Claude.ai Code Pro Tips - A Developers Guide

Claude Code Pro Tips: A Developer's Guide

Over the last few months, Claude Code has become my default way of writing code. As a developer, I've discovered numerous techniques that have dramatically improved my workflow and productivity. In this post, I'll share the most valuable Claude Code pro tips, primarily based on insights from Boris Churnney, the creator of Claude Code at Anthropic.

 Understanding Claude Code as a CLI

The first thing to understand is that Claude Code is fundamentally a command-line interface. This means you can leverage all the familiar bash-based CLI patterns you already know:

- Pass in command line arguments that run on startup

- Use `-p` to run it in headless mode

- Chain it with other command line tools

- Pipe data into it

- Run multiple instances simultaneously

- Have Claude Code launch instances of itself (this happens automatically when you ask for sub-agents or see "task" notifications)

 Leveraging Images for Better Development

Images are incredibly powerful in Claude Code, and there are several ways to use them effectively:

Basic Image Usage

On macOS, you can simply drag images directly into the terminal. For screenshots, use Shift + Command + Control + 4 to capture, then Control + V (not Command + V) to paste into Claude.

Two Key Image Workflows

**Mockup-Driven Development**: Design a mockup, paste it into Claude, and ask it to build that interface. This approach dramatically speeds up UI development.

**Visual Feedback Loop**: Build something with Claude, take a screenshot of the result, and feed it back for iteration. Claude excels at understanding visual feedback and making improvements.

 Automated Screenshots

For a more advanced workflow, set up the Puppeteer MCP server locally. This allows Claude to automatically open your app, take screenshots, and save them to your local directory—perfect for automated testing and documentation.

 MCP Servers: Extending Claude Code's Capabilities

Claude Code functions as both an MCP server and client, opening up powerful integration possibilities:

- **Database Integration**: Use the Postgres server to connect Claude directly to your database

- **API Wrappers**: Leverage MCP servers that wrap various APIs

- **Documentation Access**: Companies like Cloudflare provide up-to-date documentation through MCP servers

- **Custom Integrations**: Turn Claude Code into an MCP server for use by other agents

 Working with External Resources

When MCP servers aren't available, you can paste URLs directly. Claude Code can fetch and use documentation from any accessible link. For example, when building a Bluey-themed Uno game for my daughter, I pasted unorules.com and had Claude code the game logic based on the official rules rather than relying on training data.

The Power of claude.md

The `claude.md` file is perhaps the most important optimization technique. This file loads with every request and should contain:

- Project-specific instructions

- Common bash commands

- Style and linting guidelines

- Test running procedures

- Repository etiquette

Setting Up claude.md

Use `/init` after launching Claude in a directory to automatically create a `claude.md` file based on your project structure. You can also:

- Set a global `claude.md` in your home directory (`~/claude.md`)

- Add project-specific files in subdirectories

- Use the `#` symbol to add instructions during coding sessions

 Optimization Tips

Regularly refactor your `claude.md` files. Since they load on every conversation turn, keep them specific and avoid duplicative information. Consider using Anthropic's prompt optimizer tool to improve your `claude.md` files.

Custom Slash Commands

Create custom slash commands in the `.claude/commands` folder. These are essentially prompt templates that can include:

- GitHub issue solving workflows

- Refactoring procedures

- Linting routines

- PR review processes

Slash commands support command-line arguments that interpolate into the prompt template, making them highly flexible.

 Essential UI and Workflow Tips

Navigation and Completion

- Use Tab to autocomplete files and directories

- Be specific about which files and directories Claude should work with

- Hit Escape frequently to interrupt Claude when it goes off-track

Version Control Integration

The biggest failure mode with Claude Code is letting it make too many changes without proper version control. Mitigate this by:

- Installing GitHub CLI for seamless GitHub integration

- Having Claude Code commit after every major change

- Using Claude Code to write commit messages (they're often excellent)

- Reverting more frequently than usual

- Clearing conversation history and reverting to previous save points when things go wrong

Alternative: GitHub MCP Server

If you prefer not to install GitHub CLI, use the GitHub MCP server for GitHub interactions.

Managing Context and Costs

Context Management

- Monitor the auto-compacting indicator constantly

- Compact preemptively at natural break points (after commits or completed tasks)

- Consider clearing conversation history instead of compacting

- Use scratchpads or GitHub issues for planning and external memory

 Cost Optimization

Claude Code can be expensive, especially on pay-per-token plans. Consider:

- Upgrading to Claude Max plans ($100 or $200) for bundled usage

- Using OpenTelemetry support with tools like DataDog for team cost tracking

- Working in shorter, focused sessions to minimize token usage

 Final Thoughts

Claude Code represents a significant shift in how we approach software development. By treating it as a collaborative partner rather than just a code generator, and by implementing these optimization techniques, you can dramatically improve both your productivity and code quality.

The key is to work *with* Claude Code's strengths while mitigating its weaknesses through proper version control, context management, and strategic use of external tools and documentation.

For more detailed information and additional pro tips, check out Boris Churnney's comprehensive post on Claude Code optimization techniques.