claude-task-master/apps/docs/getting-started/agents/claude-code.mdx

---
title: Claude Code Setup  
sidebarTitle: "Claude Code"
---

<div className="flex items-center space-x-4 mb-6">
  <img src="/logo/claude-logo.svg" className="w-12 h-12" alt="Claude Code" />
  <div>
    <h1 className="text-2xl font-bold">Claude Code</h1>
    <p className="text-gray-600">Anthropic's official CLI for Claude</p>
  </div>
</div>

Claude Code offers the smoothest Task Master experience with **zero API key setup** and direct Claude integration.

## 🎯 Why Choose Claude Code?

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  <div className="bg-blue-50 dark:bg-blue-900/20 p-4 rounded-lg border border-blue-200 dark:border-blue-800">
    <h3 className="font-semibold text-blue-800 dark:text-blue-200 mb-2">🔓 No API Keys</h3>
    <p className="text-sm text-blue-700 dark:text-blue-300">Uses your existing Claude subscription - no separate API setup needed</p>
  </div>
  <div className="bg-green-50 dark:bg-green-900/20 p-4 rounded-lg border border-green-200 dark:border-green-800">
    <h3 className="font-semibold text-green-800 dark:text-green-200 mb-2">⚡ Native Integration</h3>
    <p className="text-sm text-green-700 dark:text-green-300">Built specifically for Claude - seamless Task Master experience</p>
  </div>
</div>

## 📦 Installation

### Step 1: Install Claude Code

Follow the [official Claude Code installation guide](https://docs.anthropic.com/en/docs/claude-code) or use our quick setup:

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="macOS">
    ```bash
    # Install via Homebrew (recommended)
    brew install claude-code
    
    # Or download from GitHub releases
    curl -L https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/releases/latest/download/claude-code-macos.tar.gz | tar xz
    sudo mv claude-code /usr/local/bin/
    ```
  </Tab>
  
  <Tab title="Windows">
    ```powershell
    # Download and install from GitHub releases
    # Visit: https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/releases/latest
    # Download: claude-code-windows.exe
    
    # Or use winget (if available)
    winget install Anthropic.ClaudeCode
    ```
  </Tab>
  
  <Tab title="Linux">
    ```bash
    # Download from GitHub releases
    curl -L https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/releases/latest/download/claude-code-linux.tar.gz | tar xz
    sudo mv claude-code /usr/local/bin/
    
    # Or install via package manager (if available)
    sudo apt install claude-code  # Ubuntu/Debian
    sudo yum install claude-code  # RHEL/CentOS
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

### Step 2: Authenticate with Claude

```bash
# Login to your Claude account
claude auth login
```

Follow the prompts to authenticate with your Anthropic account.

## 🔧 Task Master Integration

### Method 1: MCP Integration (Recommended)

Add Task Master to your Claude Code MCP configuration:

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Global Setup">
    ```bash
    # Add Task Master MCP server globally
    claude mcp add task-master-ai -s global -- npx -y task-master-ai
    ```
  </Tab>
  
  <Tab title="Project Setup">
    ```bash
    # Add for current project only  
    claude mcp add task-master-ai -s project -- npx -y task-master-ai
    ```
  </Tab>
  
  <Tab title="Windows">
    ```bash
    # Windows-specific command
    claude mcp add task-master-mcp -s project -- cmd /c "npx -y --package=task-master-ai task-master-ai"
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

### Method 2: Direct CLI Usage

You can also use Task Master commands directly alongside Claude Code:

```bash
# Initialize Task Master in your project
npx task-master-ai init

# Use Claude Code for AI interactions
claude "Help me implement the next task"

# Use Task Master for task management  
npx task-master-ai next
npx task-master-ai show 1.2
```

## 🚀 Getting Started

### 1. Initialize Your Project

In your project directory:

```bash
# Start Claude Code
claude

# In the Claude Code chat, initialize Task Master
Initialize taskmaster-ai in my project
```

### 2. Configure Models (Optional)

Since Claude Code doesn't need API keys, you can use it as your main model:

```
Change the main model to claude-code/sonnet
```

Available Claude Code models:
- `claude-code/sonnet` - Claude 3.5 Sonnet (recommended)
- `claude-code/opus` - Claude 3 Opus (for complex tasks)

### 3. Create Your First Tasks

```
Can you parse my PRD and create tasks for building a todo app?
```

## 💡 Advanced Configuration

### Hybrid Setup

Use Claude Code as your main model with other APIs for research:

Create `.env` in your project:
```bash
# Optional: Add research capabilities
PERPLEXITY_API_KEY=your_perplexity_key_here
OPENAI_API_KEY=your_openai_key_here
```

Then configure models:
```
Change the main model to claude-code/sonnet and research model to perplexity-llama-3.1-sonar-large-128k-online
```

### Multi-Session Workflows

Claude Code excels at parallel development:

```bash
# Terminal 1: Main development
cd my-project && claude

# Terminal 2: Testing and validation  
cd my-project && claude

# Terminal 3: Documentation
cd my-project && claude
```

Each session maintains Task Master context while allowing focused work streams.

## 🔍 Troubleshooting

<Accordion title="Claude Code not found">
- **Check installation**: Run `claude --version` to verify installation
- **Update PATH**: Ensure Claude Code is in your system PATH
- **Reinstall**: Try reinstalling Claude Code from scratch
- **Permissions**: Check file permissions for the claude binary
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Authentication issues">
- **Re-login**: Run `claude auth logout` then `claude auth login`
- **Check account**: Verify your Anthropic account is active
- **Network issues**: Check if you're behind a proxy or firewall
- **Clear cache**: Delete `~/.claude` directory and re-authenticate
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="MCP server connection fails">
- **Check Node.js**: Ensure Node.js 16+ is installed
- **Test manually**: Run `npx task-master-ai` to test the server
- **Clear MCP cache**: Remove and re-add the MCP server
- **Check permissions**: Ensure npm can install packages
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Task Master commands not working">
- **Verify MCP**: Run `claude mcp list` to see installed servers
- **Re-add server**: Remove and re-add the task-master-ai MCP server
- **Check initialization**: Ensure project is initialized with `Initialize taskmaster-ai`
- **Review logs**: Check Claude Code logs for error messages
</Accordion>

## 💡 Pro Tips

<Tip>
**Use headless mode** for automation: `claude -p "What's the next task I should work on?"` gives quick answers without opening the full chat interface.
</Tip>

<Tip>
**Create custom commands** using Claude Code's command system for repeated Task Master workflows like "complete task and get next".
</Tip>

<Tip>
**Leverage context persistence** - Claude Code maintains conversation history, making it perfect for long-running development sessions.
</Tip>

## 🎯 Best Practices

### Development Workflow

```bash
# Morning routine
claude "Show me today's tasks and priorities"

# During development  
claude "Help me implement task 2.1"
claude "Update task 2.1 with implementation notes"

# End of day
claude "Mark completed tasks as done and show tomorrow's priorities"
```

### Team Collaboration

```bash
# Share task status
claude "Generate a progress report for the team"

# Review dependencies
claude "Check which tasks are blocked and why"

# Planning sessions
claude "Analyze complexity of remaining tasks"
```

---

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  <div className="flex items-center space-x-2 mb-2">
    <span className="text-purple-600 dark:text-purple-400 text-lg">🎉</span>
    <h3 className="font-semibold text-purple-800 dark:text-purple-200">You're all set with Claude Code!</h3>
  </div>
  <p className="text-purple-700 dark:text-purple-300">
    Claude Code offers the most seamless Task Master experience. Ready to create your first project? Check out our <a href="/getting-started/quick-start/prd-quick" className="underline">PRD guide</a>.
  </p>
</div>