project directory and run claude, then give instructions in natural language.

### Can I use Claude Code in VS Code?

Yes. Claude Code has an extension for Visual Studio Code, as well as support for JetBrains IDEs. Both also support third-party providers.

### Is Claude Code different from Claude?

Claude Code is a coding tool that uses Claude, Anthropic's AI assistant, from your terminal and other surfaces. It works directly on your codebase, files, and commands.

## Sources

1. [anthropics/claude-code on GitHub](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code)
2. [Claude Code README](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/blob/main/README.md)
3. [@anthropic-ai/claude-code on npm](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@anthropic-ai/claude-code)
4. [Claude Code website](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/overview)
5. [Release v2.1.310 (Oct 23, 2026)](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/releases/tag/v2.1.310)
6. [Release v2.1.309 (Oct 22, 2026)](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/releases/tag/v2.1.309)
7. [Release v2.1.308 (Oct 22, 2026)](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/releases/tag/v2.1.308)
8. [Hacker News: Issue: Claude Code is unusable for complex engineering tasks with Feb updates](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47660925)
9. [Hacker News: HERMES.md in commit messages causes requests to route to extra usage billing](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47952722)
10. [Hacker News: Claude says “You're absolutely right!” about everything](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44885398)
11. [Devtoolwatch Board, the week of Oct 25–31, 2026](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/)