Claude Code's new Mods system lets developers rewrite the AI coding tool from the inside
Anthropic launched Mods, unsandboxed plugins that let developers change Claude Code's tools, commands, and interface.
Anthropic released Mods for Claude Code, a plugin system of JavaScript or TypeScript functions that hook into tool calls, user prompts, and UI rendering. Developers can add panels, intercept tool calls, or create commands; built-in features such as /diff are already Mods. Sample Mods on GitHub work in the CLI, the desktop app, and partly in the VS Code extension. Mods run with the user's permissions and are not sandboxed, so Anthropic advises installing only trusted sources, while organizations can restrict which Mods load. The first official plugin, You Should Know, uses a separate agent to flag important details users might miss.
- Mods are JavaScript or TypeScript hooks into Claude Code events.
- Plugins run unsandboxed with the user's full permissions.
- Available in the CLI, desktop app, and partly VS Code.
- Organizations can restrict which Mods are allowed to load.
- You Should Know flags details users might have missed.
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Anthropic released "Mods" for Claude Code, essentially middleware that runs directly inside the tool. The plugin-based system lets developers change how Claude Code looks and works. Mods are JavaScript or TypeScript functions that hook into specific events, from tool calls and user prompts to UI rendering. That means developers can add custom panels next to the chat, intercept tool calls, or wire up entirely new commands. Some built-in features like the /diff command are already built as Mods, the company says.
Anthropic provides sample Mods on GitHub. Mods run with the user's permissions and aren't sandboxed, so Anthropic warns users to only install them from trusted sources. They work in the CLI, the desktop app, and partly in the VS Code extension. Organizations can control which Mods are allowed to load.
The first official Mod plugin is called "You Should Know." It spins up a separate agent that watches Claude's output and sends a "Heads up" message when it spots important information users might have missed. You can turn it on with /plugin enable cc-plugin-you-should-know@builtin.
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Text extracted automatically; images, tables and formatting may be missing. Original: https://the-decoder.com/claude-codes-new-mods-system-lets-developers-rewrite-the-ai-coding-tool-from-the-inside/