claude-cli

name: claude-cli description: "Use when the user wants to install, set up, update, configure, manage, or troubleshoot the Claude Code CLI tool. Triggers include install claude code, update claude, claude command not found, set up CLAUDE.md, configure permissions, add an MCP server, claude won't start, change the model, set up hooks, run claude non-interactively, pipe to claude, resume a session, or any hands-on operational task with the claude CLI binary. For documentation lookups use claude-cli-docs."

Claude CLI

Operational skill for installing, configuring, managing, and troubleshooting the claude CLI binary. For deep documentation lookups, use the claude-cli-docs skill.

Intent Router

Quick Start

claude --version || claude doctor
claude auth status --text
claude update
claude -p "summarize this repository"

If the task asks for exact flags or evolving behavior, switch to claude-cli-docs and verify the current docs before answering.

Install

# macOS / Linux / WSL (recommended — auto-updates)
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash

# Windows PowerShell (auto-updates)
irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex

# Windows CMD (auto-updates)
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.cmd -o install.cmd && install.cmd && del install.cmd

# Homebrew (does NOT auto-update)
brew install --cask claude-code

# Homebrew latest channel (does NOT auto-update)
brew install --cask claude-code@latest

# WinGet (does NOT auto-update)
winget install Anthropic.ClaudeCode

Native Windows works in PowerShell or CMD. Git for Windows is recommended so the Bash tool is available; WSL2 is better when Linux-native tooling or sandboxing is required.

First run:

cd your-project
claude          # prompts for login on first use

Update

Native installs (curl/PowerShell) auto-update in the background. Manual update:

# Native installer
claude update

# Homebrew
brew upgrade claude-code
brew upgrade claude-code@latest

# WinGet
winget upgrade Anthropic.ClaudeCode

# Check current version
claude --version
claude doctor

Auth

Login is prompted automatically on first run. To re-authenticate:

claude auth login            # opens browser to log in
claude auth login --console  # Anthropic Console billing/API usage
claude auth login --sso      # force SSO flow
claude auth logout           # sign out
claude auth status           # JSON status; add --text for human-readable output

For long-lived CI tokens:

claude setup-token

For API-key, Bedrock, Vertex, or Microsoft Foundry setup, use claude-cli-docs.

Configuration

CLAUDE.md

CLAUDE.md at the project root (or ~/.claude/CLAUDE.md for global defaults) is read at the start of every session. Put coding standards, build commands, and conventions here.

# My Project

## Commands
- Build: `npm run build`
- Test: `npm test`

## Conventions
- TypeScript strict mode
- Tests required for all public APIs

Claude walks up from the current directory to find CLAUDE.md files.

Settings file

~/.claude/settings.json controls global defaults (model, permissions, hooks, etc.). For the full settings schema, use claude-cli-docs or visit https://code.claude.com/docs/en/settings.

Permissions

claude --permission-mode acceptEdits    # auto-approve file edits, prompt for commands
claude --permission-mode auto           # auto mode classifier
claude --permission-mode dontAsk        # avoid interactive permission prompts
claude --permission-mode bypassPermissions  # skip all prompts (use with care)
claude --permission-mode plan           # plan mode: propose changes, don't apply

Restrict or expand which tools are available:

claude --allowedTools Bash,Read,Write
claude --disallowedTools Bash

MCP

Add an MCP server interactively:

claude mcp add <name> -- <command> [args...]
# Example: local stdio server
claude mcp add my-server -- node /path/to/server.js

# Add from npm
claude mcp add filesystem -- npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem /tmp

List / remove servers:

claude mcp list
claude mcp remove <name>

For full MCP configuration options, use claude-cli-docs.

Scripting

Non-interactive (CI/automation) usage:

# Print mode — outputs to stdout, no interaction
claude -p "explain this function"

# Pipe input
echo "what does this do?" | claude -p
git diff main | claude -p "summarize these changes"

# Limit agentic turns
claude -p --max-turns 5 "fix the failing tests"

# Output as JSON
claude -p --output-format json "list all API endpoints"

# Resume a session
claude --continue                    # resume most recent
claude --resume <session-id>         # resume by ID

# Faster scripted call: skip auto-discovery of hooks, skills, plugins, MCP, memory
claude --bare -p "summarize this repo"

# One-off extra instructions while preserving built-in behavior
claude -p --append-system-prompt "Use terse bullet points" "review this diff"

Troubleshooting

Enable verbose logging for any issue:

claude --verbose "your task here"
claude --debug "api,mcp,hooks" "your task here"

Official troubleshooting page: https://code.claude.com/docs/en/troubleshooting

For issues not covered here, use the claude-cli-docs skill to look up the relevant documentation page.