Claude Code (Latest channel)

Claude Code is Anthropic's coding assistant for terminal-based development. It helps developers investigate repositories, implement changes, diagnose problems, run project tools, and review work. This entry is the claude-code@latest Homebrew cask: it tracks new releases as they ship, whereas the separate claude-code cask follows the delayed stable channel. Both provide the Claude Code CLI, not the standalone Claude desktop chat app.

Features

• Work with a codebase through natural-language requests, file inspection, and proposed edits.
• Run development commands and coordinate coding, testing, debugging, and Git-related workflows under configured tool permissions.
• Use project instructions, skills, plugins, MCP integrations, and agents to extend workflows.
• Review edits in a terminal workflow or through the supported IDE integration. IDE-extension examples shown in the gallery are integrations, not a separate macOS GUI supplied by this cask.

Install and update Use brew install --cask claude-code@latest on Mac, then check claude --version and run claude from your project directory to authenticate and start a session. Use claude doctor for read-only installation diagnostics. Anthropic documents that Homebrew installations do not update automatically; update this entry through Homebrew with brew upgrade --cask claude-code@latest. Do not assume the native installer's background updater applies to the Homebrew installation.

Systems and dependencies Anthropic lists macOS 13+, Windows 10 version 1809+ or Windows Server 2019+, Ubuntu 20.04+, Debian 10+, and Alpine Linux 3.19+. It specifies at least 4 GB RAM, x64 or ARM64 hardware, a supported shell, internet access, and an Anthropic-supported country. This catalog entry installs a native Mac binary, so the deprecated npm installation route and its Node.js dependency are not requirements of this cask. ripgrep is normally bundled. Native Windows can use PowerShell; Git for Windows is optional and recommended for Bash workflows. WSL is another documented Windows route. Alpine has additional runtime dependencies described in the setup guide.

The current Homebrew record lists claude-code as a conflicting cask. Choose one channel, and check PATH when migrating from another installer so the intended claude executable runs. Required RAM is not a guarantee that every repository or tool workflow will fit within 4 GB; usage depends on your project and enabled tools.

Accounts, costs, and licensing Anthropic's current setup guide requires an eligible Pro, Max, Team, Enterprise, or Console account; the free claude.ai plan does not include Claude Code. Supported third-party provider routes have separate account and billing requirements. Subscription allowances or API usage charges apply according to the selected provider and plan. Anthropic's official project license states all rights reserved and refers to its Commercial Terms of Service; do not treat the CLI as freely licensed merely because its documentation and issue tracker are public.

Official sources

• Setup, platform requirements, channels, and authentication: https://code.claude.com/docs/en/setup
• Project and issue tracker: https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code
• Changelog: https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/blob/main/CHANGELOG.md
• License notice: https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/blob/main/LICENSE.md