Claude Code can now be rebuilt with small pieces of code

Anthropic has launched a new feature for the developer tool Claude Code called mods. They are small pieces of code written in the programming language TypeScript that can change how the tool behaves and looks.

With a mod, you can for example change texts that Claude sends, add new buttons on the screen, or completely replace built-in features with your own. You can write the code yourself, or ask Claude Code to do it for you.

Works like extensions

Mods are delivered together with plugins, the add-on programs already familiar from Claude Code. This means you install and share mods the same way as other plugins. The feature works both in the command-line version and in the desktop app.

It is important to know that mods have access to your computer in the same way as Claude Code itself. They do not run in isolation (known as sandboxed), so you should only install mods from sources you trust, just as you would otherwise be careful about installing unknown software.

According to Anthropic, developers have long asked for more control over the tool without having to wait for the company to add new features itself. An earlier solution, called hooks, gave some control but could not change screens or replace entire features. Mods can.

Security for businesses

Some of Claude Code's built-in features have now themselves been turned into mods. This means users can turn them off or replace them with their own versions. Anthropic plans to do the same with more features going forward.

For companies that use Claude Code across employees, IT administrators can decide which mods may be installed. There is also a built-in security mod that automatically prevents other mods from bypassing the company's security rules, unless the administrator actively chooses otherwise.

Mods are available now in both the command-line version and the desktop app of Claude Code.