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Guide

A Comprehensive Guide to Claude Code

Developer workflows, personal productivity use cases, and MCP-powered integrations in one guide.

Author: Manus AI - January 8, 2026

Introduction

Claude Code is a terminal-based agentic coding assistant designed to accelerate software development. Through MCP, it can also connect to external tools, turning it into a productivity assistant for non-technical workflows like email, calendar, and research.

TL;DR

Plan before you promptBe specific about constraintsKeep Claude.md short and currentManage context activelyUse the right model for each phaseReset and reframe when stuckAutomate repeatable work

Getting started

Install Claude Code, authenticate, and open a project folder in your terminal.
Start with a clear prompt and ask for a plan before changes are made.
Review the diff, run tests, and iterate on the plan.

Developer workflows

Codebase Understanding

Get a system map, key modules, and dependency overview before changing code.

Bug Fixing

Provide an error trace and let Claude Code propose fixes.

Refactoring

Modernize legacy code while preserving behavior and tests.

Test Generation

Add edge-case tests and coverage for failure modes.

CI/CD Automation

Integrate with pipelines for test runs, PR prep, and review support.

Beginner playbook

Think before you type

Start in plan mode and outline the end state before you ask Claude to act. Better inputs produce better outputs.

  • Define the outcome before you prompt
  • Ask for a plan and review it
  • Execute only after the plan is solid

Be specific about constraints

Define scope, requirements, and what not to do. Narrow prompts beat vague requests every time.

  • List the exact requirements and constraints
  • Call out what to avoid or not touch
  • Confirm assumptions before execution

Use Claude.md as leverage

Keep instructions short, project-specific, and explain why each rule exists. Update it when you correct the same mistake twice.

  • Capture project-specific rules only
  • Add a why for each rule
  • Update after repeated corrections

Respect context limits

Quality drops before the window is full. Keep tasks scoped, use scratch files, and reset context when it starts to drift.

  • Keep one task per thread
  • Store plans in scratch files
  • Reset when context starts drifting

Pick the right model for the job

Use a planning-focused model for architecture decisions, then switch to a faster model for execution when the path is clear.

  • Use the strongest model for planning
  • Switch to a faster model for execution
  • Keep Claude.md consistent across models

When stuck, change the approach

Clear the thread, simplify the task, or show a concrete example instead of repeating the same instruction.

  • Reset or simplify the task
  • Show a concrete example
  • Reframe the problem when looping

Build systems, not one-offs

Use headless mode, hooks, and repeated workflows to compound improvements over time.

  • Identify repeatable workflows
  • Automate them with hooks or scripts
  • Review logs and iterate over time

Personal productivity use cases

Email and calendar management
Task and project tracking
Meeting summaries
Content drafting and research

Tooling and configuration

MCP servers

Connect external data sources and tools so Claude can act without manual copy-paste.

Hooks

Run checks or formatters automatically when Claude edits files to prevent drift.

Custom slash commands

Package repeatable prompts into commands for debugging, review, or deploy workflows.

Best practices

Ask for a plan before implementation
Keep prompts scoped to a single goal
Review diffs before committing
Run tests to validate changes

Explore the workflows

Jump into the workflow library for step-by-step prompts and outcomes you can use immediately.

WorkflowsIntegrationsUse cases