Getting Started with Claude Code: A Developer's Guide

Claude Code changed how I write software. Not because it writes code for me—but because it handles the tedious parts while I focus on architecture and decisions.

This guide covers everything you need to get productive with Claude Code, from installation to advanced workflows.

What is Claude Code?

Claude Code is Anthropic’s AI-powered coding assistant that runs in your terminal. Unlike chatbot interfaces, it:

• Reads and writes files directly in your project
• Executes commands in your terminal
• Understands full project context (not just snippets)
• Maintains conversation history across sessions

Think of it as a senior developer who can see your entire codebase and execute tasks autonomously.

Installation

Option 1: npm (Recommended)

npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

Option 2: Native Binary

Download from the Claude Code releases page.

Authentication

claude login

This opens a browser for OAuth authentication with your Anthropic account.

Basic Commands

Command	Description
claude	Start interactive session
claude "task"	Execute a one-off task
claude -c	Continue previous conversation
claude -p "prompt"	Non-interactive mode
claude --help	See all options

Your First Session

cd your-project
claude

Then type naturally:

What does this codebase do? Give me a high-level overview.

Claude reads your files and explains the architecture.

Key Features

1. Project Understanding

Claude Code automatically reads:

• CLAUDE.md files (project-specific instructions)
• Package files (package.json, requirements.txt, etc.)
• Configuration files
• Source code as needed

Pro tip: Create a CLAUDE.md in your project root:

# Project Overview
This is a Next.js e-commerce application.

## Tech Stack
- Next.js 14 with App Router
- TypeScript
- Prisma with PostgreSQL
- Tailwind CSS

## Development Guidelines
- Use server components by default
- Follow existing naming conventions
- Write tests for new features

## Important Commands
- `npm run dev` - Start development server
- `npm run test` - Run tests
- `npm run db:push` - Push schema changes

Claude reads this automatically and follows your guidelines.

2. File Operations

Claude can read, write, and modify files:

Create a new API route at app/api/users/route.ts that returns a list of users from the database

It will:

1. Check your existing patterns
2. Create the file with proper imports
3. Follow your project’s conventions

3. Command Execution

Claude can run terminal commands:

Run the tests and fix any failures

It executes npm test, reads the output, and fixes failing tests.

4. Plan Mode

For complex tasks, use plan mode:

Press Shift+Tab to enter plan mode. Claude will:

1. Analyze the codebase
2. Create a detailed plan
3. Wait for your approval
4. Execute step by step

Great for large refactors or new features.

Real Workflow Examples

Example 1: Adding a New Feature

Prompt:

Add a user authentication system using NextAuth.js with email/password and Google OAuth. Include:
- Sign up page
- Login page
- Protected dashboard route
- User session in the header

What Claude does:

1. Installs dependencies (next-auth, etc.)
2. Creates auth configuration
3. Builds UI components matching your design system
4. Sets up API routes
5. Adds middleware for protection
6. Updates existing components with session checks

Example 2: Debugging

Prompt:

The checkout page throws "Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'price')" when the cart is empty. Find and fix the bug.

What Claude does:

1. Locates the checkout component
2. Finds the error line
3. Traces the data flow
4. Adds null checks or early returns
5. Tests the fix

Example 3: Code Review

Prompt:

Review the last 3 commits for security issues and code quality. Focus on:
- SQL injection risks
- Missing input validation
- Performance concerns

Output: Detailed review with specific file:line references and suggested fixes.

Example 4: Documentation

Prompt:

Generate API documentation for all routes in app/api/. Include request/response examples.

Creates comprehensive docs based on your actual code.

Best Practices

1. Be Specific About Constraints

Bad: “Add a login page”

Good: “Add a login page using our existing AuthForm component pattern. Use the shadcn/ui Input and Button components. Follow the existing page layout in app/(auth)/layout.tsx.”

2. Use Plan Mode for Big Changes

Before major work:

Enter plan mode (Shift+Tab)

I want to refactor the data fetching layer to use React Query instead of useEffect.
Don't make any changes yet - just create a plan.

Review the plan, then: “Proceed with the plan”

3. Iterate, Don’t Overload

Instead of one massive prompt, break it down:

Session 1: "Set up the database schema for a blog system"
Session 2: "Create the API routes for blog posts"
Session 3: "Build the admin UI for managing posts"

4. Leverage Context

Claude remembers the conversation. Build on previous responses:

You: "Add a Product model to the database"
Claude: [creates model]
You: "Now add CRUD API routes for it"
Claude: [creates routes referencing the model it just made]
You: "Add validation using zod"
Claude: [updates routes with validation]

5. Review Before Committing

Always review changes:

Show me a summary of all files you modified

Or use git:

git diff

Advanced Features

Custom Commands

Create reusable prompts in .claude/commands/:

<!-- .claude/commands/review.md -->
Review the staged changes for:
- Security vulnerabilities
- Performance issues
- Code style violations
- Missing error handling

Provide feedback in a structured format.

Then use: /review

Multi-File Edits

Claude handles coordinated changes across files:

Rename the User model to Account everywhere - update the model, all imports, API routes, and components.

Integration with Git

Create a commit with all current changes. Write a descriptive commit message following conventional commits.

Or:

Create a PR description for the current branch changes.

Common Pitfalls

Pitfall 1: Over-Trusting Output

Claude is good, not perfect. Always:

• Review generated code
• Run tests
• Check for security issues

Pitfall 2: Context Overload

Long conversations can lose focus. Start fresh for new topics:

claude  # New session

Pitfall 3: Vague Instructions

“Make it better” gives vague results. Be specific:

• “Reduce this function’s complexity score from 15 to under 10”
• “Add error handling for network failures”
• “Improve performance by memoizing expensive calculations”

Pitfall 4: Ignoring Errors

If Claude’s solution doesn’t work, share the error:

That gives this error: [paste error]

Claude learns from feedback in the conversation.

Comparing to Other AI Coding Tools

Feature	Claude Code	Cursor	GitHub Copilot
Terminal-native	Yes	No	No
Full project context	Yes	Yes	Limited
Command execution	Yes	Limited	No
Self-hosted option	No	No	No
Conversation memory	Yes	Yes	No
Plan mode	Yes	No	No

Claude Code excels at autonomous multi-step tasks where terminal access matters.

Resources

• Official Documentation
• Best Practices from Anthropic
• Community Forum

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Using Claude Code for something interesting? I’d love to hear about it. Get in touch.