5 minutes to get started

How to install Claude Code agents

Complete beginner-friendly guide to installing specialized AI agents. Start using agents in your Claude Code conversations in under 5 minutes.

How to install Claude Code agents?

Installation takes under 5 minutes. Browse the marketplace, copy the agent definition, move it to ~/.claude/agents/, and start using it immediately in Claude Code conversations.

Browse the Marketplace

Visit the agents page and find specialized agents matching your needs (frontend, backend, testing, DevOps, etc.)

Copy Installation Code

Click the agent card and copy the one-line installation snippet that downloads the agent definition

Add to Agents Directory

Paste into terminal: mv agent-name.md ~/.claude/agents/ to add the agent to your Claude Code setup

Reference in Conversations

Start using the agent immediately in Claude Code conversations with natural language prompts

Iterate and Optimize

Refine agent behavior with follow-up prompts, customize outputs, and build production-ready code faster

Installation example:

curl -o frontend-architect.md https://marketplace.claude.com/download

mv frontend-architect.md ~/.claude/agents/

LIST SNIPPET (5 STEPS)

Detailed Installation Steps

Visit Claude Code Market

Go to the marketplace and browse agents by category

~1 min

You'll see 150+ agents organized by category

Frontend, Backend, Testing, DevOps, AI/ML, and more

Each agent shows rating, downloads, and description

Select Your Agent

Click on an agent to view details and ratings

~1 min

Read the agent description and use cases

Check ratings and reviews from other developers

See example prompts and output samples

Note any prerequisites or configuration needed

Copy Installation Code

Copy the one-line installation command

~1 min

Click the "Copy" button on the agent card

The command format: curl -o agent-name.md https://...

Paste the URL into your terminal

Add to Agents Directory

Move the agent file to your Claude Code directory

~1 min

Run: mv agent-name.md ~/.claude/agents/

This creates ~/.claude/agents/ if it doesn't exist

Multiple agents can coexist in this directory

Start Using Immediately

Reference the agent in Claude Code conversations

~1 min

Open a new conversation in Claude Code

Ask: "Using the Frontend Architect agent, build a responsive navbar"

The agent will automatically be loaded and used

Refine outputs with follow-up prompts

Code Examples

Quick Start: Frontend Agent

bash

# 1. Download the Frontend Architect agent
curl -o frontend-architect.md https://marketplace.claude.com/agents/frontend-architect/download

# 2. Add to your agents directory
mv frontend-architect.md ~/.claude/agents/

# 3. Open Claude Code and use it
# Prompt: "Using Frontend Architect, build a responsive navbar with search and user menu"

# Output: Complete React component with:
# - TypeScript with full types
# - Tailwind CSS styling
# - Full accessibility (ARIA labels)
# - Mobile responsive design

Install Multiple Agents

bash

# Install Frontend Agent
curl -o frontend-architect.md https://marketplace.claude.com/agents/frontend-architect/download
mv frontend-architect.md ~/.claude/agents/

# Install Backend Agent
curl -o backend-pro.md https://marketplace.claude.com/agents/backend-pro/download
mv backend-pro.md ~/.claude/agents/

# Install Test Agent
curl -o test-automator.md https://marketplace.claude.com/agents/test-automator/download
mv test-automator.md ~/.claude/agents/

# Now all three are available in Claude Code
# Use any of them in conversations

Example: Using an Installed Agent

typescript

# In Claude Code conversation:

USER:
"Using the Backend Pro agent, build a complete REST API for a
task management app with:
- User authentication (JWT)
- CRUD endpoints for tasks
- Database schema in PostgreSQL
- Full test coverage with Jest
- Error handling and validation"

AGENT OUTPUT:
// Generated complete Express.js application:
// - server.ts with all endpoints
// - database/schema.sql with migrations
// - middleware/auth.ts for JWT verification
// - tests/api.test.ts with E2E tests
// - .env.example with required variables
// - README with setup instructions

What You Can Do With Agents

Frontend Development

Build complete React/Vue components
Generate responsive UI with Tailwind
Implement complex state management
Create accessible, semantic HTML

Backend Development

Generate REST API endpoints
Create database schemas
Implement authentication flows
Set up payment processing

Testing & Quality

Auto-generate unit tests
Create E2E tests with Playwright
Achieve 80%+ code coverage
Implement CI/CD pipelines

DevOps & Infrastructure

Set up GitHub Actions workflows
Configure Docker containers
Deploy to Vercel/Railway/AWS
Implement monitoring & logging

Troubleshooting

Command "curl" not found

curl is pre-installed on Mac/Linux. On Windows, use PowerShell (built-in) or install Git Bash.

~/.claude/agents/ directory doesn't exist

The directory will be created automatically. You can also create it manually: mkdir -p ~/.claude/agents/

Agent not appearing in Claude Code

Restart Claude Code after adding the agent file. Make sure the file extension is .md

Permission denied when moving file

Try with sudo: sudo mv agent-name.md ~/.claude/agents/ (you may need to enter your password)

Agent works but output quality is poor

Try more specific prompts. Example: "Build a NextJS page with React hooks, Tailwind CSS, and TypeScript"

Next Steps

Browse Agents

Explore 150+ agents across all categories

Install Your First Agent

Follow the installation steps above

Build Something Amazing

Use agents to ship features faster

Ready to build faster?

Follow the steps above, install an agent, and start shipping production-ready code in minutes instead of hours.