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Claude Code Architecture
Engineering · Architecture

Claude Code Architecture

A 6-part series on agentic system design, learned from Claude Code

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All Parts

1

How Claude Code's Architecture Works (Part 1) — 5 Layers You Can Steal for AI Agents

Mar 10, 2026 16 min

Discover Claude Code's five-layer architecture and design principles. Learn the ReAct pattern, context management, and design patterns you can steal for your own AI agents.

2

How Claude Code's Master Loop Works (Part 2) — The Simple Pattern That Beats Complex Frameworks

Mar 12, 2026 14 min

Why Claude Code's simple while-loop beats complex graphs. Learn the master loop pattern, streaming, async queues, and how simplicity wins in production.

3

How Claude Code's Tool Layer Works (Part 3) — Designing the Agent's Hands

Mar 18, 2026 17 min

How Claude Code's tool layer turns LLMs into agents that act. Learn tool design patterns, MCP integration, sandboxing, and principles for building your own.

4

How Claude Code's Memory System Works (Part 4) — What Agents Remember and Why It's Hard

Mar 19, 2026 16 min

Three memory problems every agent must solve: short-term state, long-term knowledge, and context windows. Learn Claude Code's elegant solutions.

5

How Claude Code's Extension System Works (Part 5) — Skills, Commands, and Subagents

Mar 20, 2026 15 min

Why one extension mechanism isn't enough. Learn the three ways Claude Code extends agent capabilities and when to use each one.

6

How Claude Code's Safety Model Works (Part 6) — Patterns to Steal for Your Own Agentic System

Mar 20, 2026 18 min

The complete playbook: Claude Code's 4-layer safety model and 10 design patterns you can steal for your own agentic system. The series finale.

Building a Travel Agent: Applying Claude Code's Design Patterns to a Real System

Mar 22, 2026 22 min

A practical guide to building an autonomous travel planning agent in TypeScript — applying every design pattern from the Claude Code series to a real React/Ink TUI that runs on Claude, Gemini, or Ollama.