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If I were starting with Claude Code again, I’d make one habit central: don’t ask it to change unfamiliar or complicated code before it has explored the relevant files and explained a plan. For a tiny, clearly defined edit, that would be needless overhead; for work spanning files or involving uncertainty, it can help prevent a confident implementation of the wrong idea.
Choose the workflow based on the task
Anthropic’s Claude Code guidance describes an explore, plan, implement, commit sequence. It also recognizes that planning is not necessary for every change. Use the task’s ambiguity and scope to decide how much process it needs.
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| Task | Suggested approach | Why |
|---|---|---|
| One-sentence change in a known location, with an obvious expected result | Ask Claude to make the change directly, then verify it | A separate planning phase may add overhead without resolving meaningful uncertainty. |
| Unfamiliar behavior, an unclear approach, or a change touching multiple files or interfaces | Ask Claude to explore the relevant code, explain what it found, and propose a plan before implementation | Understanding existing behavior and agreeing on an approach first can expose mistaken assumptions before they become code changes. |
This is a judgment call, not a rigid rule. If a seemingly small request turns out to depend on unfamiliar code, pause and explore before proceeding.
Give Claude enough information to do the right work
A useful task prompt makes four things clear: the goal, the scope, the constraints, and how you will know the result is correct. Point Claude toward relevant files, examples, or existing behavior when you know where to look. For a larger or uncertain change, ask for exploration and a plan before asking it to implement.
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- Goal: Describe the behavior or outcome you want, rather than only naming a file to edit.
- Scope: Identify the relevant files, feature, or boundaries. Say what should remain unchanged when that matters.
- Constraints: Include applicable project conventions, compatibility needs, and implementation limits.
- Success criteria: State the expected behavior and name a check that can provide evidence, such as a relevant test, build, linter, or screenshot comparison.
For example, a request can ask Claude to inspect the files responsible for a behavior, describe the current behavior, and propose a minimal plan. After you review it, ask for implementation that stays within the stated scope and for the relevant test or other check to be run with its output shown. This gives you something concrete to review instead of relying only on a summary that the change is finished.
Verify the change instead of treating implementation as proof
Before implementation, decide what evidence would count as success. The right check depends on the change: a test may cover expected behavior, a build may catch compilation problems, a linter may identify style or static issues, and a screenshot comparison may help with a visual change. Ask Claude to run the applicable check and show the result.
A check that passes is useful evidence, but it is not a guarantee that every requirement is met. Review the changed behavior against the goal and constraints, especially if the automated check does not cover them. If a check fails, use the output to guide the next debugging step rather than treating the first implementation as complete.
Keep repeatable project guidance in the right place
Anthropic describes CLAUDE.md as a file Claude reads at the start of each conversation. Put concise, project-specific guidance there when it should carry across sessions: commands, conventions, testing instructions, and important gotchas. Avoid turning it into an exhaustive manual; Anthropic recommends keeping standing instructions concise and using on-demand skills for specialized material.
This separates baseline context from task-specific instructions. The project file can explain how work is usually done, while an individual prompt says what this particular change should accomplish and how to verify it.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Keep the active task focused
Anthropic notes that context fills as a conversation continues and that performance can degrade as it fills. Keep the current request clear and focused; when unrelated work has accumulated in a session, clear it where appropriate rather than letting it obscure the task at hand.
Rank #4
The practical habit is simple: explore and plan when uncertainty or scope justifies it, then implement against an agreed goal and check the result. Skip the ceremony for a genuinely small, obvious change.
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