54ae484e67
- Rename "Configuration" to "Memory & Settings" (section 3) - CLAUDE.md files are now properly called "Memory Files" - Add explanatory note about why they're called "memory" - Update all internal references (diagrams, headings, precedence rules) - Add table of contents with direct links to README - Add GitHub stars badge and call-to-action - Update cheatsheet with consistent terminology Based on feedback that configuration should refer to settings.json, while CLAUDE.md files are officially called "memory" in Anthropic docs. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.5 <noreply@anthropic.com> |
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| .gitignore | ||
| cheatsheet-en.md | ||
| claude-code-ultimate-guide_kimi.pdf | ||
| claude-code-ultimate-guide_notebooklm.pdf | ||
| english-ultimate-claude-code-guide.md | ||
| LICENSE | ||
| README.md | ||
The Ultimate Claude Code Guide
From zero to power user — a comprehensive, self-contained guide to mastering Claude Code.
Author: Florian BRUNIAUX | Founding Engineer @Méthode Aristote
Contact: LinkedIn
Written with: Claude (Anthropic)
If you find this guide useful, please consider giving it a star! It helps others discover this resource and motivates continued updates.
About This Guide
This guide is the result of several months of daily practice and research with Claude Code. I don't claim to be an "expert" — I'm simply sharing what I've learned along the way, humbly hoping to help my peers and evangelize good practices in AI-assisted development.
A significant source of inspiration for this work was Claudelog.com, which I highly recommend for anyone wanting to go deeper.
Important note: This guide was largely generated with the help of AI. As such, it likely contains errors, inaccuracies, or outdated information. I would be delighted to receive any feedback, corrections, or — even better — pull requests to improve it. Don't hesitate to open an issue or submit a PR!
Language: I wrote this guide in English by default to reach a wider audience, but French is my native language. I could easily translate it to French myself, or leverage AI and community contributions for other languages. Let me know if translations would be useful!
If you find value in this guide, have questions, or want to discuss Claude Code practices, feel free to reach out on LinkedIn.
What's Inside
| File | Description | Reading Time |
|---|---|---|
english-ultimate-claude-code-guide.md |
Complete guide (4000+ lines) | ~2.5 hours |
cheatsheet-en.md |
1-page printable daily reference | 5 minutes |
claude-code-ultimate-guide_notebooklm.pdf |
Audio Deep Dive (NotebookLM podcast) | ~1 hour |
claude-code-ultimate-guide_kimi.pdf |
PDF version (Kimi export) | ~2.5 hours |
Table of Contents
Jump directly to any section in the full guide:
| # | Section | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Quick Start | Installation, first workflow, essential commands |
| 2 | Core Concepts | Context management, Plan Mode, Rewind, Mental Model |
| 3 | Memory & Settings | CLAUDE.md files, .claude/ folder, precedence rules |
| 4 | Agents | Custom AI personas, Tool SEO, orchestration patterns |
| 5 | Skills | Reusable knowledge modules (Security, TDD...) |
| 6 | Commands | Custom slash commands, variable interpolation |
| 7 | Hooks | Event-driven automation (security, formatting, logging) |
| 8 | MCP Servers | Serena, Context7, Sequential, Playwright, Postgres |
| 9 | Advanced Patterns | Trinity, CI/CD, feedback loops, vibe coding |
| 10 | Reference | Commands, shortcuts, troubleshooting, checklists |
| A | Appendix | Ready-to-use templates |
Quick Links by Topic
Getting Started
Critical Concepts
Customization
Advanced
Quick Start
# Install Claude Code
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | sh
# Start in your project
cd your-project
claude
The 7 Commands You Need
| Command | Action |
|---|---|
/help |
Show all commands |
/status |
Check context usage |
/compact |
Compress context (>70%) |
/clear |
Fresh start |
/plan |
Safe read-only mode |
/rewind |
Undo changes |
Ctrl+C |
Cancel operation |
Context Management (Critical!)
| Context % | Action |
|---|---|
| 0-50% | Work freely |
| 50-70% | Be selective |
| 70-90% | /compact now |
| 90%+ | /clear required |
The Golden Rules
- Always review diffs before accepting changes
- Use
/compactbefore context gets critical (>70%) - Be specific in requests (WHAT, WHERE, HOW, VERIFY)
- Start with Plan Mode for complex/risky tasks
- Create CLAUDE.md for every project
Who Is This For?
- Beginners: Start with Quick Start (15 min) → be productive immediately
- Intermediate: Deep dive into Configuration, Agents, Skills
- Power Users: Advanced Patterns, MCP orchestration, CI/CD integration
Contributing
Found an error? Have a suggestion? Open an issue or PR.
Resources
- Official Claude Code Documentation
- Claudelog.com — Advanced tips & patterns (inspiration for some sections)
License
This work is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
You are free to share and adapt this material, provided you give appropriate credit and distribute your contributions under the same license.
Last updated: January 2025 | Version 1.0