Hands-On Guide to Claude Code for Power Users

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Introduction

The software development landscape has fundamentally shifted. While most developers are still using AI as an enhanced autocomplete tool, a small group of power users has discovered how to leverage Claude Code as a true development partner – one capable of architectural thinking, complex problem-solving, and autonomous execution of multi-step workflows.

This guide represents the collective wisdom of developers who have moved beyond basic prompting to create sophisticated development workflows that can 10x productivity. Whether you're managing a startup's technical roadmap, leading an engineering team, or building complex systems as a solo developer, Claude Code can become your most valuable technical teammate – but only if you know how to unlock its full potential.

The difference between a novice Claude Code user and a power user isn't just about knowing more commands – it's about understanding how to structure your development environment, configure intelligent context, and design workflows that leverage Claude's reasoning capabilities. Most developers use maybe 20% of Claude Code's potential because they treat it like a chatbot. This guide will show you how to use it like a senior technical architect.

By the end of this guide, you'll understand how to set up enterprise-grade development workflows, automate complex technical decisions, and scale your development capacity in ways that weren't possible just a few years ago. Let's dive in.

Note

This guide was written by Claude itself, under the guidance of the Automaze team

Automaze provides expert technical leadership and strategic guidance to help companies build exceptional software products. Lead by Ran Aroussi, our team of experienced technical leads and software architects partner with startups and growing companies to accelerate development, optimize engineering practices, and scale technical teams effectively.

Learn more at automaze.io and follow us on 𝕏 @automazeio.

Claude Code: Beyond the Basics
Essential Setup & Configuration
Mastering the CLAUDE.md File
Advanced Context Management
Professional Workflows & Automation
Power User Features & Techniques
Custom Commands & Slash Commands
Integration Patterns & MCP Servers
Hooks & Automation
Performance Optimization & Scaling
Security & Best Practices
Troubleshooting & Advanced Debugging
Enterprise & Team Patterns
Tips and Tricks
Quick Reference & Cheat Sheet

Understanding Claude Code: Beyond the Basics

What Makes Claude Code Different

Claude Code represents a fundamental shift from traditional AI coding assistants. While tools like GitHub Copilot focus on code completion, Claude Code operates as an agentic system capable of understanding entire project contexts, making architectural decisions, and executing complex multi-step workflows.

Traditional AI Tools vs Claude Code:

Traditional Tools	Claude Code
Line-by-line completion	Full project understanding
Single-file context	Cross-file analysis
Reactive suggestions	Proactive planning
Manual integration	Autonomous execution
Pattern matching	Reasoning and adaptation

Core Architecture Philosophy

Claude Code is built on three fundamental principles:

1. Low-Level Control Unlike opinionated frameworks, Claude Code gives you direct access to Claude's reasoning without forcing specific workflows. This means you can adapt it to any development methodology, team structure, or project architecture.

2. Context-Aware Intelligence The system builds and maintains a comprehensive understanding of your project through multiple data sources:

File system structure and patterns
Git history and branching strategies
Documentation and configuration files
Team conventions and coding standards
Previous interactions and learned patterns

3. Agentic Behavior Rather than just responding to prompts, Claude Code can:

Plan complex multi-step operations
Make decisions based on project context
Execute tasks autonomously
Learn and adapt to your patterns
Provide reasoning for its decisions

Installation & First Steps

Prerequisites:

Node.js 16+ or access to Anthropic's distribution
Git configured with your credentials
Terminal with Unicode support
Code editor with extension support

Installation Process:

# Method 1: NPM (Official & Recommended)
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

# Method 2: Homebrew (macOS & Linux)
brew install anthropic/tap/claude-code

# Method 3: Arch Linux AUR
yay -S claude-code        # or paru -S claude-code

# Method 4: Docker (containerized)
docker pull ghcr.io/rchgrav/claudebox:latest

# Method 5: Windows via WSL (Anthropic-recommended)
# Enable WSL 2, install Ubuntu, then:
sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y nodejs npm
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

# Verify installation
claude --version
claude /doctor

Critical First Steps:

# Navigate to your project
cd /path/to/your/project

# Initialize Claude Code (ESSENTIAL)
claude
/init

# This creates CLAUDE.md - the most important file
# Without this, you're only using 20% of Claude Code's potential

Pricing Strategy for Power Users

The Economics of the Max Plan ($100/month):

The Max Plan becomes cost-effective when you consider:

Token costs: Heavy API usage can easily exceed $500-1000/month
Time savings: 2 hours saved monthly = $100+ value for most developers
Workflow continuity: No interruptions from rate limits or token counting
Feature access: Extended thinking, unlimited context, advanced reasoning

Real-world cost comparison:

Scenario: Senior developer using Claude Code 4 hours/day

API Pricing (Pay-per-use):
- 50k tokens/hour × 4 hours × 22 days = 4.4M tokens/month
- At $15/1M tokens = $66/month (basic usage)
- With extended thinking + context: $200-400/month

Max Plan: $100/month flat
Break-even: ~1.5 hours of development time saved monthly

Essential Setup & Configuration

Advanced Authentication & Configuration

Setting up authentication:

# Method 1: Environment variable
export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY="your-key-here"

# Method 2: Secure credential storage
claude auth login
# Follow secure OAuth flow

# Method 3: Configuration file
~/.claude/config.json

Advanced configuration options:

{
  "model": "claude-sonnet-4-20250514",
  "temperature": 0.1,
  "max_tokens": 8192,
  "thinking_budget": "extended",  
  "theme": "dark-daltonized",
  "editorMode": "vim",
  "autoUpdates": true,
  "verbose": true,
  "outputFormat": "text",
  "allowedTools": ["Edit", "View"],
  "bypassPermissionsModeAccepted": false,
  "hasCompletedOnboarding": true,
  "auto_save_context": true,
  "workspace_settings": {
    "auto_git_integration": true,
    "commit_message_template": "feat: {summary}\n\n{details}",
    "test_before_commit": true
  },
  "security": {
    "allowed_directories": ["~/projects", "~/work"],
    "blocked_patterns": ["*.env", "id_rsa", "*.key"],
    "require_confirmation": ["rm", "delete", "drop"]
  }
}

Hidden environment variables for power users:

# Performance optimization
export CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_NONESSENTIAL_TRAFFIC=1
export DISABLE_NON_ESSENTIAL_MODEL_CALLS=1
export ENABLE_BACKGROUND_TASKS=1
export FORCE_AUTO_BACKGROUND_TASKS=1
export CLAUDE_CODE_ENABLE_UNIFIED_READ_TOOL=1

# Extended thinking configuration
export MAX_THINKING_TOKENS=50000

# Privacy settings
export DISABLE_TELEMETRY=1
export DISABLE_ERROR_REPORTING=1

# Development and debugging
export CLAUDE_CODE_DEBUG=1
export CLAUDE_CODE_VERBOSE_LOGGING=1

IDE Integration Setup

VS Code Extension Configuration:

// settings.json
{
  "claude-code.enableRealTimeErrors": true,
  "claude-code.contextScope": "workspace",
  "claude-code.autoSaveContext": true,
  "claude-code.inlineCompletions": false, // Avoid conflicts
  "claude-code.diagnosticsIntegration": true
}

Neovim Plugin Setup:

-- ~/.config/nvim/lua/claude-code.lua
require('claude-code').setup({
  keymap = {
    ask = '<leader>cc',
    context = '<leader>cx',
    commit = '<leader>cg'
  },
  integration = {
    lsp = true,
    treesitter = true,
    telescope = true
  }
})

Mastering the CLAUDE.md File

Why CLAUDE.md is Critical

The CLAUDE.md file is Claude Code's memory system. Without it, Claude starts fresh with each interaction, unable to learn your team's patterns, coding standards, or project-specific knowledge. This is the #1 factor that separates novice users from power users.

Comprehensive CLAUDE.md Structure

# CLAUDE.md - Project Intelligence File

## Project Overview
This is a React TypeScript application for project management with a Node.js backend.
We follow Domain-Driven Design principles and use a microservices architecture.

## Technology Stack
- Frontend: React 18, TypeScript 5.2, Vite, TailwindCSS
- Backend: Node.js, Express, TypeScript, Prisma ORM
- Database: PostgreSQL 15
- Testing: Vitest, React Testing Library, Playwright
- Infrastructure: Docker, Kubernetes, AWS

## Commands & Scripts
- `npm run dev`: Start development server (frontend on :3000, backend on :3001)
- `npm run build`: Production build with optimization
- `npm run typecheck`: Full TypeScript validation
- `npm test`: Run unit tests with coverage
- `npm run test:e2e`: Playwright end-to-end tests
- `npm run db:migrate`: Apply database migrations
- `npm run db:seed`: Seed development data

## Code Style & Standards
- Use functional components with hooks (no class components)
- Prefer composition over inheritance
- Follow compound component patterns for complex UI
- Use custom hooks for shared logic
- TypeScript strict mode enabled
- ESLint + Prettier for formatting
- Conventional commits (feat:, fix:, docs:, etc.)

## Architecture Patterns
- Feature-based folder structure (not type-based)
- Barrel exports from index.ts files
- Custom hooks pattern: useFeatureName
- API layer: services/api/featureName.ts
- State management: Zustand for global state, React state for local
- Error boundaries for component error handling

## Testing Philosophy
- Write tests before implementing features (TDD)
- Focus on user behavior, not implementation details
- Use data-testid for element selection
- Mock external dependencies, test integration at boundaries
- Aim for 80%+ code coverage

## Database Patterns
- Use Prisma schema-first approach
- Soft deletes with deletedAt timestamps
- UUID primary keys for public-facing entities
- Created/updated timestamp tracking
- Database migrations in version control

## Security Considerations
- All API endpoints require authentication except /health
- Use helmet.js for security headers
- Input validation with Zod schemas
- Rate limiting on public endpoints
- CORS configured for production domains only

## Deployment & Infrastructure
- Blue-green deployment strategy
- Environment-specific configs in .env files
- Docker multi-stage builds for optimization
- Kubernetes manifests in k8s/ directory
- Secrets managed through AWS Secrets Manager

## Team Conventions
- Feature branch workflow with PR reviews
- Squash commits before merging
- Deploy to staging automatically on main branch
- Production deploys require manual approval
- Breaking changes require RFC discussion

## Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Don't use any dependencies in database migrations
- Avoid defaultProps in TypeScript components (use default parameters)
- Don't commit .env files (use .env.example instead)
- Always handle loading and error states in components
- Don't use any or unknown types without good reason

## Performance Guidelines
- Lazy load route components
- Use React.memo for expensive components
- Debounce search inputs and API calls
- Optimize bundle size with webpack-bundle-analyzer
- Use CDN for static assets

## Debugging & Development
- Use React DevTools and Redux DevTools
- Enable source maps in development
- Use VS Code debugger with launch.json configuration
- Log structured data for easier parsing
- Use error tracking (Sentry) in production

## External Dependencies
- Avoid adding new dependencies without team discussion
- Prefer utilities from lodash over custom implementations
- Use date-fns instead of moment.js (bundle size)
- UI components from our custom design system only

## Documentation Standards
- All public functions must have JSDoc comments
- README files for each major feature
- API documentation with OpenAPI/Swagger
- Architecture Decision Records (ADRs) for major decisions

Dynamic CLAUDE.md Patterns

Adding learned patterns with # command:

# During development, when Claude learns something useful:
You: "Great! This pattern worked well for our error handling."
Claude: "I'll add this to your CLAUDE.md file for future reference."
# Press # to automatically append the pattern

Version-controlled CLAUDE.md:

# Track CLAUDE.md evolution with your codebase
git add CLAUDE.md
git commit -m "docs: update error handling patterns in CLAUDE.md"

Advanced Context Management

Understanding Context Boundaries

Claude Code maintains several types of context:

1. Session Context

Current conversation history
File modifications in progress
Temporary variables and state

2. Project Context

CLAUDE.md file contents
Project structure and dependencies
Git history and branch information

3. Global Context

User preferences and patterns
Cross-project learnings (when enabled)
Tool configurations

Strategic Context Clearing

# Clear everything (nuclear option)
/clear

# Clear only conversation history (keep project context)
/clear --conversation-only

# Clear and restart with fresh project scan
/clear --rescan-project

# Selective context clearing
/clear --except=claude.md,git-history

Context Optimization Strategies

For Large Codebases (>10k files):

# Use scope limiting
claude --scope="src/components,src/hooks" "refactor authentication logic"

# Exclude irrelevant directories
claude --exclude="node_modules,dist,build,coverage" "analyze code structure"

# Focus on specific file types
claude --include="*.ts,*.tsx" --exclude="*.test.*" "add type safety"

For Complex Features:

# Create context anchoring documents
## current-task.md
Working on: User authentication refactor
Status: Planning phase
Key files: src/auth/, src/components/Login.tsx
Dependencies: @auth0/auth0-react
Next steps: 
1. Plan component structure
2. Update routing
3. Add tests

Multi-Context Development

Running multiple Claude instances:

# Terminal 1: Frontend development
cd frontend && claude
> "Focus on React components and styling"

# Terminal 2: Backend development
cd backend && claude  
> "Handle API endpoints and database queries"

# Terminal 3: Testing and QA
cd . && claude --scope="tests,cypress"
> "Write and execute tests for current features"

# Terminal 4: DevOps and deployment
cd infrastructure && claude
> "Manage deployment scripts and configurations"

Professional Workflows & Automation

Test-Driven Development (TDD) Workflow

# Complete TDD cycle with Claude Code
claude "
I need to implement a payment processing system using TDD:

1. PLAN PHASE:
   - Analyze requirements for payment processing
   - Design the API interface
   - Identify edge cases and error scenarios
   - Don't write any code yet

2. TEST PHASE:
   - Write comprehensive unit tests for PaymentProcessor class
   - Include tests for success scenarios, failure modes, and edge cases
   - Write integration tests for payment gateway communication
   - Run tests and confirm they all fail appropriately

3. IMPLEMENTATION PHASE:
   - Implement PaymentProcessor to pass all tests
   - Follow our SOLID principles and dependency injection patterns
   - Add proper error handling and logging
   - Ensure all tests pass

4. REFACTOR PHASE:
   - Review code for improvements
   - Extract common patterns
   - Add documentation
   - Final test run

Let's start with the planning phase.
"

Feature Development Workflow

# Complete feature implementation
claude "
Implement user profile editing feature:

SETUP:
- Create feature branch: feature/user-profile-editing
- Set up proper directory structure following our patterns

BACKEND:
- Add API endpoints: GET/PUT /api/users/:id/profile
- Include validation with Zod schemas
- Add database migrations for new profile fields
- Write API tests

FRONTEND:
- Create ProfileEditor component with form validation
- Add profile image upload functionality
- Implement optimistic updates
- Add loading and error states
- Write component tests

INTEGRATION:
- Connect frontend to API
- Add proper error handling
- Test the complete flow
- Update documentation

DEPLOYMENT:
- Run full test suite
- Commit with conventional commit messages
- Create pull request with proper description
- Tag relevant reviewers
"

Git Workflow Automation

# Automated Git workflows
claude "
Implement the OAuth feature with proper Git workflow:

1. Create feature branch: feature/oauth-integration
2. Implement OAuth with GitHub and Google providers
3. Commit each logical change separately with descriptive messages
4. Write tests for each component
5. Update documentation
6. Create PR with:
   - Clear description of changes
   - Screenshots of new UI
   - Testing instructions
   - Security considerations
7. Tag @security-team for review
"

Code Review Automation

# Automated code review process
claude --headless "
Review the current PR for:
- Security vulnerabilities
- Performance issues  
- Code style compliance
- Test coverage
- Documentation completeness

Generate a markdown report with:
- Executive summary
- Detailed findings
- Recommendations
- Risk assessment
"

Power User Features & Techniques

Extended Thinking Mode

Triggering Deep Analysis:

# Basic extended thinking
claude "think about the best architecture for our microservices communication"

# Enhanced reasoning
claude "think hard about the security implications of our authentication flow"

# Maximum analysis
claude "ultrathink the scalability challenges and provide a comprehensive solution"

When to Use Each Level:

think: Complex architectural decisions, code design patterns
think hard: Security analysis, performance optimization, complex debugging
ultrathink: System-wide refactoring, critical business logic, high-stakes decisions

Dev Container "Yolo Mode":

When working in development containers or isolated environments, you can enable aggressive automation:

# In development containers only - bypasses all permission prompts
claude --dangerously-skip-permissions

# Combined with environment optimization for containers
export CLAUDE_CODE_CONTAINER_MODE=1
export BYPASS_ALL_CONFIRMATIONS=1

# Use with caution - only in isolated, disposable environments
docker run -it --rm \
  -e ANTHROPIC_API_KEY="$ANTHROPIC_API_KEY" \
  -e CLAUDE_CODE_CONTAINER_MODE=1 \
  -v "$PWD:/workspace" \
  claude-dev-container \
  claude --dangerously-skip-permissions "refactor entire codebase"

Subagent Workflows

# Using subagents for complex validation
claude "
Implement a distributed caching system and use subagents to:
- Verify the performance characteristics
- Validate security implications  
- Check for potential race conditions
- Analyze memory usage patterns
- Review error handling completeness
"

Visual Development Workflow

# Screenshot-driven development
claude "
1. Take a screenshot of the current login page
2. Here's the new design mockup: [paste image]
3. Implement the new design with:
   - Responsive behavior
   - Accessibility compliance
   - Smooth animations
   - Error state handling
4. Take screenshots of the implementation
5. Iterate until it matches the design exactly
"

Advanced Prompting Patterns

Structured Problem Solving:

claude "
CONTEXT: E-commerce platform with 1M+ users, React frontend, microservices backend
CONSTRAINTS: Must maintain 99.9% uptime, PCI compliance required, $50k monthly AWS budget
GOAL: Reduce page load time by 40% while improving conversion rates
FORMAT: Provide analysis, implementation plan, and success metrics
EXAMPLES: Similar optimizations you've seen work (CDN, code splitting, caching)
VALIDATION: How we'll measure success and rollback if needed

Analyze our performance bottlenecks and create an optimization strategy.
"

Custom Commands & Slash Commands

Understanding Custom Slash Commands

Custom slash commands are Claude Code's most powerful feature for creating reusable, team-specific workflows. Unlike built-in commands, custom commands let you encode your team's processes, tools, and expertise into repeatable automation.

Creating Custom Commands

Command Structure:

# Commands are stored in .claude/commands/
mkdir -p .claude/commands/

# Create a command file: command-name.md
touch .claude/commands/security-audit.md

Basic Command Template:

# Security Audit Command

Perform a comprehensive security audit of the current codebase:

## Authentication & Authorization
- Review JWT implementation for vulnerabilities
- Check for proper session management  
- Validate RBAC implementation

## Input Validation
- Scan for SQL injection vulnerabilities
- Check XSS prevention measures
- Validate API input sanitization

## Output Format
Provide a prioritized list of findings with:
- Severity level (Critical/High/Medium/Low)
- Description of the vulnerability
- Potential impact
- Recommended remediation
- Code examples where applicable

Arguments: $ARGUMENTS (specific areas to focus on)

Using Custom Commands:

# Execute custom commands
/security-audit api authentication
/security-audit frontend xss-prevention

# List available custom commands
/commands

Repository Commands

The commands/ directory in this guide's repository includes:

1. gemini-analyze.md - Leverage Google Gemini's 2M token context window for massive codebase analysis 2. ast-grep.md - Structural code analysis and pattern matching using AST-Grep 3. security-scan.md - Comprehensive security audit workflows 4. performance-audit.md - Performance analysis and optimization 5. architecture-review.md - System architecture evaluation 6. tech-debt.md - Technical debt assessment and prioritization

Built-in Slash Commands (Reference)

While the focus is on custom commands, here are key built-in commands:

Essential Commands:

/init                    # Create CLAUDE.md file
/clear                   # Clear conversation context
/help                    # Show available commands
/permissions             # Manage tool permissions
/memory                  # Edit project memory
/doctor                  # System health check
/config                  # Configuration management
/mcp                     # MCP server management

Integration Patterns & MCP Servers

Understanding MCP (Model Context Protocol)

MCP servers extend Claude Code's capabilities by providing access to external systems and data sources. Think of them as specialized plugins that give Claude direct access to your development ecosystem.

Essential MCP Server Configurations

Database Integration:

// .mcp.json (project-level) or ~/.claude.json (global)
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "postgres": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-postgres"],
      "env": {
        "POSTGRES_CONNECTION_STRING": "postgresql://user:pass@localhost:5432/myapp",
        "ALLOWED_OPERATIONS": ["SELECT", "INSERT", "UPDATE", "DELETE"],
        "SCHEMA_ACCESS": ["public", "analytics"]
      }
    }
  }
}

Development Tools:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "filesystem": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem", "/workspace", "/docs"],
      "env": {
        "ALLOWED_EXTENSIONS": [".js", ".ts", ".json", ".md", ".py"],
        "BLOCKED_PATHS": [".env", "node_modules", ".git", "*.key"]
      }
    },
    "git": {
      "command": "npx", 
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-git"],
      "env": {}
    },
    "github": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-github"],
      "env": {
        "GITHUB_TOKEN": "ghp_your_token_here"
      }
    }
  }
}

Documentation & Context:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "context7": {
      "command": "npx", 
      "args": ["-y", "@context7/mcp-server"],
      "env": {
        "CACHE_DOCS": "true",
        "AUTO_UPDATE": "daily"
      }
    },
    "brave-search": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-brave-search"],
      "env": {
        "BRAVE_API_KEY": "your_brave_api_key"
      }
    }
  }
}

MCP Server Management

Essential MCP commands:

# Interactive MCP setup
claude mcp

# List configured servers
claude mcp list

# Add new server
claude mcp add postgres "npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-postgres"

# Remove server
claude mcp remove postgres

# Restart all servers
claude mcp restart --all

# Debug MCP issues
claude --mcp-debug

MCP Server Usage Patterns

Database-Driven Development:

claude "
Using the database MCP server:

1. Analyze our user table structure
2. Identify performance bottlenecks in the most common queries
3. Suggest and implement database optimizations
4. Update the corresponding TypeScript interfaces
5. Write migration scripts for any schema changes
"

Documentation-Driven Development:

claude "
Use Context7 to fetch the latest React 18 patterns and:
1. Audit our components for outdated patterns
2. Identify opportunities to use new React features
3. Refactor our most complex components
4. Update our coding standards documentation
"

Hooks & Automation

Git Hooks Integration

Claude Code can be integrated into your Git workflow through hooks, enabling automated code analysis, security scanning, and quality checks at critical points in your development process.

Pre-commit Hooks

Basic pre-commit security scan:

#!/bin/bash
# .git/hooks/pre-commit

# Get staged files
staged_files=$(git diff --cached --name-only --diff-filter=ACM)

if [ -z "$staged_files" ]; then
    exit 0
fi

echo "🔍 Running Claude Code security scan..."

# Analyze staged changes
analysis=$(echo "$staged_files" | xargs cat | \
    claude -p "Review these staged changes for security vulnerabilities, performance issues, and code quality problems. Focus on: SQL injection, XSS, authentication issues, and performance anti-patterns." \
    --allowedTools "View" \
    --output-format json)

# Check for critical issues
if echo "$analysis" | jq -e '.severity == "critical"' > /dev/null 2>&1; then
    echo "❌ Critical security issues found - commit blocked"
    echo "$analysis" | jq -r '.findings[]'
    exit 1
fi

echo "✅ Security scan passed"

Advanced Hook Use Cases

Task Completion Reporting

Automated task summaries after each session:

{
  "hooks": {
    "Stop": [
      {
        "matcher": "",
        "hooks": [
          {
            "type": "command",
            "command": "echo 'Task completed at $(date). Summary: Claude Code has finished processing.' | tee -a ~/claude_task_log.txt"
          }
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
}

Mobile Notification System

Real-time alerts for critical operations:

{
  "hooks": {
    "PreToolUse": [
      {
        "matcher": "Bash|Write|Edit|MultiEdit",
        "hooks": [
          {
            "type": "command",
            "command": "~/scripts/ping_mobile.sh"
          }
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
}

Mobile notification script with multiple services:

#!/bin/bash
# ~/scripts/ping_mobile.sh

TOOL_NAME=$(echo "$1" | jq -r '.tool_name // "unknown tool"')
MESSAGE="Claude Code needs attention: $TOOL_NAME"

# Option 1: Pushover
curl -s -X POST "https://api.pushover.net/1/messages.json" \
  -d "token=$PUSHOVER_APP_TOKEN" \
  -d "user=$PUSHOVER_USER_KEY" \
  -d "message=$MESSAGE" \
  -d "priority=1"

# Option 2: Telegram
curl -s -X POST "https://api.telegram.org/bot$TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN/sendMessage" \
  -d "chat_id=$TELEGRAM_CHAT_ID" \
  -d "text=$MESSAGE"

# Option 3: Slack
curl -s -X POST "$SLACK_WEBHOOK_URL" \
  -H 'Content-type: application/json' \
  -d "{\"text\":\"$MESSAGE\"}"

# Option 4: macOS local notification
osascript -e "display notification \"$MESSAGE\" with title \"Claude Code Alert\""

Automatic Code Formatting

Post-task file formatting for multiple languages:

{
  "hooks": {
    "PostToolUse": [
      {
        "matcher": "Write|Edit|MultiEdit",
        "hooks": [
          {
            "type": "command",
            "command": "~/scripts/format_files.sh"
          }
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
}

Comprehensive formatting script:

#!/bin/bash
# ~/scripts/format_files.sh

# Get file path from tool response
FILE_PATH=$(echo "$1" | jq -r '.tool_input.path // .tool_input.file_path // ""')

if [ -n "$FILE_PATH" ] && [ -f "$FILE_PATH" ]; then
  echo "Formatting: $FILE_PATH"
  
  case "$FILE_PATH" in
    *.js|*.ts|*.jsx|*.tsx)
      # JavaScript/TypeScript
      if command -v prettier >/dev/null; then
        npx prettier --write "$FILE_PATH"
      fi
      if command -v eslint >/dev/null; then
        npx eslint --fix "$FILE_PATH" 2>/dev/null || true
      fi
      ;;
    *.go)
      # Go
      gofmt -w "$FILE_PATH"
      if command -v goimports >/dev/null; then
        goimports -w "$FILE_PATH"
      fi
      ;;
    *.py)
      # Python
      if command -v black >/dev/null; then
        black "$FILE_PATH"
      fi
      if command -v isort >/dev/null; then
        isort "$FILE_PATH"
      fi
      ;;
    *.rs)
      # Rust
      rustfmt "$FILE_PATH"
      ;;
    *.java)
      # Java
      if command -v google-java-format >/dev/null; then
        google-java-format --replace "$FILE_PATH"
      fi
      ;;
    *.c|*.cpp|*.h|*.hpp)
      # C/C++
      if command -v clang-format >/dev/null; then
        clang-format -i "$FILE_PATH"
      fi
      ;;
    *.json)
      # JSON
      if command -v jq >/dev/null; then
        jq . "$FILE_PATH" > "/tmp/formatted.json" && mv "/tmp/formatted.json" "$FILE_PATH"
      fi
      ;;
    *.md)
      # Markdown
      if command -v prettier >/dev/null; then
        npx prettier --write "$FILE_PATH"
      fi
      ;;
    *)
      echo "No formatter configured for $FILE_PATH"
      ;;
  esac
  
  echo "Formatting completed for $FILE_PATH"
fi

GitHub Actions Integration

Comprehensive CI/CD workflow:

name: Claude Code Analysis
on:
  pull_request:
    branches: [main, develop]
  push:
    branches: [main]

jobs:
  claude-analysis:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - name: Checkout
        uses: actions/checkout@v4
        with:
          fetch-depth: 0

      - name: Setup Node.js
        uses: actions/setup-node@v4
        with:
          node-version: '18'

      - name: Install Claude Code
        run: npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

      - name: Security Analysis
        env:
          ANTHROPIC_API_KEY: ${{ secrets.ANTHROPIC_API_KEY }}
        run: |
          claude --dangerously-skip-permissions \
            -p "Perform comprehensive security analysis of this PR. Check for vulnerabilities, exposed secrets, and security anti-patterns." \
            --output-format json > security-report.json

      - name: Performance Analysis
        env:
          ANTHROPIC_API_KEY: ${{ secrets.ANTHROPIC_API_KEY }}
        run: |
          claude --dangerously-skip-permissions \
            -p "Analyze code changes for performance issues, memory leaks, and optimization opportunities." \
            --output-format json > performance-report.json

      - name: Comment PR
        if: github.event_name == 'pull_request'
        uses: actions/github-script@v6
        with:
          script: |
            const fs = require('fs');
            const securityReport = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync('security-report.json', 'utf8'));
            const performanceReport = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync('performance-report.json', 'utf8'));
            
            const comment = `## 🤖 Claude Code Analysis
            
            ### 🔒 Security Analysis
            ${securityReport.summary || 'No critical issues found'}
            
            ### ⚡ Performance Analysis  
            ${performanceReport.summary || 'No performance issues detected'}
            
            *Generated by Claude Code in CI/CD*`;
            
            github.rest.issues.createComment({
              issue_number: context.issue.number,
              owner: context.repo.owner,
              repo: context.repo.repo,
              body: comment
            });

Hook Configuration Management

Setting up hooks through Claude Code:

# Interactive hook configuration
claude
/hooks

# Follow prompts to:
# 1. Select hook event (Stop, PreToolUse, PostToolUse)
# 2. Add matcher pattern
# 3. Add hook command
# 4. Choose scope (project or user settings)
# 5. Save with Esc

Performance Optimization & Scaling

Managing Large Codebases

Strategies for 100k+ line codebases:

# Hierarchical context management
claude --scope="src/core" "
Analyze the core business logic layer and identify:
- Circular dependencies
- Violation of clean architecture principles
- Opportunities for better separation of concerns
"

# Incremental analysis
claude "
Perform incremental codebase analysis:
1. Start with package.json and understand dependencies
2. Analyze top-level directory structure  
3. Focus on src/components and identify patterns
4. Deep dive into identified problem areas
5. Provide refactoring recommendations
"

Memory and Performance Optimization:

# Context window management
claude --max-context=50000 "
Focus analysis on critical path performance:
- Database query optimization
- Frontend bundle size reduction
- API response time improvements
Skip non-critical files and focus on user-facing performance.
"

Parallel Development Workflows

Git Worktree Integration:

# Setup multiple working directories
git worktree add ../feature-auth feature/authentication
git worktree add ../feature-ui feature/ui-redesign
git worktree add ../hotfix-security hotfix/security-patch

# Run Claude in each worktree
cd ../feature-auth && claude "Implement OAuth2 flow"
cd ../feature-ui && claude "Redesign dashboard components"  
cd ../hotfix-security && claude "Fix XSS vulnerability in user input"

Team Collaboration Patterns:

# Shared context files
# .claude/team-context.md

## Current Sprint Goals
- Implement user dashboard redesign
- Optimize database query performance  
- Add comprehensive error handling

## Team Member Focuses
- @alice: Frontend components and styling
- @bob: Backend API optimization
- @charlie: Testing and QA automation

## Shared Conventions
- All new components must be TypeScript strict
- Database queries require performance testing
- UI changes need accessibility review

Automated Code Quality

Performance Monitoring Integration:

claude "
Set up automated performance monitoring:

1. Add lighthouse CI to our build process
2. Create performance budgets for bundle size
3. Set up Core Web Vitals tracking
4. Add database query performance monitoring
5. Create alerts for performance regressions

Generate configuration files and update our CI/CD pipeline.
"

Security & Best Practices

Secure Development Workflows

Security-First Development:

claude "
Implement a new user registration feature with security-first approach:

THREAT MODELING:
- Identify potential attack vectors
- Analyze data flow for sensitive information
- Consider OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities

SECURE IMPLEMENTATION:
- Input validation and sanitization
- Rate limiting and DDoS protection
- Secure password handling with bcrypt
- Email verification with secure tokens
- Audit logging for security events

TESTING:
- Security unit tests
- Integration tests for auth flows
- Penetration testing scenarios

DOCUMENTATION:
- Security architecture decisions
- Incident response procedures
- Security review checklist
"

Permission Management

Granular Permission Controls:

// .claude/permissions.json
{
  "allowedTools": [
    "Edit:src/**",
    "Edit:tests/**", 
    "Bash:npm run *",
    "Bash:git add *, git commit *, git push *",
    "WebFetch:docs.* api.*"
  ],
  "blockedTools": [
    "Bash:rm -rf *",
    "Bash:sudo *",
    "Edit:**/.env",
    "Edit:**/*key*"
  ],
  "confirmationRequired": [
    "Bash:git push origin main",
    "Edit:package.json",
    "Edit:docker-compose.yml"
  ]
}

Data Protection

Sensitive Data Handling:

# Configure data protection patterns
claude "
Review our codebase for sensitive data exposure:

1. Scan for hardcoded secrets, API keys, passwords
2. Identify PII (personally identifiable information) handling
3. Check for proper encryption of sensitive data
4. Verify secure logging practices (no sensitive data in logs)
5. Audit environment variable usage
6. Check for proper CORS and CSP headers

Generate a security audit report with remediation steps.
"

Troubleshooting & Advanced Debugging

Common Issues & Solutions

Context Window Overflow:

# Problem: "Context window exceeded" errors
# Solution: Strategic context management

claude --clear-context "
Let's start fresh and focus specifically on:
- The authentication bug in src/auth/login.ts
- Related test files only
- Ignore everything else for now
"

Performance Issues:

# Problem: Slow response times
# Solution: Optimize context and scope

# Before (slow)
claude "Analyze the entire codebase for bugs"

# After (fast)
claude --scope="src/components/Login" "Debug the login form validation issue"

Memory Issues:

# Problem: High memory usage
# Solution: Incremental processing

claude "
Process our migration to TypeScript incrementally:
1. Convert 5 files at a time
2. Test after each batch
3. Commit working changes
4. Continue with next batch
5. Report progress after each iteration
"

Advanced Debugging Techniques

Multi-Layer Debugging:

claude "
Debug this complex issue using multiple approaches:

STATIC ANALYSIS:
- Code review for logic errors
- Type checking and linting
- Dependency analysis

DYNAMIC ANALYSIS:  
- Add debugging statements
- Create reproduction test cases
- Use browser dev tools integration

SYSTEM ANALYSIS:
- Check network requests
- Analyze database queries
- Review server logs

Provide findings at each layer and root cause analysis.
"

Error Recovery Patterns

Automated Rollback:

claude "
If this database migration fails:
1. Automatically create rollback script
2. Restore from backup if needed
3. Notify team via Slack
4. Create incident report
5. Update runbook with lessons learned

Implement with proper error handling and recovery procedures.
"

Enterprise & Team Patterns

Team Standardization

Shared Team Configuration:

# .claude/team-standards.md

## Code Review Standards
- All code changes require Claude Code security scan
- Performance impact analysis for changes > 100 lines
- Accessibility review for UI changes
- Database migration review for schema changes

## Deployment Patterns
- Feature flags for gradual rollouts
- Blue-green deployment for zero downtime
- Automated rollback triggers
- Post-deployment monitoring

## Quality Gates
- 90%+ test coverage required
- Zero critical security vulnerabilities
- Performance budget compliance
- Documentation completeness check

Scaling Across Teams

Multi-Project Management:

# Project-specific configurations
# project-a/.claude/config.json
{
  "inherits": "../shared/.claude/base-config.json",
  "project": {
    "name": "Frontend Application",
    "conventions": "React + TypeScript",
    "testing": "Jest + React Testing Library"
  }
}

# project-b/.claude/config.json  
{
  "inherits": "../shared/.claude/base-config.json",
  "project": {
    "name": "Backend API",
    "conventions": "Node.js + Express",
    "testing": "Jest + Supertest"
  }
}

Knowledge Management

Organizational Learning:

claude "
Create a knowledge management system for our development practices:

1. Extract patterns from successful projects
2. Document common debugging approaches
3. Create reusable templates for new features
4. Build a decision tree for architecture choices
5. Maintain a FAQ for common issues

Update our CLAUDE.md files across all projects with shared learnings.
"

Tips and Tricks

Audio Notifications for Task Completion

Claude Code tip for Mac users:

Add this to your CLAUDE.md file for hands-free productivity:

## Audio Notifications
Whenever you're done with a task or need my attention to approve something, run one of the following commands on the terminal, based on the event type:

`say "Task completed successfully"`
`say "I need your confirmation"`  
`say "Ready for review" --voice=Samantha`
`say "Error encountered - check output" --rate=150`

# Integration with system notifications
`osascript -e 'display notification "Claude task finished" with title "Development Update"'`

This simple trick transforms your development workflow by providing audio alerts when Claude completes long-running tasks, allowing you to:

Work on other tasks while Claude processes complex requests
Get notified immediately when manual approval is needed
Avoid constantly checking the terminal for completion status
Maintain focus while Claude handles background work

Why this works so well:

Mac's built-in say command provides clear, immediate feedback
Works even when your terminal is in the background
No additional dependencies or setup required
Can be customized with different phrases or voices

Thank me later! :)

Quick Reference and Cheat Sheet

Essential Commands

/init                           # Create CLAUDE.md (CRITICAL)
/clear                          # Reset context
/permissions                    # Configure tool access
/memory                         # Edit project memory
/doctor                         # System health check
/config                         # Configuration management
/mcp                           # MCP server management
/hooks                         # Configure automation hooks
# [pattern]                     # Add to CLAUDE.md

Custom Commands

/security-audit [scope]         # Comprehensive security analysis
/performance-audit [scope]      # Performance bottleneck analysis  
/architecture-review [scope]    # System architecture evaluation
/gemini-analyze [focus]         # Large context analysis with Gemini
/ast-analyze [patterns]         # AST-Grep structural analysis
/tech-debt [priority]           # Technical debt assessment

Power User CLI Options

# Extended thinking modes
claude "think hard about [complex problem]"
claude "ultrathink [critical decision]"

# Context management  
claude --scope="src/auth" "focus on authentication"
claude --exclude="tests,docs" "analyze production code"
claude --add-dir="../lib,../shared" "include related projects"

# Output control
claude --output-format=json "structured analysis"
claude --output-format=stream-json "long operation"
claude -p "quick query" # Print mode (one-shot)

# Session management
claude --session="frontend" "work on UI components"
claude --resume="backend" # Resume named session
claude -c # Continue last session

# Security and permissions
claude --allowedTools "Edit,View,mcp__git__*"
claude --dangerously-skip-permissions # Containers only!
claude --confirmation-required "git push origin main"

Essential Environment Variables

# Core configuration
export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY="sk-ant-api03-xxx"

# Performance optimization
export CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_NONESSENTIAL_TRAFFIC=1
export DISABLE_NON_ESSENTIAL_MODEL_CALLS=1
export ENABLE_BACKGROUND_TASKS=1
export CLAUDE_CODE_ENABLE_UNIFIED_READ_TOOL=1

# Extended thinking
export MAX_THINKING_TOKENS=50000

# Privacy and security
export DISABLE_TELEMETRY=1
export DISABLE_ERROR_REPORTING=1

MCP Server Quick Setup

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "postgres": { 
      "command": "npx", 
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-postgres"] 
    },
    "filesystem": { 
      "command": "npx", 
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem", "/workspace"] 
    },
    "context7": { 
      "command": "npx", 
      "args": ["-y", "@context7/mcp-server"] 
    },
    "github": { 
      "command": "npx", 
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-github"] 
    }
  }
}

Workflow Triggers

"plan before implementing"      # Strategic planning mode
"test-driven development"       # TDD workflow
"security-first approach"       # Security-focused development  
"performance optimization"      # Performance-focused analysis
"use subagents to verify"      # Multi-agent validation
"think hard about"             # Extended reasoning mode
"ultrathink"                   # Maximum analysis budget

Git Hooks Integration

# Pre-commit security scan
echo '#!/bin/bash
claude /security-audit --scope=staged-files' > .git/hooks/pre-commit
chmod +x .git/hooks/pre-commit

# Post-commit documentation update
echo '#!/bin/bash  
claude "Update documentation for recent changes"' > .git/hooks/post-commit
chmod +x .git/hooks/post-commit

Best Practices Checklist

✅ Always run /init to create CLAUDE.md
✅ Use Max Plan for unlimited productivity
✅ Set up MCP servers for your tech stack
✅ Configure IDE extension for real-time feedback
✅ Use extended thinking for complex decisions
✅ Plan before implementing features
✅ Clear context between unrelated tasks
✅ Be specific and structured in requests
✅ Use multiple Claude instances for parallel work
✅ Automate repetitive tasks with custom commands
✅ Set up hooks for automated quality checks
✅ Use environment variables for sensitive configuration
✅ Regular security audits of permissions and configuration

Remember: Claude Code is not just an autocomplete tool – it's a senior developer who can think, plan, and execute complex architectural decisions. The more context and structure you provide, the better it performs.

💫 if you made it this far, please take another 30 seconds of your time, and share this guide with your network on X/Twitter or LinkedIn

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commands		commands
LICENSE		LICENSE
README.md		README.md

License

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Repository files navigation

Hands-On Guide to Claude Code for Power Users

Introduction

This guide was written by Claude itself, under the guidance of the Automaze team

Table of Contents

Understanding Claude Code: Beyond the Basics

What Makes Claude Code Different

Core Architecture Philosophy

Installation & First Steps

Pricing Strategy for Power Users

Essential Setup & Configuration

Advanced Authentication & Configuration

IDE Integration Setup

Mastering the CLAUDE.md File

Why CLAUDE.md is Critical

Comprehensive CLAUDE.md Structure

Dynamic CLAUDE.md Patterns

Advanced Context Management

Understanding Context Boundaries

Strategic Context Clearing

Context Optimization Strategies

Multi-Context Development

Professional Workflows & Automation

Test-Driven Development (TDD) Workflow

Feature Development Workflow

Git Workflow Automation

Code Review Automation

Power User Features & Techniques

Extended Thinking Mode

Subagent Workflows

Visual Development Workflow

Advanced Prompting Patterns

Custom Commands & Slash Commands

Understanding Custom Slash Commands

Creating Custom Commands

Repository Commands

Built-in Slash Commands (Reference)

Integration Patterns & MCP Servers

Understanding MCP (Model Context Protocol)

Essential MCP Server Configurations

MCP Server Management

MCP Server Usage Patterns

Hooks & Automation

Git Hooks Integration

Pre-commit Hooks

Advanced Hook Use Cases

Task Completion Reporting

Mobile Notification System

Automatic Code Formatting

GitHub Actions Integration

Hook Configuration Management

Performance Optimization & Scaling

Managing Large Codebases

Parallel Development Workflows

Automated Code Quality

Security & Best Practices

Secure Development Workflows

Permission Management

Data Protection

Troubleshooting & Advanced Debugging

Common Issues & Solutions

Advanced Debugging Techniques

Error Recovery Patterns

Enterprise & Team Patterns

Team Standardization

Scaling Across Teams

Knowledge Management

Tips and Tricks

Audio Notifications for Task Completion

Quick Reference and Cheat Sheet

Essential Commands

Custom Commands

Power User CLI Options

Essential Environment Variables

MCP Server Quick Setup

Packages