anthropic brings claude code to the web

Anthropic Releases Web App for Claude Code

On Monday, Anthropic made its rapidly gaining popularity AI coding assistant, Claude Code, accessible through a dedicated web application. This allows developers to both create and effectively manage multiple AI coding agents directly within their web browser.

Availability and Access

The Claude Code web application is currently being deployed to those subscribed to Anthropic’s tiered plans. These include the $20 monthly Pro plan, as well as the more extensive $100 and $200 per month Max plans.

Subscribers can access Claude Code on the web by visiting claude.ai – the same platform used for Anthropic’s general-purpose chatbot – and selecting the “Code” tab. Access is also available via the Claude iOS app.

Expanding Beyond the Command Line

This launch signifies Anthropic’s ongoing effort to broaden the utility of Claude Code beyond its initial implementation as a command-line interface (CLI) tool. By offering a web-based interface, Anthropic aims to facilitate the deployment of AI coding agents in a wider range of development environments.

A Competitive Landscape

The market for AI coding tools is becoming increasingly competitive. While GitHub Copilot previously held a dominant position, companies like Cursor, Google, OpenAI, and now Anthropic, have all developed highly capable AI coding solutions. Many of these are already accessible through web interfaces.

Claude Code, however, has quickly established itself as a leading contender. User numbers have increased tenfold since its wider release in May, and it currently generates over $500 million in annualized revenue for the company.

Factors Contributing to Success

According to Anthropic product manager Cat Wu, the success of Claude Code is largely attributable to the performance of the company’s underlying AI models, which have gained significant traction among developers. Wu also emphasized the team’s commitment to incorporating elements of enjoyment into the user experience.

Future Development

Anthropic intends to continue expanding the availability of Claude Code to additional platforms. However, the CLI will likely remain the primary environment for advanced users and customization.

“Our focus remains on ensuring the CLI product is the most intelligent and customizable option for utilizing coding agents,” Wu stated. “Simultaneously, we are dedicated to making Claude Code accessible wherever developers work, with web and mobile access representing a significant step in this direction.”

AI-Driven Development

Anthropic reports that 90% of the Claude Code product itself was generated by its own AI models. Wu, a former engineer, notes that she now spends the majority of her time reviewing the outputs of Claude Code rather than writing code directly.

The Rise of AI Coding Agents

Early AI coding tools functioned primarily as autocomplete systems, assisting developers as they typed. However, the current generation of AI coding tools, including Claude Code, enables the creation of autonomous agents. This has transformed the role of many software engineers, shifting their focus towards managing AI coding assistants.

Challenges and Considerations

This transition hasn't been universally embraced. Recent research indicates that some engineers experienced reduced productivity when using AI coding tools like Cursor. This was potentially due to the time spent prompting and awaiting responses from the AI, as well as difficulties with complex codebases and inaccurate AI-generated code.

Looking Ahead

Despite these challenges, companies like Anthropic are continuing to invest in the development of AI coding agents. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei previously predicted that AI would soon be responsible for writing 90% of code for software engineers. While this level of automation may be realized within Anthropic, broader economic adoption may take longer.