Introduction
Learn what Claude Code is, how it compares to competitors, and how to use it at lower cost through QCode.cc
Introduction to Claude Code¶
Claude Code is Anthropic's official CLI (Command Line Interface) agentic coding assistant. Since its general availability in May 2025, it has become a critical tool for world's leading enterprises, including Netflix, Spotify, KPMG, L'Oreal, and Salesforce. In just 6 months, Claude Code reached the milestone of $1 billion in annual run-rate revenue.
What is Claude Code?¶
Claude Code is not a traditional code completion tool—it's a true Agentic Coding Assistant. It works like an experienced developer, autonomously understanding, planning, and executing complex programming tasks.
Core Capabilities¶
- Autonomous Planning: Understands complex tasks and creates execution plans without step-by-step guidance
- Code Operations: Directly reads, edits, and creates any files in your project
- Terminal Execution: Runs tests, installs dependencies, executes builds, and more
- Deep Context Understanding: 200K token context window for comprehensive codebase awareness
- Subagent Collaboration: Spawns specialized subagents to handle specific tasks efficiently
Major 2025 Updates¶
- Plan Mode: Analyze and research first, then create implementation plans to reduce errors
- Subagents: Background agents for code review, testing, and specialized tasks
- CLAUDE.md Memory System: Project-level config files that remember your preferences and standards
- MCP Extension Protocol: Connect external tools and services via Model Context Protocol
- Opus 4.5 Model: The latest and most powerful coding model with significantly improved code generation
Comparison with Competitors¶
Claude Code vs OpenAI Codex CLI¶
| Feature | Claude Code | Codex CLI |
|---|---|---|
| Base Model | Claude Opus 4.5 / Sonnet 4.5 | GPT-5.2-Codex |
| Subagent System | Native support, powerful | Requires MCP extension |
| Plan Mode | Built-in | No native support |
| Interaction Style | Detailed explanations, pair-programming | Concise output, more automated |
| Intent Understanding | Excellent, rarely misinterprets | Good, occasionally ignores instructions |
| Context Window | 200K tokens | 400K tokens |
| Pricing | Pay-per-use / Subscription | Pay-per-use / Subscription |
Verdict: Claude Code excels in code quality, interaction experience, and intent understanding; Codex has a larger context window but the overall experience is slightly behind.
QCode.cc also supports Codex! After purchasing a plan, Claude Code and Codex share the same quota, giving you flexibility to choose which tool to use. See Codex Integration to learn how to configure it.
Claude Code vs Google Gemini CLI¶
| Feature | Claude Code | Gemini CLI |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Pay-per-use / Subscription | Free (with limits) |
| Context Window | 200K tokens | 1M tokens |
| Coding Ability | Industry-leading | Noticeably weaker |
| Agent Features | Mature and comprehensive | Basic functionality |
| Multimodal | Image understanding | Native multimodal |
| Ecosystem | Independent | Deep Google ecosystem integration |
Verdict: Gemini CLI is free with an enormous context window, suitable for light use; however, coding capabilities are significantly behind Claude Code—not recommended for professional development.
Why Claude Code is the Best Choice¶
"AI tool model performance is simply better when accessed directly through Codex and Claude Code, resulting in faster and more accurate results." — 2025 Developer Tools Review
- Highest Code Quality: Claude models consistently lead in programming benchmarks
- Best Developer Experience: Detailed explanations, clear planning, precise intent understanding
- Enterprise Validated: The tool of choice for Netflix, Spotify, and other top enterprises
- Rapid Iteration: 176 updates shipped in 2025, continuously evolving
Why Choose QCode.cc?¶
Claude Code is powerful, but official pricing is steep:
- Anthropic Max Subscription: $200/month
- API Pay-per-use: Opus 4.5 $5/$25 per million tokens (input/output)
QCode.cc Advantages¶
Through QCode.cc, you get the same Claude Code functionality at 1/7 the official price:
| Comparison | Anthropic Official | QCode.cc |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Plans | $200/month | $5-50/month |
| API Price | $5/$25 per M tokens | ~$0.7/$3.5 per M tokens |
| Features | Complete | Complete |
| Region Restrictions | Overseas credit card required | WeChat/Alipay supported |
| Network Speed | High latency from Asia | Asia-Pacific optimized, low latency |
| Support | English only | 7×24 multilingual support |
Service Guarantees¶
- 99.9% Availability: Enterprise-grade stability
- Asia-Pacific Optimized: Hong Kong/Japan nodes for low latency
- Seamless Migration: API compatible, just change environment variables
- Account Protection: Immediate issue resolution, uninterrupted service
Quick Start¶
Install Claude Code¶
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code
Configure QCode.cc¶
export ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL="https://asia.qcode.cc/api"
export ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN="your-api-key"
Start Using¶
cd your-project
claude
Then you can communicate with Claude Code in natural language:
> Analyze this project's architecture and find areas for optimization
> Write comprehensive unit tests for the UserService
> Refactor src/utils.js to improve code readability
System Requirements¶
- OS: Windows 10+, macOS 10.15+, Linux
- Node.js: 18.0 or higher
- Network: Stable internet connection
Next Steps¶
Ready to experience the most powerful AI coding assistant?
- Check out the Installation Guide to complete setup
- Read Quick Start to learn basic usage
- Explore Usage Tips to boost your productivity