learning_ai_common_plat/AI.dev/CHEATSHEETS/claude-code-cli.md

🟣 Claude Code CLI — Cheat Sheet

What it is: Anthropic's Claude Code — an agentic coding tool that runs in your terminal, reads/edits files, runs commands, and pair-programs interactively. Best for: Deep, multi-file changes where you want to stay in the loop — reasoning through a refactor, debugging across modules, or building a feature with review at each step. Per-repo rules: reads AGENTS.md (canonical) and, if present, CLAUDE.md.

⚠️ Flags/commands drift between versions. Confirm with claude --help and /help inside a session.

Official docs: https://docs.anthropic.com/en/docs/claude-code

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Install & auth

npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code   # or the documented installer
claude --version
claude                                      # first run walks you through login

• Auth via Anthropic account (Pro/Max) or an ANTHROPIC_API_KEY.
• Config & history live under ~/.claude/.

Launching

claude                       # interactive REPL in the current dir
claude "explain src/server.ts and propose a refactor"   # seed a first prompt
claude -p "list the failing tests"          # print mode: one-shot, non-interactive
cat error.log | claude -p "what's the root cause?"      # pipe context in

Session management

claude -c                    # continue the most recent conversation
claude --resume              # pick a past session to resume
claude --resume <id> "<prompt>"   # resume a specific session with a new instruction

Inside a session, history is preserved; use /clear to reset context when switching tasks.

Permission modes

How	Effect
(default)	Prompts before edits / commands
--permission-mode acceptEdits	Auto-accepts file edits, still gates commands
--permission-mode plan	Plan mode — proposes a plan, makes no changes
--dangerously-skip-permissions	Auto-approves everything (use only in a sandbox/VM)

claude --permission-mode plan          # safe: get a plan first, no edits
claude --dangerously-skip-permissions  # full auto — only in throwaway/sandboxed env

🧠 Prefer plan mode for anything non-trivial: review the plan, then let it execute. Reserve --dangerously-skip-permissions for isolated environments (devcontainer/VM).

Useful in-session slash commands

Command	Purpose
/help	List commands
/clear	Reset conversation context
/init	Generate/refresh a CLAUDE.md for the repo
/review	Review recent changes
/model	Switch model
/agents	Manage subagents
/mcp	Inspect/connect MCP servers
# (prefix)	Add a durable memory to CLAUDE.md
@path/to/file	Pull a file into context

Config files & memory

• AGENTS.md (repo root) — canonical agent rules; Claude reads it.
• CLAUDE.md — optional Claude-specific memory; /init scaffolds it, # appends to it.
• .claude/settings.json (repo or ~/.claude/) — permissions, hooks, tools, MCP.
• MCP servers — connect tools/data via claude mcp add ... or .mcp.json.

ByteLyst workflow

Open every delegation with the shared guardrails — Claude honors AGENTS.md, but re-stating scope keeps it tight:

Follow AGENTS.md + AI.dev/SKILLS/agent-behavior-guidelines.md.
Scope: <paths>. Tests are sacred; fix code, not tests.
Verify: pnpm --filter <pkg> typecheck && ... test && ... build  (next build --webpack).
pnpm workspace; @bytelyst/* link via workspace:*. Conventional commits, one per logical change.
Use plan mode first for multi-file work; show the plan before editing.

• Use /review before committing a cluster of edits.
• For repo onboarding context, run /init once and commit the resulting CLAUDE.md (keep it thin — it should point at AGENTS.md, not duplicate it).

Troubleshooting

Symptom	Fix
Edits applied without asking	You're in acceptEdits/--dangerously-skip-permissions; switch to default or plan
Context bloated / confused	/clear and re-seed with @ file references
Can't reach Gitea/registry	Corp proxy must be active (NETWORK=corp); workspace deps avoid the registry
Build fails on Turbopack	Use next build --webpack
Wants a tool it can't access	Wire it via MCP (/mcp, claude mcp add)

Quick-reference card

claude                         # interactive
claude -p "..."                # one-shot print mode
claude -c                      # continue last session
claude --resume                # pick a session
claude --permission-mode plan  # plan first, no edits
/init  /clear  /review  /model  /mcp  #memory  @file

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Related: devin-cli.md · codex-cli.md · ../PROMPTS/ · ../SKILLS/agent-behavior-guidelines.md

Last updated: 2026-05-28 · verify flags against your installed version (claude --help).