> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.cloud.cdata.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Claude Code

> Claude Code is Anthropic's agentic coding tool that reads your codebase, edits files, and runs commands from your terminal, IDE, desktop app, and browser. Follow the directions below to use Claude Code as the LLM engine in your own applications.

## Prerequisites

Before you can configure Claude Code to use the Connect AI LLM Gateway, you must register a provider, create a routing rule, create a project, and issue a virtual key in Connect AI. See [LLM Gateway](/en/LLM-Gateway/LLM-Gateway) for details.

<Note>A Connect AI Personal Access Token (PAT) is not accepted by the LLM Gateway. Only a virtual key authenticates requests.</Note>

## Configure Claude Code

Set the following environment variables to point Claude Code at the Connect AI LLM Gateway. The gateway selects the provider and model based on your project's routing rule.

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="macOS / Linux">
    ```bash theme={null}
    export ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL="https://cloud.cdata.com/gateway/v1"
    export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY="<your-virtual-key>"
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Windows (PowerShell)">
    ```powershell theme={null}
    $env:ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL = "https://cloud.cdata.com/gateway/v1"
    $env:ANTHROPIC_API_KEY = "<your-virtual-key>"
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Start a Session

With the environment variables set, start Claude Code:

```bash theme={null}
claude
```


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