Alliance of Genome Resources - Claude Code Resources
Shared Claude Code configurations, plugins, and best practices for Alliance of Genome Resources developers.
[!IMPORTANT]
Claude Code runs in a regular terminal, not in the Claude web UI.
Alliance access is for the Claude Code command-line tool only. If the Claude website or Claude desktop chat app still shows a personal Free plan, that is expected. To use Alliance-provided Claude Code access, open a normal terminal window on your computer (for example Terminal, iTerm, Windows Terminal, or PowerShell) and run Claude Code there.
Table of Contents
What is Claude Code?
Claude Code is a command-line tool that brings Claude AI directly into your terminal. Instead of copying code back and forth from a chat window, Claude Code can:
- Read and edit files in your project directly
- Run commands like tests, builds, and git operations
- Understand your codebase by exploring files and dependencies
- Make changes across multiple files to implement features or fix bugs
You interact with it through natural conversation in your terminal:
You: Can you add error handling to the API client?
Claude: I'll add try/catch blocks and proper error messages. Let me read the current
implementation first...
[Claude reads files, makes edits, runs tests]
Getting Started
Step 1: Request Access to the Alliance Anthropic Group
To get started with Claude Code at the Alliance, you need to be added to our Anthropic organization:
- Message Chris T on the Alliance Slack
- Include in your message:
- A request to be added to the Alliance Anthropic group
- The email address you want to use for your Claude account
You'll receive an email invitation to join the Alliance Anthropic organization once your request is processed.
Step 2: Read the Official Quickstart
⚠️ Please take 10 minutes to read this: Claude Code Quickstart Guide
The official guide covers essential workflows that will save you hours:
- How to ask Claude effective questions
- Git integration (commits, branches, merge conflicts)
- Debugging and feature implementation patterns
- Pro tips that make a real difference
You'll get far more out of Claude Code if you understand its capabilities upfront.
Step 3: Install Claude Code
As mentioned in the quickstart guide, once you've received your invitation and created your account, install the Claude Code CLI:
macOS, Linux, WSL:
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash
Windows PowerShell:
irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex
Alternative: Homebrew (macOS/Linux):
brew install --cask claude-code
One-time installation: Claude Code only needs to be installed once per computer. After installation, you can run claude from any directory - you don't need to install it separately for each project or repository.
Note: Native installations auto-update automatically. Homebrew requires manual updates via brew upgrade claude-code.
Step 4: Log In and Start Using Claude Code
- Open your terminal in any project directory
- Start Claude Code:
claude
- Log in when prompted:
- Use the email you provided in Step 1
- Important: When asked to choose an account type, select the second option: "Anthropic Console Account" (API Usage Billing). Don't select the first option (Claude Pro/Max subscription).
- Start coding! Try asking:
> what does this project do?
Step 5: Set Your Model to Opus
⚠️ Important: Make sure your model is set to Opus for the best results.
Check and set your model:
/model
Select Opus from the list. This setting persists across sessions.
Why Opus? Opus is Claude's most capable model - it handles complex codebases better, makes fewer mistakes, and produces higher quality code. If you're finding Claude's suggestions unhelpful or off-target, check that you're using Opus.
Additional Resources
Essential Tips
These three habits will dramatically improve your experience with Claude Code. They're simple but make a huge difference in the quality and reliability of the code Claude produces.
1. Make a Plan Before Coding
