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HUMANS.claude.code.md v0.0.1

Claude Code - AI Coding Assistant

This document provides guidance for humans collaborating with Claude through Claude Code, Anthropic’s command line tool for agentic coding.

• Back to main HUMANS.md
• Claude Code’s Agent Instructions (to be created)

About Claude Code

Claude Code is a command line tool that lets developers delegate coding tasks to Claude directly from their terminal. It provides a specialized interface for development work, allowing Claude to interact with your codebase, run commands, and make changes autonomously.

Getting Started

Installation and Setup

Check the official documentation at https://docs.anthropic.com/en/docs/claude-code for installation instructions and setup requirements.

Basic Usage

Claude Code allows you to describe coding tasks in natural language and have Claude execute them with access to your development environment.

Core Capabilities

Codebase Management

• File Operations: Creating, reading, modifying, and organizing code files
• Code Analysis: Understanding existing codebases and identifying patterns
• Refactoring: Restructuring code while maintaining functionality
• Documentation: Generating and updating code documentation

Development Tasks

• Feature Implementation: Building new functionality from requirements
• Bug Fixing: Identifying and resolving issues in existing code
• Testing: Writing and running tests, debugging test failures
• Code Review: Analyzing code quality and suggesting improvements

Environment Integration

• Command Execution: Running build scripts, tests, and other development commands
• Package Management: Installing dependencies and managing project requirements
• Version Control: Working with Git repositories and managing changes

Best Practices for Task Delegation

Define Clear Objectives

• Specify exactly what you want accomplished
• Include acceptance criteria and success metrics
• Provide context about the broader project goals
• Mention any constraints or requirements

Provide Sufficient Context

• Share relevant background about the codebase
• Explain the purpose and scope of existing functionality
• Include information about coding standards and conventions
• Mention any architectural decisions or patterns to follow

Set Boundaries and Expectations

• Specify which files or directories Claude should focus on
• Indicate any files that should not be modified
• Set expectations for testing and validation
• Clarify whether to implement quick fixes or robust solutions

Effective Collaboration Patterns

Start Small and Iterate

• Begin with well-defined, smaller tasks
• Review results before moving to more complex work
• Build complexity gradually as Claude learns your codebase
• Use feedback to refine subsequent tasks

Leverage Claude’s Analysis

• Ask Claude to explore and understand your codebase first
• Request architectural analysis and recommendations
• Have Claude identify potential issues or improvements
• Use Claude’s insights to inform development decisions

Maintain Development Standards

• Ensure Claude follows your coding conventions
• Request adherence to existing patterns and architectures
• Ask for proper error handling and edge case consideration
• Verify that changes include appropriate tests

Working with Different Types of Projects

New Projects

• Have Claude help with project structure and scaffolding
• Ask for best practice recommendations for your technology stack
• Request creation of foundational components and utilities
• Use Claude to establish testing and documentation frameworks

Existing Codebases

• Start with exploration and analysis tasks
• Request documentation of existing functionality
• Ask Claude to identify areas for improvement or refactoring
• Have Claude work on isolated components before core functionality

Legacy Systems

• Ask Claude to analyze and document legacy code
• Request modernization recommendations
• Have Claude create tests for existing functionality
• Use Claude to gradually refactor problematic areas

Code Quality and Review

Automated Testing

• Ask Claude to write comprehensive test suites
• Request both unit tests and integration tests
• Have Claude run tests and fix any failures
• Ensure new features include appropriate test coverage

Code Review Process

• Request Claude to review its own changes before submission
• Ask for explanations of significant architectural decisions
• Have Claude check for potential security vulnerabilities
• Request performance considerations for critical code paths

Documentation Standards

• Ask Claude to document complex algorithms and business logic
• Request inline comments for non-obvious code
• Have Claude update README files and API documentation
• Ensure new features include usage examples

Advanced Usage Patterns

Multi-Step Projects

• Break complex projects into phases or milestones
• Use Claude to create project plans and task breakdowns
• Have Claude estimate effort and identify dependencies
• Review and approve each phase before proceeding

Research and Exploration

• Ask Claude to research best practices for your use case
• Request comparison of different implementation approaches
• Have Claude prototype and evaluate different solutions
• Use Claude to investigate new technologies or frameworks

Debugging and Troubleshooting

• Provide error messages and stack traces for analysis
• Ask Claude to investigate intermittent issues
• Request systematic debugging approaches
• Have Claude create minimal reproducible examples

Security and Safety Considerations

Code Security

• Ask Claude to review code for security vulnerabilities
• Request input validation and sanitization checks
• Have Claude verify proper authentication and authorization
• Ensure sensitive data handling follows best practices

Access Control

• Be mindful of what parts of your codebase Claude can access
• Consider using separate development environments
• Avoid exposing sensitive configuration or credentials
• Review changes before deploying to production environments

Backup and Version Control

• Ensure all changes are properly committed to version control
• Create branches for experimental work
• Regularly backup important work
• Use meaningful commit messages describing Claude’s changes

Performance Optimization

Efficient Task Definition

• Provide clear, specific requirements to minimize back-and-forth
• Include all necessary context upfront
• Use precise technical terminology when appropriate
• Reference specific files, functions, or components when relevant

Codebase Navigation

• Help Claude understand your project structure
• Point out key files and important architectural decisions
• Explain naming conventions and organizational patterns
• Identify critical paths and high-impact areas

Troubleshooting Common Issues

When Claude Doesn’t Understand Your Codebase

• Provide more context about the project’s purpose and architecture
• Explain domain-specific concepts and business logic
• Point out key design patterns and conventions used
• Share relevant documentation or specifications

When Results Don’t Meet Expectations

• Provide specific feedback on what needs to be changed
• Clarify requirements that may have been ambiguous
• Ask Claude to explain its approach and reasoning
• Request alternative implementations if needed

When Integration Issues Arise

• Check that Claude understands your development environment
• Verify that all dependencies and tools are properly configured
• Ensure Claude is following your team’s development workflow
• Address any conflicts with existing code or standards

Continuous Improvement

Learning from Experience

• Keep track of what works well with Claude
• Note patterns in successful task descriptions
• Identify areas where additional context helps
• Refine your collaboration approach over time

Feedback and Iteration

• Provide regular feedback on Claude’s work quality
• Suggest improvements to development processes
• Ask Claude to learn from previous mistakes
• Continuously refine task delegation strategies

Resources and Support

For more information about Claude Code:

• Official documentation: https://docs.anthropic.com/en/docs/claude-code
• General support: https://support.anthropic.com
• API documentation: https://docs.anthropic.com

Remember

Claude Code is designed to be your development partner, capable of handling both routine tasks and complex coding challenges. The key to success is clear communication, appropriate task scoping, and maintaining good development practices throughout the collaboration process.

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