Purpose
To provide a comprehensive reference for configuring and using Claude Code (the agentic coding tool) to its full potential. This skill synthesizes best practices, configuration templates, and advanced usage patterns.
Configuration (CLAUDE.md)
Read existing project instructions first. Add or update a project CLAUDE.md only within the requested scope, preserving repository conventions and existing instructions. The template below illustrates a React/TypeScript npm project; replace its commands and stack rules with verified project facts.
Template (General)
# Project Guidelines
## Commands
- Run app:
npm run dev - Test:
npm test - Build:
npm run build
Code Style
- Use TypeScript for all new code.
- Functional components with Hooks for React.
- Tailwind CSS for styling.
- Early returns for error handling.
Workflow
- Read
README.mdfirst to understand project context. - Before editing, read the file content.
- After editing, run tests to verify.
## Advanced Features
### Thinking Keywords
State the desired investigation and verification criteria explicitly. These phrases describe tasks; they are not guaranteed switches for model reasoning effort:
- "Think step-by-step"
- "Analyze the root cause"
- "Plan before executing"
- "Verify your assumptions"
### Debugging
If the agent is stuck or behaving unexpectedly:
1. **Clear Context**: Save the task state and relevant evidence before starting a new session. A prompt to forget instructions does not erase loaded project rules.
2. **Explicit Instructions**: Be extremely specific about paths, filenames, and desired outcomes.
3. **Logs**: Ask the agent to "check the logs" or "run the command with verbose output".
## Best Practices
1. **Small Contexts**: Don't dump the entire codebase into the context. Use `rg` or `rg --files` to locate relevant files first.
2. **Iterative Development**: Ask for small changes, verify, then proceed.
3. **Feedback Loop**: If the agent makes a mistake, correct it immediately and ask it to "add a lesson" to its memory (if supported) or `CLAUDE.md`.
## Verification
Inspect the resulting diff and confirm the intended instructions actually load in the installed host. Project instructions guide behavior; they do not enforce a security boundary. Keep secrets out of tracked instructions. Check current features against [official memory documentation](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/memory).
## Reference
Based on [Claude Code Guide by zebbern](https://github.com/zebbern/claude-code-guide).
## When to Use
Use when configuring project instructions, diagnosing conflicting Claude Code guidance, or defining verified build/test workflows.
## Limitations
- Use this skill only when the task clearly matches the scope described above.
- Do not treat the output as a substitute for environment-specific validation, testing, or expert review.
- Stop and ask for clarification if required inputs, permissions, safety boundaries, or success criteria are missing.