By Shawn Kercher
On Monday, we started testing Anthropic's latest release: Claude 4.5 Sonnet and Claude Code v2.0.
For developers and teams trying to get AI out of the lab and into production workflows, these updates aren't just incremental improvements — they mark another step toward AI that's durable, dependable, and integrated where real work happens.
Claude 4.5 Sonnet: More Durable, More Practical
Anthropic positions Claude 4.5 Sonnet as its strongest model for coding, agents, and computer use. The headline? Sustained focus.
Sonnet 4.5 can maintain complex workflows for 30+ continuous hours, compared to around 7 hours for Opus 4. That's the difference between "interesting demo" and "actually useful." It means fewer resets, fewer manual handoffs, and a smoother path to completing real business tasks.
Other improvements:
- Enhanced reasoning & math. Early testing shows it's stronger than earlier models at structured problem-solving, math, and logic. The details are still coming in, but the trajectory is clear: it's more capable where precision matters.
- Computer use (beta). Claude includes a beta "computer use" tool that can capture screenshots, move the cursor, type, and handle basic desktop interactions inside sandboxed environments. It's experimental, but it points toward practical agent use cases where AI can work with — not just inside — your systems.
Important context: Opus 4.1 still holds the title of Anthropic's flagship for advanced reasoning and research. But when it comes to coding, automation, and agents, Sonnet 4.5 is the most practical option available right now.
Claude Code v2.0: The CLI Gets Smarter
Alongside Sonnet 4.5, Anthropic rolled out Claude Code v2.0 — not a new product, but a major update to its terminal interface.
The command line is back, and this time it's powered by AI. Developers want tools where they already live: the terminal and the editor. Claude Code delivers:
- CLI integration. Installable via npm, it runs directly in your terminal.
- Project awareness. Instead of file-by-file edits, Claude can map and explain entire codebases.
- Checkpoints. Every change is saved, so you can rewind instantly if something breaks.
- Code execution. Run tests, linters, and shell commands from the same interface.
- File creation. Generate or edit files — even across multiple files — from a single command.
- VS Code plugin (beta). Adds a UI layer for developers who prefer an editor workflow.
It's a clear move beyond autocomplete — toward a genuine coding sidekick.
The 2025 CLI Convergence
Anthropic isn't alone here. OpenAI launched a new open-source Codex CLI in April. Cursor followed with their CLI in August. And now Anthropic's pushing hard with Claude Code across both terminal and VS Code.
The trend is obvious: AI is moving into the developer workflow directly, not trying to replace it. Developers don't want to swap IDEs or hop into a separate platform. They want AI that meets them where they work.
Why This Matters for Businesses
The big question isn't about benchmarks — it's about outcomes: does this save time without creating new problems?
For many teams, the answer is starting to look like yes:
- Faster prototyping. Ideas that used to take days can be tested in hours.
- More reliable automations. Longer focus windows mean fewer dropped workflows.
- Developer productivity. Not replacing developers — but offloading boilerplate so they can focus on architecture and harder problems.
At Humming Agent, we don't build demos. We build systems that need to work Monday morning. These tools feel like they've finally crossed the line from "cool" to "dependable enough to ship."
The Real Limitations
None of this is magic. Claude still occasionally generates code that passes tests but fails in edge cases.
Long sessions aren't free, and you still need developers in the loop to review and guide the work. The promise isn't to replace your team — it's to offload the repetitive, low-value tasks so they can focus on the harder problems.
My Take
At Humming Agent, we're always testing the latest models and tools to see how they fit into real workflows — and how they can give our clients the best options available.
Claude 4.5 Sonnet and Claude Code v2.0 aren't magic, but they are a step toward AI that's durable, dependable, and useful in production. They won't run your company for you, but they can take more of the grunt work off your team's plate, freeing people up for strategy, creativity, and growth.
That's the future we're building toward at Humming Agent.
