Claude Code Best Practices: A Quick Reference Guide

@hao CC BY 4.0

A curated collection of tips for getting the most out of Claude Code.

Setup Your CLAUDE.md

Create a CLAUDE.md file at your project root. Include:

  • Build and test commands
  • Code style guidelines
  • Repository conventions and patterns

Treat CLAUDE.md like a prompt—refine it iteratively. Use emphasis keywords like "IMPORTANT" or "YOU MUST" to improve adherence.

The Explore-Plan-Code-Commit Workflow

  1. Explore: Have Claude read relevant files first
  2. Plan: Ask for a detailed plan before coding (use Shift+Tab twice for Plan Mode)
  3. Code: Let Claude implement with your approval
  4. Commit: Have Claude create clear commit messages

Key Tips

Be specific upfront. Instead of "add tests," specify which edge cases to cover. Clear instructions reduce course corrections.

Use tab completion. Reference specific file paths to guide Claude to the right context.

Course correct early. Press Escape to interrupt. Double-tap Escape to edit previous prompts. Don't let Claude go down rabbit holes.

Clear context between tasks. Use /clear to prevent irrelevant conversation from filling the context window.

Provide visuals. Paste screenshots or drag images—Claude excels with visual context.

Advanced: Run Multiple Instances

Use git worktree add to create separate working directories, then run multiple Claude instances in parallel for independent tasks.

Advanced: MCP Servers

Configure Model Context Protocol servers to extend Claude's reach beyond your terminal—connect to external APIs, databases, or custom tools.

Curated from Anthropic's official documentation and community best practices.