✨ What's New (May 2026)
- → /resume command: Resume background sessions with elapsed time display
- → /model command: Session-specific model switching without restarting
-
→
Protocol v4: Mac mini UI app support (run
openclaw update) - → 15+ bug fixes: Improved stability and error handling
What is Claude Code?
Claude Code is Anthropic's official CLI tool that brings Claude's coding capabilities directly to your terminal. It's like having an AI pair programmer who can read your files, run commands, and help you debug in real-time.
💡 Why use it? Unlike chat interfaces, Claude Code works directly in your development environment, can execute commands, edit multiple files at once, and maintains context across your entire project.
Prerequisites
- ✓ Node.js installed — Claude Code runs on Node (see Node.js Setup Guide)
- ✓ Anthropic API key — Get one at console.anthropic.com
- ✓ Git repository — Works best with existing projects
1 Install Claude Code
Install globally using npm (Node package manager):
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code
This installs the claude command globally on your system.
2 Authenticate with Anthropic
Run the login command to set up your API key:
claude login
This will open your browser to authenticate with Anthropic. Once approved, your API key is stored securely.
⚠️ Tip: If you prefer not to use browser auth, you can set the ANTHROPIC_API_KEY environment variable instead.
3 Start a Session
Navigate to your project directory and run:
cd your-project && claude
You'll enter an interactive chat session where Claude can help you with coding tasks.
Essential Commands
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
| claude | Start interactive session |
| /help | Show all available commands |
| /model | Switch models mid-session (new in 2026) |
| /resume | Resume background session (new in 2026) |
| /clear | Clear conversation history |
| /exit | End session |
🦀 OpenClaw Integration
Claude Code is built into OpenClaw! If you're using OpenClaw as your AI orchestrator, you already have Claude Code capabilities.
To use Claude Code through OpenClaw:
claude command works the same way
See the OpenClaw Setup Guide for full integration details.
Troubleshooting
"command not found: claude"
Node.js isn't installed or npm global bin directory isn't in your PATH.
Run npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code or see the Node.js setup guide.
Authentication failed
Your API key may be invalid or expired. Run claude logout then claude login again.
Session crashes or hangs
Try updating to the latest version: npm update -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code