What
The command-line help text for two startup flags was clarified:
--barenow explains that it only skips hooks (custom scripts that run automatically at certain points) defined in your settings or added by installed plugins; features built into Claude Code itself keep working.--safe-modenow states that built-in tools and plugins both continue to work while safe mode disables other customizations.- The list of things
--safe-modedisables now says "installed plugins" instead of just "plugins", to be more precise about scope.
Why
These flags are meant for stripping down or troubleshooting your setup, and the clearer wording makes it easier to know exactly what still runs versus what gets turned off, without needing to test it by trial and error.
Names in the bundle--bare--safe-mode
The entry above is what we published on the day. These lines were added later, as Anthropic's own pages caught up, and they sit beside the original rather than replacing it.
Confirmed since
Anthropic's documentation has since written up --safe-mode, on Error reference.
The value you passed to `--agents` is invalid, so `claude` exits with code 1 instead of starting the session. When you pass `--safe-mode` or set [`CLAUDE_CODE_SAFE_MODE`](/docs/en/env-vars#variables), Claude Code ignores `--agents` entirel…errors see the edit
Confirmed since
Anthropic's documentation has since written up --bare, on Environment variables.
| `CLAUDE_CODE_SIMPLE` | Set to `1` to run with a minimal system prompt and only the Bash, file read, and file edit tools. MCP tools from `--mcp-config` are still available. Disables auto-discovery of hooks, skills, custom commands, subage…env-vars see the edit
Added since
A small documentation edit on CLI reference touched a line naming --bare after this was published.
| `--bare` | Minimal mode: skip auto-discovery of hooks, skills, custom commands, subagents, installed plugins, MCP servers, auto memory, and CLAUDE.md so scripted calls start faster. Skills in a directory you pass with `--add-dir` still l…cli-reference see the edit
One source agreesOne thing we can check says the same as this entry.
Anthropic's documentation agrees
A small documentation edit on CLI reference touched a line naming --bare after this was published.