The Claude Developer Playbook

Short answer: 5 principles to use Claude for coding

Use Claude as a context-first partner. Keep project knowledge in versioned CLAUDE.md files.

Start each task with a clear role and success criteria. Use focused prompts for code review, debugging, docs, and data work. Iterate and test outputs like you would any automated tool.

How do you structure project context for Claude?

Good context makes Claude useful. Treat CLAUDE.md like project infrastructure. Put the short help first, then config, then examples and limits. Commit it to the repo and review it in code review.

What to include in CLAUDE.md:

• One-line project purpose and audience
• Key files and where to find them
• Build/test commands
• Coding style and examples
• Security and privacy constraints

Use the CLAUDE.md best practices as a model and keep the file small. Commit changes with code so context evolves with the codebase.

Starter CLAUDE.md (copy and paste)

# Project: Acme Web API
Purpose: Short description to orient Claude.
Files: src/api, src/lib, tests/
Build: npm run build; npm test
Style: 2-space indent, semicolons optional
Examples: See src/lib/formatter.js for date handling
Limits: Do not return secrets or PII
Checks: Run unit tests before proposing changes

How do you run Claude in a real workflow?

Use the terminal-first flow with Claude Code CLI. Keep work in branches. For a new feature:

1. Create a feature branch and a new CLAUDE.md context if needed.
2. Ask Claude to bootstrap an implementation guide and a list of tasks.
3. Iterate with small prompts and unit tests.
4. Run an AI-assisted code review before human review.

This mirrors how teams use Claude in production. See how Anthropic uses Claude for real tasks.

What prompts actually save time?

Use short, role-based prompts and give success criteria. Below are repeatable prompts you can copy.

Task	Prompt
Bootstrap feature	"You are a senior backend dev. Generate an implementation plan for X, list files to change, and include tests and a checklist."
Debugging	"You are a debugger. Here are logs and the failing test. Explain root cause and a 3-step fix."
Code review	"You are a strict code reviewer. List bugs, readability issues, and risky spots. Give suggestions and tests."

For advanced reasoning, enable extended thinking mode (Sonnet/Opus versions). It helps on complex refactors and math.

How to manage long context and avoid prompt bloat?

Keep the active prompt small. Put stable knowledge in CLAUDE.md. Use sub-agents for large projects so each assistant has a focused window. See ideas for sub-agents in this guide.

• Prefill: give a role and success criteria up front.
• Examples: include 1-2 before/after code snippets.
• Chain: split big tasks into smaller prompts.

How do you use Claude for code review and testing?

Claude excels at catching patterns and suggesting tests. Use a three-step review prompt:

1. Explain what the code should do in one sentence.
2. Ask Claude to list likely edge cases and missing tests.
3. Request concrete test cases and a failing test example.

Then run the tests locally and iterate. Treat Claude outputs as draft suggestions, not final authority.

How to use Claude for data analysis and docs

Claude can analyze CSVs and create visualizations with its code interpreter. See a review of this feature here. When asking for docs, request a style and examples. Use short templates to make docs consistent.

Checklist: Set up a new project with Claude

1. Create repo and main branch.
2. Add a CLAUDE.md with purpose, build, and tests.
3. Enable Claude Code or your chosen CLI tool (install guide).
4. Run: "Bootstrap feature" prompt and commit the generated checklist.
5. Use AI-assisted review, then human review before merge.

Cheat sheet: Quick prompts

• Refactor: "Find low-risk refactors that improve readability and test coverage."
• Security scan: "Point out any secret leaks, unsafe deserialization, or risky dependencies."
• Docs: "Generate API docs for endpoint X, include examples and error codes."

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

Over-trusting output: Always run tests and validate logic.

Context drift: Update CLAUDE.md when code changes.

Leaks: Never store secrets in context files.

Where to learn more and templates

Read the deep dive on advanced features at Claude Technical deep dive. For use case guides and prompting best practices see Anthropic's guides. Try Claude Code CLI tips at Tembo.

Final checklist: ship faster with Claude

• Role + success criteria in every prompt.
• Version and review CLAUDE.md like code.
• Use short, testable iterations.
• Run tests and human review before merge.
• Enable extended thinking for deep problems.

Try one small experiment: Add a simple CLAUDE.md to a toy repo this week. Ask Claude to write one unit test. If it helps, expand to code reviews. Ship the change and see how much time you save.

FAQ

Can beginners use this playbook?

Yes. The playbook is meant for teams who want a repeatable system. Beginners can start with the starter CLAUDE.md and simple prompts.

Is Claude safe for private code?

Follow your org policies. Keep secrets out of prompts. Anthropic documents security and privacy in its guides, see their docs.