Claude Agent SDK Setup
Create and configure Claude Agent SDK applications following official documentation and best practices.
Quick Start
- Gather Requirements: Language (TypeScript/Python), project name, agent type
- Initialize Project: Create directory, package manager, configuration
- Install SDK: Latest version from npm/PyPI
- Create Starter Files: Basic agent with proper imports and error handling
- Setup Environment: API keys, .env configuration
- Verify: Run type checks and validation
Language Options
TypeScript
npm init -y
npm install @anthropic-ai/claude-agent-sdk@latest
Create index.ts with:
- Proper imports from SDK
- Basic agent configuration
- Error handling
- Type definitions
Python
pip install claude-agent-sdk
Create main.py with:
- SDK imports
- Agent configuration
- Error handling
Project Structure
project-name/
├── src/
│ └── index.ts (or main.py)
├── .env.example
├── .gitignore
├── package.json (or requirements.txt)
└── tsconfig.json (TypeScript only)
Environment Setup
Create .env.example:
ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=your_api_key_here
Get API key from: https://console.anthropic.com/
Verification
After setup, verify:
- TypeScript: Run
npx tsc --noEmit- fix all type errors - Python: Verify syntax and imports
Resources
- TypeScript SDK: https://docs.anthropic.com/en/docs/agents-and-tools/claude-code/sdk
- Python SDK: https://docs.anthropic.com/en/docs/agents-and-tools/claude-code/sdk
- Overview: https://docs.anthropic.com/en/docs/agents-and-tools/claude-code/overview
Detailed References
- references/typescript-setup.md - TypeScript configuration
- references/python-setup.md - Python configuration
- references/custom-tools.md - Adding custom tools
- references/mcp-integration.md - MCP server integration
Common Next Steps
After initial setup:
- Customize system prompt
- Add custom tools via MCP
- Configure permissions
- Create subagents
- Add sessions for persistence