What probably matters to youSection of the release
What
CLAUDE_CODE_AUTO_MODE_SERVER is an environment variable (a setting read from your shell when Claude Code starts) that decides whether auto mode asks the server to review its actions instead of making its own classifier requests. It used to be read only for third-party providers. It is now also read on the first-party path, meaning a direct connection to Anthropic.
Set to a false value, it forces server review off.
Set to a true value, it turns server review on (internally the "arbiter" mode) without needing the tengu_smooth_chipmunk flag. It still requires the tengu_iridescent_crystal flag to be off and that the server has not refused the third-party classifier.
Left unset, the tengu_smooth_chipmunk flag decides as before, and its built-in default is off. A build-time override hook sits in that fallback but does nothing in this build.
The variable is now read once into userServerClassifierSwitch, which is empty when the variable is unset and otherwise true or false, so the code can tell "not set" apart from an explicit choice.
First-party users can opt in to server-side review ahead of the rollout flag, or opt out of it, with a single environment variable, whatever the remote flag says.
The flag server returned off for the account this site reads and for the anonymous baseline. A reading of off cannot rule out a rollout these two readings sit outside of.
This account: off · anonymous baseline: off · compiled default in v2.1.281: off
These values were read against a different version of Claude Code, so treat them as the nearest reading available instead of one taken on this release.
tengu_iridescent_crystalOff in both readings
The flag server returned off for the account this site reads and for the anonymous baseline. A reading of off cannot rule out a rollout these two readings sit outside of.
This account: off · anonymous baseline: off · compiled default in v2.1.281: off
These values were read against a different version of Claude Code, so treat them as the nearest reading available instead of one taken on this release.
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.
Added sinceA small documentation edit on Environment variables touched a line naming CLAUDE_CODE_AUTO_MODE_SERVER after this was published.| `CLAUDE_CODE_AUTO_MODE_SERVER` | Controls whether Claude Code asks the server to [review auto mode actions](/docs/en/permission-modes#server-side-classifier-review). Set to `0` to use Claude Code's own classifier requests instead. On a d…env-varssee the edit
Confirmed sinceAnthropic's documentation has since written up CLAUDE_CODE_AUTO_MODE_SERVER, on Claude Code changelog.* Changed auto mode to use the server-side classifier by default on a direct Anthropic API connection when telemetry is off (`CLAUDE_CODE_AUTO_MODE_SERVER=0` opts out)changelogsee the edit
What has happened since
Flag reading movedThe flag server now returns on for tengu_smooth_chipmunk, read as this account.A reading is one sample. Claude Code evaluates its flags remotely, so no client sees the targeting rule behind a value and this says nothing about your account.
Flag reading movedThe flag server now returns off for tengu_smooth_chipmunk, read as this account.A reading is one sample. Claude Code evaluates its flags remotely, so no client sees the targeting rule behind a value and this says nothing about your account.
Flag reading movedThe flag server now returns on for tengu_smooth_chipmunk, read as this account.A reading is one sample. Claude Code evaluates its flags remotely, so no client sees the targeting rule behind a value and this says nothing about your account.
Flag reading movedThe flag server now returns off for tengu_smooth_chipmunk, read as this account.A reading is one sample. Claude Code evaluates its flags remotely, so no client sees the targeting rule behind a value and this says nothing about your account.
Flag reading movedThe flag server now returns on for tengu_smooth_chipmunk, read as this account.A reading is one sample. Claude Code evaluates its flags remotely, so no client sees the targeting rule behind a value and this says nothing about your account.
Something disagreesSomething we can check disagrees with this entry, or the writer said they could not settle it.
The writer flagged doubtThe finding does not say what the "arbiter" mode does differently for a user.
Anthropic's documentation agreesAnthropic's documentation has since written up CLAUDE_CODE_AUTO_MODE_SERVER, on Claude Code changelog.
Anthropic's release notes agreeChanged CLAUDE_CODE_AUTO_MODE_SERVER to also apply on a direct Anthropic API connection: 0 opts out of the server-side auto mode classifier…