You've probably heard about Claude Code but felt intimidated by its terminal-based interface. Maybe you've opened it once, stared at the blank command line, and closed it again.

Don't worry - you're not alone. This Claude Code tutorial - with 10 powerful tips - will give you the confidence to start building with AI assistance right away.

Unlike other AI coding tools with fancy interfaces, Claude Code runs entirely in your terminal. This might seem old-school, but it's incredibly powerful once you know the basics. The key is understanding that everything starts with a simple forward slash.

Getting Started with Claude Code: Understanding Slash Commands

Here's your first lesson. Open Claude Code in your terminal and type a single forward slash (/). That's it. You'll see a complete list of available commands.

This slash command system is the backbone of Claude Code. Think of it as your GPS - it shows you everywhere you can go and how to get there. New users often struggle because they don't realize this feature exists, so they're flying blind.

The terminal interface might look intimidating at first. But once you understand slash commands, you'll realize Claude Code is actually more intuitive than many GUI-based tools. Everything you need is right there in that command list.

Essential Claude Code Slash Commands Every Developer Should Know

Let's focus on the commands that will transform how you work with Claude Code. These aren't just nice-to-have features - they're game changers.

The Compact Command: Your Memory Manager

Long conversations eat up context tokens fast. Your chat history grows. Performance slows down. The /compact command solves this problem elegantly.

When you run /compact, Claude creates a summary of your entire conversation while preserving important context. You keep the knowledge but lose the bloat. Even better, you can add custom summarization instructions like "focus heavily on the security configurations we discussed."

Use this command whenever your chat feels sluggish or you're hitting token limits. It's like clearing your browser cache - everything runs smoother afterward.

Security Review Command: AI-Powered Code Analysis

Security matters more than ever in 2026. The /security command performs automated security analysis on your pending changes in the current branch.

This isn't just a basic scan. Claude examines your code for vulnerabilities, identifies potential security risks, and suggests improvements. It's like having a security expert review every commit.

You can always ask Claude to do manual security reviews, but the slash command provides a structured, comprehensive analysis that's hard to match with ad-hoc requests.

Mastering Claude Code Agents: Your Specialized AI Employees

Agents are where Claude Code gets really interesting. Think of them as specialized employees, each with their own expertise, context window, and tools.

The /agents command opens up a whole new world. You can create custom agents for specific tasks - a brand copywriter, a UX designer, a security specialist. Each agent has its own personality and capabilities.

Creating Your First Agent

Let's walk through creating a marketing agent. Type /agents and select "create new agent." Tell Claude you want "a marketer who can help write amazing brand copy."

Claude will generate an agent with:

• Custom system prompts tailored for marketing copy
• Specific tools (you choose readonly or full access)
• Model selection (Opus, Haiku, etc.)
• Color coding for easy identification

Once created, you can invoke this agent anytime. Say "use the brand copywriter agent to generate five headline ideas for a coffee shop website." The agent works in its own context window, like an employee going off to complete a task and returning with results.

Agent Configuration Options

Agents are highly customizable. You control their capabilities, from tool access to model selection. Want a planning agent that uses Opus for deep thinking? Done. Need a quick content agent that runs on Haiku for speed? Easy.

The color coding system helps you track multiple agents. You might have a purple marketing agent, a blue technical agent, and a green planning agent all working simultaneously on different aspects of your project.

Claude Code Skills vs Agents: Choosing the Right Tool

Skills and agents serve different purposes. Understanding when to use each will make you more effective.

Skills work within your current context window and can be stacked together. They're like specialized functions you can combine in workflows. The /skills command shows your available skills, while /plugins lets you download community-created skills.

Creating Custom Skills

Want a YouTube title generator skill? Tell Claude: "Create a skill that is a YouTube title generator using best practices of YouTube titles."

Claude will create the skill file and add it to your skills directory. Now you can invoke it anytime, and even combine it with other skills. For example, you could stack a title generator skill with a script generator skill to create complete video content workflows.

Skills vs Agents: The Key Difference

Agents are independent workers with their own context. Skills are tools that work within your current conversation. Use agents for complex, specialized tasks that benefit from dedicated context. Use skills for repeatable functions you want to combine with other tools.

Learn more about Skills here:

Advanced Claude Code Tips and Tricks for Better Results

Ready to level up? These advanced techniques will significantly improve your Claude Code experience.

Ultra Think Mode

Type "ultra think" before any prompt. Claude's interface changes to rainbow colors, indicating it's using more processing power for better results. It's like switching from economy to first class - you get more thoughtful, detailed responses.

Use ultra think mode for complex problems, important decisions, or when you need Claude's best work. The extra tokens are worth it for high-stakes situations.

Plan Mode: Think Before You Code

Hit Shift+Tab to toggle plan mode. When enabled, Claude plans your project before writing any code. You can also use /plan to activate it.

Let's say you want to "build a web app that measures my workouts." In plan mode, Claude will:

• Ask clarifying questions about workout types
• Discuss features and tech stack preferences
• Present a complete plan for approval
• Only start coding after you accept the plan

This prevents the common problem of Claude jumping into code before fully understanding requirements. Plan mode saves time and produces better results.

Claude Code IDE Integration

Running Claude Code inside an IDE like Cursor transforms the experience. Instead of working blind in the terminal, you can see all your files, navigate your codebase, and watch Claude make changes in real-time.

Create a project folder, open it in your IDE, then run Claude Code in the integrated terminal. Claude gains access to all files in the folder and can create new files as needed.

The visual feedback is invaluable. You can immediately see what Claude builds, review code structure, and make manual adjustments when needed. It's like having Claude working right beside you instead of in another room.

Claude Code Documentation and Configuration Best Practices

The claude.md file is your secret weapon for consistent results. This markdown file automatically loads context whenever you start a new Claude Code session.

Setting Up Your Claude.md File

Create a claude.md file in your project root with:

• Preferred code styles and conventions
• Workflow preferences
• Project-specific requirements
• Quality standards like "always run type checking after code changes"

Claude will reference this file automatically, ensuring consistency across sessions. You can find excellent claude.md templates on GitHub created by the community.

Leveraging Official Documentation

The official Claude Code documentation contains features and techniques this tutorial couldn't cover. Bookmark it and refer back regularly as you build more complex projects.

The documentation stays updated with new features, so check it periodically to discover new capabilities.

Building Your Claude Code Workflow

Now you have the foundation. Start with basic slash commands, create your first agent, and experiment with plan mode. Each feature builds on the others to create powerful development workflows.

Remember that Claude Code is a tool for thinking as much as coding. Use plan mode to organize your thoughts. Create specialized agents for different aspects of your work. Stack skills to automate repetitive tasks.

The terminal interface that seemed intimidating at first will become your preferred way to work with AI assistance. You'll move faster, think more clearly, and build better software.

Practice with small projects first. Build a simple web app, create a few agents, experiment with different skills. As you get comfortable with the basics, you'll discover your own advanced techniques and workflows.

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FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

What's the difference between Claude Code agents and skills?

Agents are independent AI workers with their own context windows, system prompts, and tools. They work like specialized employees on specific tasks. Skills are functions that work within your current conversation and can be combined with other skills in workflows. Use agents for complex, specialized work and skills for repeatable functions you want to stack together.

How do I know when to use the compact command?

Use the compact command when your chat conversation becomes long and you notice performance slowing down, or when you're approaching context token limits. The command creates a summary while preserving important context, essentially clearing the conversation bloat while keeping the knowledge.

Can I use Claude Code inside my existing IDE?

Yes, you can run Claude Code in the integrated terminal of IDEs like Cursor. This gives Claude access to all files in your project folder while letting you see the changes in real-time. It's much more effective than using Claude Code in isolation because you get visual feedback on everything Claude builds.

What should I include in my claude.md file?

Your claude.md file should include preferred code styles, workflow preferences, project-specific requirements, and quality standards. For example, you might specify "always run type checking after code changes" or include your preferred naming conventions. This file loads automatically and ensures consistency across all Claude Code sessions.

Is plan mode necessary for every project?

Plan mode isn't required, but it's extremely helpful for complex projects or when you need Claude to fully understand requirements before coding. Use Shift+Tab to toggle it on, and Claude will ask clarifying questions and present a complete plan before writing any code. This prevents misunderstandings and usually produces better results.