---
title: "Claude Agent SDK: features, version and quickstart · DotsAgent"
description: "Claude Agent SDK by Anthropic: licence, latest version, MCP support, durable runs, human approval, tracing and evals, plus a quickstart to copy."
url: https://dotsagent.io/frameworks/claude-agent-sdk
---

Framework · Anthropic

# Claude Agent SDK at a glance

Anthropic's SDK puts the harness behind Claude Code, with file and shell tools, permissions, hooks, subagents and skills, inside your own Python or TypeScript program. Unlike the rest of this list it runs Claude models only, and Anthropic's Commercial Terms govern its use.

**Best for:**  Apps where Claude should do real work on a filesystem, under tool permissions you control.

## Key facts

- **Maintainer**: Anthropic
- **Languages**: Python, TypeScript
- **Licence**: Anthropic Commercial Terms
- **Latest version**: `Python 0.2.163 / TypeScript 0.3.286` · September 30, 2026
- **Repository**: [anthropics/claude-agent-sdk-python](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-agent-sdk-python) · 8,200 stars
- **Hosted option**: [Claude Managed Agents](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/agent-sdk/overview)Anthropic hosts the harness; sessions run in an Anthropic-managed or self-hosted sandbox.

## Quickstart

Install the package, set the credentials, then run the smallest agent from the official docs. Model IDs are the ones the docs use and may not be enabled on your account.

### Python

`Install`

```
pip install claude-agent-sdk
```

Needs ANTHROPIC_API_KEY

`Python`

```
import asyncio
from claude_agent_sdk import query, ClaudeAgentOptions

async def main():
    async for message in query(
        prompt="Find and fix the bug in auth.py",
        options=ClaudeAgentOptions(allowed_tools=["Read", "Edit", "Bash"]),
    ):
        print(message)  # Claude reads the file, finds the bug, edits it

asyncio.run(main())
```

[Quickstart source](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/agent-sdk/overview)

### TypeScript

`Install`

```
npm install @anthropic-ai/claude-agent-sdk
```

Needs ANTHROPIC_API_KEY

`TypeScript`

```
import { query } from "@anthropic-ai/claude-agent-sdk";

for await (const message of query({
  prompt: "Find and fix the bug in auth.ts",
  options: { allowedTools: ["Read", "Edit", "Bash"] }
})) {
  console.log(message); // Claude reads the file, finds the bug, edits it
}
```

[Quickstart source](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/agent-sdk/overview)

## Features

| Any model | — | Claude only, via Anthropic, Bedrock, Google Cloud or Foundry |
| --- | --- | --- |
| MCP client | — | mcpServers option; plugins can bundle MCP servers |
| MCP server | — | — |
| Multi-agent | — | Subagents handle focused subtasks |
| Durable runs | — | Sessions can be resumed or forked; no durable engine |
| Human approval | — | Permission modes decide which tools need approval |
| Tracing | — | OpenTelemetry export; traces are in beta |
| Evals | — | — |

## Recent changes

- Renamed from Claude Code SDK; a migration guide is available.
- Both SDKs now bundle a native Claude Code binary.
- Since 15 June 2026, SDK use on subscription plans draws from a separate monthly Agent SDK credit.
- Third-party apps may not offer claude.ai login without Anthropic's approval.

## Alternatives in the same language

- [OpenAI Agents SDK](https://dotsagent.io/frameworks/openai-agents-python)

- [OpenAI Agents SDK (JS)](https://dotsagent.io/frameworks/openai-agents-js)

- [Google ADK](https://dotsagent.io/frameworks/google-adk)

- [Microsoft Agent Framework](https://dotsagent.io/frameworks/microsoft-agent-framework)

- [LangGraph](https://dotsagent.io/frameworks/langgraph)

- [CrewAI](https://dotsagent.io/frameworks/crewai)

## Sources

1. [code.claude.com](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/agent-sdk/overview)/docs/en/agent-sdk/overview
2. [code.claude.com](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/agent-sdk/quickstart)/docs/en/agent-sdk/quickstart
3. [code.claude.com](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/agent-sdk/observability)/docs/en/agent-sdk/observability
4. [code.claude.com](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/bedrock-vertex)/docs/en/bedrock-vertex
5. [pypi.org](https://pypi.org/pypi/claude-agent-sdk/json)/pypi/claude-agent-sdk/json
6. [registry.npmjs.org](https://registry.npmjs.org/@anthropic-ai%2fclaude-agent-sdk)/@anthropic-ai%2fclaude-agent-sdk
7. [api.github.com](https://api.github.com/repos/anthropics/claude-agent-sdk-python)/repos/anthropics/claude-agent-sdk-python
8. [api.github.com](https://api.github.com/repos/anthropics/claude-agent-sdk-typescript)/repos/anthropics/claude-agent-sdk-typescript

Independent reference for people who build AI agents. Not affiliated with any vendor named here.

© 2026 DotsAgent · Facts checked October 1, 2026