What is Claude Code
An AI that lives in your project folder and builds things with you
Claude Desktop
Start here
The app version. Visual interface, easy to use, feels like chatting. Great for getting started and everyday use.
- Familiar chat interface
- Click to approve file changes
- See diffs visually
- Good for learning the workflow
Terminal (CLI)
Power users
The command-line version. Slower to start with but gives you full control. Where the real power is for building agents.
- Full terminal access
- Runs scripts, installs packages
- Better for complex multi-file projects
- What we'll use in the live demo
How it works
1
Open a folder
Claude sees all the files in your project directory
2
Talk to it
Describe what you want to build in plain English
3
It builds
Creates files, writes code, runs commands
4
CLAUDE.md
Its memory file — reads it every time it starts a session
APIs
How software talks to other software. Claude can call Apollo, Hunter, Perplexity etc. through their APIs — like making a phone call to each service.
MCP (Model Context Protocol)
A universal plug system. Instead of connecting each tool one by one, MCP gives Claude a single phone book of all your tools. Plug in once, use everywhere.