As Daniel Miessler, creator of the influential Unsupervised Learning newsletter, recently declared: Claude Code represents “the most creative/productive I’ve ever been in my entire career” and “the biggest AI jump since ChatGPT (and proto-AGI)”. This isn’t hyperbole—it’s a fundamental shift in how we write software.

If you’ve used GitHub Copilot or other AI coding assistants, prepare to rethink what AI-powered development means. Claude Code isn’t about autocompleting your next line of code; it’s about delegating entire features, refactors, and complex multi-file changes to an autonomous AI agent that thinks, plans, and executes like a senior developer on your team.

Why Claude Code is Different

From Copilot to Co-Developer

GitHub Copilot excels at suggesting code as you type—it’s a remarkably intelligent autocomplete. Claude Code operates on a completely different level: agentic coding.

Here’s what that means:

Traditional AI Assistants (Copilot)

  • Line-by-line suggestions as you type
  • Context limited to current file
  • You drive; AI assists

Agentic AI (Claude Code)

  • Autonomous task execution across multiple files
  • Full codebase understanding with extensive context windows
  • AI proposes plan; you approve and refine
  • Explains reasoning and teaches as it works

As Miessler notes, Claude Code “is kind of like AWS for Anthropic—it’s what their people use internally” and “it’s a fully agentic coding platform”. This isn’t a consumer product bolted onto an AI model; it’s a professional development environment designed for serious software engineering.

What Makes Claude Special

Superior Context Handling Claude is renowned for its massive context windows—crucial for understanding large codebases. It analyzes your entire project structure, git history, and dependencies to make informed architectural decisions.

Advanced Reasoning & Teaching Unlike tools that just generate code, Claude excels at explaining the “why” behind decisions. It walks you through logic, edge cases, trade-offs, and alternative approaches. This makes it invaluable for learning and debugging complex systems.

Terminal-Native Philosophy Built for developers who live in the terminal, Claude Code integrates seamlessly with your existing bash workflows, git operations, and development tools. There’s even headless mode for CI/CD pipelines and automation.

Extensibility Through MCP & Plugins Connect external tools, databases, APIs, and custom integrations through the Model Context Protocol (MCP). Package and share workflows with the community through plugins.

Cool Features Released Recently

The last few months have seen explosive innovation in Claude Code. Here are the standout features:

Background Agents (v2.0.60)

This is a game-changer for productivity. Background agents run tasks while you work on something else, enabling true parallel development:

# Start a background agent for tests
claude test --background

# Continue working on features while tests run
# Check results later without blocking your flow

Perfect for long-running test suites, build processes, or linting that would otherwise interrupt your focus.

VS Code Native Extension

In 2025, Claude Code launched a native VS Code extension, bringing agentic coding directly into your IDE. You get:

  • Multiple simultaneous terminal connections for complex projects
  • Real-time streaming of Claude’s thought process
  • Seamless integration with your existing extensions and settings

Opus 4.5 & Haiku 4.5 Support

Pro users now have access to:

  • Claude Opus 4.5 (launched November 2025): Superior reasoning for complex architectural decisions
  • Haiku 4.5: Lightning-fast interactions with automatic Sonnet 4.5 fallback for planning tasks
  • Model names in commit messages for transparency and reproducibility

Enhanced MCP Integration (April 2025)

The Model Context Protocol got major upgrades:

  • Project scope: Add MCP servers to .mcp.json files for project-specific tools
  • Easy toggling: Use /mcp enable and /mcp disable commands
  • Safety controls: As Miessler warns, “you have to be careful with MCPs and extra careful with Skills”—Claude Code provides controls for managing external integrations securely

Feedback-Guided Planning

When Claude proposes a plan you don’t love, you no longer need to reject and start over. The “Feedback input when rejecting plans” feature lets you guide Claude’s next iteration:

Your plan looks good, but let's use React Query instead of
useState for the data fetching, and add error boundaries.

Claude incorporates your feedback directly, saving time and preserving context.

Other Quality-of-Life Improvements

  • /export command for quickly sharing conversations
  • Background commands with Ctrl-b
  • Customizable status line via /statusline
  • Output styles: “Explanatory” for detailed teaching, “Learning” for deep dives
  • Custom slash commands from Markdown files in .claude/commands/

The Power of Extensibility

As Miessler explored in his newsletter, understanding “when to use skills vs commands vs agents inside Claude Code” is crucial—they’re “quite confusing because they are very similar in both structure and capabilities”. Let’s break it down:

Slash Commands: Reusable Workflows

Store command templates as Markdown files in .claude/commands/:

# .claude/commands/security-review.md
Review this code for common security vulnerabilities:
- SQL injection
- XSS attacks
- Authentication bypasses
- Secret exposure
Provide specific fixes for any issues found.

Now run /security-review whenever you need a security audit. Share these commands with your team for consistent workflows.

Hooks: Automation at Lifecycle Points

Automatically execute shell commands when Claude Code events occur:

{
  "hooks": {
    "PostCommand": [
      {
        "matcher": "",
        "hooks": [
          {
            "type": "command",
            "command": "npm test"
          }
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
}

Real-world uses:

  • Run tests after every code change
  • Check git status before commits
  • Cleanup temporary files on exit
  • Validate code formatting automatically

Skills: Bundled Code for Deterministic Operations

As Miessler explains, “Skills can bundle code Claude executes for deterministic operations like sorting or form extraction”. This is powerful for:

  • Data transformations that need exact precision
  • Complex parsing logic
  • Integration with external systems

But remember his warning: “Hijacking Claude Code with an invisible line in a PDF” is possible, so vet skills carefully before use.

MCP Servers: External Tool Integration

Connect Claude Code to external tools and data:

  • Database access: Query and modify databases directly
  • Browser automation: Web scraping and testing
  • API integrations: Connect third-party services
  • Custom tools: Build domain-specific extensions

This is where Claude Code becomes a platform rather than just a tool.

Getting Started: A Practical Learning Path

Week 1: Foundations

Day 1-2: Installation and First Steps

# Install Claude Code
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

# Start your first session
claude

Try simple tasks:

  • “Explain this function to me”
  • “Add error handling to this API endpoint”
  • “Refactor this component for better readability”

Day 3-4: Understanding Checkpoints

Claude proposes changes as diffs before executing. Practice:

  • Reviewing proposed changes carefully
  • Asking Claude to explain its reasoning
  • Requesting modifications to the plan
  • Using rollback when something isn’t right

Day 5-7: Context Management

Learn when to:

  • Use /clear to start fresh (between unrelated tasks)
  • Keep context for related work
  • Reference specific files and functions

Week 2: Intermediate Skills

Day 1-3: Custom Slash Commands

Create your first commands:

mkdir -p .claude/commands

Ideas:

  • /fix-lint: Fix linting errors
  • /add-tests: Generate tests for current file
  • /explain-error: Debug error messages

Day 4-5: Working with Hooks

Set up post-command hooks to:

  • Run prettier after edits
  • Execute test suites
  • Check for TypeScript errors

Day 6-7: Your First Real Project

Build something meaningful:

  • Migrate an API from REST to GraphQL
  • Add authentication to an existing app
  • Refactor a legacy module to modern patterns

Week 3: Advanced Features

Day 1-3: MCP Integration

Install your first MCP server:

# Example: Database MCP
npm install @modelcontextprotocol/server-postgres

Configure in .mcp.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "postgres": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-postgres", "postgresql://..."]
    }
  }
}

Day 4-5: Background Agents

Practice parallel workflows:

  • Run tests in background while developing features
  • Execute long-running builds without blocking

Day 6-7: Complex Multi-File Refactors

Take on challenging tasks:

  • Extract shared logic into a library
  • Migrate from JavaScript to TypeScript
  • Reorganize project structure

Week 4: Mastery

Day 1-2: Project-Specific Configuration

Set up CLAUDE.md with:

  • Coding standards
  • Architecture decisions
  • Common patterns
  • Domain-specific context

Day 3-4: Building Custom Skills

Create deterministic operations for your domain.

Day 5-7: Integration with Your Team

Share:

  • Slash commands in .claude/commands/
  • Hooks configuration
  • MCP servers for shared tools
  • Best practices documentation

Best Practices from the Field

1. Be Specific in Your Prompts

Vague: “Make this better”

Specific: “Refactor this function to use async/await instead of callbacks, add TypeScript types, and include JSDoc comments explaining the parameters”

2. Break Down Complex Tasks

Instead of “Build a complete authentication system”, try:

  1. “Create user model with email/password fields”
  2. “Add registration endpoint with validation”
  3. “Implement login with JWT tokens”
  4. “Add password reset flow”

Claude handles each step autonomously while you maintain oversight.

3. Leverage Claude’s Teaching Ability

Ask “why” questions:

  • “Why did you choose this pattern over X?”
  • “What are the trade-offs of this approach?”
  • “How would this scale to 1M users?”

4. Review Every Checkpoint

Don’t auto-approve changes. This isn’t Copilot where you quickly tab through suggestions. Each checkpoint is like a pull request—review thoughtfully.

5. Use the Right Model for the Task

  • Opus 4.5: Complex architecture, refactoring, critical decisions
  • Sonnet 4.5: Day-to-day development (default)
  • Haiku 4.5: Quick questions, simple tasks

6. Clear Context Regularly

As Miessler advises, “Anthropic also massively increased limits for Claude Code users”, but that doesn’t mean you should let context bloat. Use /clear between unrelated tasks to maintain focus and reduce token usage.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Trusting Blindly

Claude Code is remarkably capable, but it’s not infallible. Always:

  • Review security-sensitive code carefully
  • Verify database migrations
  • Test thoroughly before deploying

Ignoring Safety Warnings

Heed Miessler’s warning about skills and MCPs. Vet external integrations:

  • Check source code before installing
  • Use project scope (.mcp.json) over global config
  • Disable unused integrations with /mcp disable

Over-Engineering

Claude can sometimes suggest more abstraction than necessary. Push back:

  • “Let’s keep it simple for now”
  • “We don’t need this abstraction yet”
  • “Use a straightforward approach”

Not Leveraging the Community

The Claude Code ecosystem is growing rapidly:

The Bigger Picture: Proto-AGI in Your Terminal

Miessler’s characterization of Claude Code as “proto-AGI” might sound dramatic, but consider what it represents:

Traditional Software: You tell the computer exactly what to do, step by step AI Assistants: The computer suggests what to type next Agentic AI: You describe what you want; the AI plans, executes, and explains

This is qualitatively different from previous AI coding tools. Claude Code understands intent, navigates ambiguity, adapts plans based on feedback, and teaches as it works.

For experienced developers, this means:

  • Focus on architecture and product decisions
  • Delegate implementation details
  • Move faster without sacrificing quality
  • Learn new frameworks/languages faster

For learning developers, this means:

  • Pair program with an AI senior developer
  • Get explanations for every decision
  • See best practices in action
  • Build real projects from day one

What’s Next?

The agentic coding revolution is just beginning. As Anthropic continues to develop Claude Code and the ecosystem grows, we’ll see:

  • More sophisticated background agents
  • Deeper IDE integrations
  • Expanded MCP ecosystem
  • Community-driven plugins and skills
  • Better team collaboration features

But you don’t need to wait for the future. Claude Code is production-ready today, and developers like Miessler are already experiencing unprecedented productivity.

Getting Started Today

  1. Install Claude Code: Visit claude.com/code for installation instructions
  2. Read the Docs: Start with official documentation
  3. Follow Miessler: Subscribe to Unsupervised Learning for practical insights
  4. Join the Community: Connect with other developers on Discord and GitHub
  5. Start Small: Pick a task that would normally take an hour and let Claude Code help

Remember: This isn’t about replacing developers. It’s about augmenting human creativity and judgment with AI capabilities, letting you focus on what matters most—solving problems and building great software.

As Miessler’s experience shows, Claude Code can genuinely make you “the most creative/productive” you’ve ever been. The question isn’t whether agentic coding is the future—it’s how quickly you’ll adopt it.

Happy coding, and welcome to the agentic revolution!

Additional Resources

Official Documentation

Community Resources

Learning Guides

Sources