Introduction

Claude Code Integrations

Claude Code offers three primary integration methods, each designed to meet you where you work. In this module, we'll master the terminal integration, IDE enhancement, and GitHub collaboration features.

By the end of this module, you'll be able to:

Set up and use Claude Code in any terminal environment
Integrate Claude Code with your favorite IDE
Connect Claude Code to GitHub repositories
Choose the right integration method for different tasks

The terminal integration is Claude Code's most fundamental offering—it works anywhere you have a command line.

Installation and Setup

Universal Compatibility

Claude Code works in any terminal environment:

Core Terminal Commands

Advanced Terminal Features

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Claude Code follows Unix philosophy—it's a well-behaved citizen in the command-line ecosystem.

When you run Claude Code inside an IDE's terminal, it detects the environment and provides enhanced features.

Supported IDEs

VS Code: Full integration with diff view
Cursor: Works in terminal with enhanced features
IntelliJ IDEA: Terminal integration
Sublime Text: Terminal integration
Vim/Neovim: Terminal integration + plugins available

IDE-Specific Features

VS Code Deep Integration

IDE Workflows

The GitHub integration lets Claude work with any repository without cloning it locally.

Setting Up GitHub Integration

Using GitHub Integration

Once connected, you can reference repositories naturally:

GitHub Workflow Examples

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The GitHub integration is perfect for:

Code reviews without local setup
Analyzing unfamiliar codebases
Cross-repository refactoring
Generating documentation for team repos

Use Case	Best Integration	Why
Quick code questions	Terminal	Fast, no context switch
Active development	IDE Terminal	Enhanced diffs, diagnostics
Code review	GitHub	No local setup needed
Automation/Scripts	Terminal	Composable, scriptable
Learning new codebase	GitHub	Browse without cloning
Pair programming	IDE Terminal	Real-time, contextual

Integration Combinations

You can use multiple integrations together:

1. What flag allows you to pipe input directly to Claude Code?

A)-i for input
B)-p for pipe
C)--stdin for standard input
D)-r for read

Show Answer

Correct Answer: B

The -p flag enables pipe mode, allowing you to pipe command output directly to Claude Code for processing.

2. What happens when you run Claude Code inside VS Code's integrated terminal?

A)It fails to work
B)It works the same as any terminal
C)It provides enhanced features like diff views
D)It requires a special plugin

Show Answer

Correct Answer: C

Claude Code detects when it's running inside VS Code and provides enhanced features like beautiful diff views and automatic diagnostic integration.

3. How does the GitHub integration handle your code privacy?

A)It uploads your code to Anthropic servers
B)It makes your private repos public
C)Your code stays on your infrastructure
D)It requires making repos public

Show Answer

Correct Answer: C

The GitHub integration respects privacy - your code stays on your infrastructure. Claude only reads what you explicitly grant access to.

4. Which integration is best for automated scripts and CI/CD pipelines?

A)IDE integration
B)GitHub integration
C)Terminal integration
D)Web interface

Show Answer

Correct Answer: C

Terminal integration is ideal for automation because it's scriptable, composable with Unix tools, and can be easily integrated into CI/CD pipelines.

Let's build a complete workflow using all three integrations:

Scenario: New Feature Development

You're tasked with adding a caching layer to an existing API.

Exercise Tasks

Terminal Mastery: Create a bash alias that uses Claude Code to analyze code complexity:
IDE Enhancement: Configure your IDE to use Claude Code for specific tasks (linting, formatting, etc.)
GitHub Workflow: Use the GitHub integration to analyze a popular open-source project and create an architecture document
Integration Chain: Build a script that:
- Uses GitHub integration to check for new issues
- Uses terminal integration to create branch
- Uses IDE integration to implement fixes

Use -p flag for piping to maintain Unix philosophy
Create aliases for common operations
Combine with existing tools (grep, find, awk)
Use in git hooks for automated checks

IDE Integration

Keep Claude terminal open in a dedicated pane
Use for real-time code review while typing
Leverage diagnostics integration
Create keyboard shortcuts for common Claude commands

GitHub Integration

Perfect for unfamiliar codebases
Use for architecture documentation
Great for security audits
Ideal for cross-team code reviews

Terminal is Universal - Works everywhere, scriptable, composable
IDE Enhances Experience - Better visualization, contextual awareness
GitHub Enables Scale - Analyze any repo without local setup
Combine for Power - Use all three based on the task at hand

Beyond the three core integrations, Claude Code provides a powerful hooks system that gives you deterministic control over agent behavior.

Understanding Hooks

Hooks are scripts that run at specific points in Claude Code's lifecycle, allowing you to:

Block dangerous commands before execution
Log all agent activities
Add notifications when tasks complete
Transform inputs and outputs
Implement custom security policies

The Six Lifecycle Hooks

Creating Your First Hook

Let's create a security hook that prevents dangerous commands:

Making Hooks Executable

Advanced Hook Patterns

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Hooks can be written in any language and can chain multiple scripts for layered functionality.

Pattern 1: Comprehensive Logging

Pattern 2: Voice Notifications

Pattern 3: Multi-Hook Configuration

Building an Observability System

Combine hooks with a simple server for real-time monitoring:

Hook Best Practices

Keep Hooks Fast - They run synchronously and can slow down Claude
Fail Gracefully - Don't let hook failures break your workflow
Use Exit Codes - 0 allows continuation, 1 blocks action
Layer Security - Run security checks before logging
Test Thoroughly - Hooks can affect all Claude operations

Common Hook Use Cases

1. What exit code should a hook return to block an action?

A)0 - Success blocks the action
B)1 - Failure blocks the action
C)-1 - Negative blocks the action
D)Any non-zero blocks the action

Show Answer

Correct Answer: B

Exit code 1 blocks the action. Exit code 0 allows the action to proceed. This follows Unix conventions where 0 means success.

2. In what format do hooks receive event data?

A)Command line arguments
B)Environment variables
C)JSON via stdin
D)YAML configuration file

Show Answer

Correct Answer: C

Hooks receive event data as JSON through stdin (standard input), making them language-agnostic and easy to parse.

3. Which hook is best for adding voice notifications when tasks complete?

A)pre-prompt - Before the task starts
B)notification - When user input is needed
C)stop - When the agent completes
D)post-tool-use - After each tool

Show Answer

Correct Answer: C

The 'stop' hook fires when the agent completes its task, making it perfect for completion notifications.

You've mastered the three core integrations and learned how hooks provide deterministic control. In the next module, we'll explore advanced workflows that leverage these integrations to transform how you develop software.

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Coming Next: Learn TDD with Claude, master plan mode, implement memory management, and discover the power of parallel Claude sessions.