Tutorial: Getting Started with Claude Code
This tutorial will guide you through your first Claude Code project, helping you quickly get up to speed with this powerful AI programming assistant.
1. Project Initialization
First, start Claude Code in your project directory:
cd your-project
claude
Claude Code will automatically analyze your project structure and prepare the context.
2. Basic Conversation
Try some basic commands:
> Hello! Please help me analyze this project's structure
> List all JavaScript files
> Find TODO comments in the project
3. Code Generation
Let Claude help you generate code:
> Create a new React component for this project
> Generate a simple unit test
> Add error handling logic
4. Multi-file Editing
Claude Code's strength lies in editing multiple files simultaneously:
> Refactor this function by splitting it into multiple modules
> Update all files that use this API
> Add TypeScript type definitions to all components
5. Git Workflow
Claude Code can help manage your Git workflow:
> Create a new feature branch
> Commit current changes
> Generate commit message
6. Best Practices
Use Clear Instructions
❌ Bad example:
Fix the code
✅ Good example:
Fix the null pointer exception in the user login function, add input validation
Leverage Context
Claude Code understands your project context, make full use of this:
> Create new components following existing code style
> Refactor functions according to project naming conventions
Iterative Development
Don't ask for too much at once, proceed step by step:
- First create basic structure
- Add core functionality
- Improve error handling
- Add tests
7. Advanced Features
Plan Mode
When facing complex tasks, use plan mode:
> /plan Refactor the entire user authentication system
Context Inspection
Understand Claude's current context:
> /context
8. Real Project Example
Let's demonstrate through a practical example:
# Create new project
mkdir my-webapp
cd my-webapp
claude
Then in Claude Code:
> Initialize a React + TypeScript project
> Create a simple Todo application
> Add styling and responsive design
> Set up unit testing
> Configure CI/CD pipeline
Next Steps
After completing this tutorial, you can:
- Explore Configuration Options to customize your experience
- Learn Core Mechanics to deeply understand Claude Code
- Check out Best Practices to improve efficiency
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How does Claude Code understand my project? A: It analyzes file structure, dependencies, code patterns, etc. to build contextual understanding.
Q: Can it be used with existing projects? A: Absolutely! Claude Code is designed to work with any existing project.
Q: How do I undo Claude's changes? A: Use Git for version control, you can rollback changes at any time.