Part 1: Fundamentals & Core Concepts
New to Claude Code? Complete Part 0: Introduction first for a gentle 15-minute onboarding. Come back here after you’ve tried Claude Code hands-on.
Already completed Part 0? Great! This part dives deeper into the architecture, tools, and workflows that make Claude Code powerful. You’ll learn when to use which tool, how to configure your environment, and how to integrate Claude Code into your daily development workflow.
This part covers the essential foundations every Claude Code user needs to understand. Whether you’re using the CLI, API, or Agent SDK, these concepts form the basis for effective usage.
Sections in This Part
Section 1: Mental Models & Architecture
Understand Claude’s ecosystem architecture, model family, tool selection, and core concepts like extended thinking, vision capabilities, MCP integration, and the Skills system.
Key Topics:
- Model family overview (Claude 4 family: Claude Opus 4.5, Claude Sonnet 4.5, Claude Haiku 4.5)
- Tool selection matrix (CLI vs API vs Agent SDK vs VS Code)
- Extended thinking architecture
- Vision capabilities
- Model Context Protocol (MCP)
- Skills system fundamentals
- Context windows and token management
Section 2: Environment & Project Setup
Complete installation and configuration guide for all platforms, including CLI, VS Code extension, API authentication, project configuration files, and MCP server setup.
Key Topics:
- Claude Code CLI installation (macOS, Linux, Windows)
- VS Code extension setup
- API key management (Anthropic, AWS, GCP)
- Project configuration (CLAUDE.md, .claude/settings.json)
- MCP server configuration
- Skills repository setup
- Enterprise deployment options
Section 3: CLAUDE.md - Your Project’s Memory
Learn how to create and maintain CLAUDE.md, the most important configuration file for consistent AI-assisted development. Includes templates for minimal, production, and enterprise projects.
Key Topics:
- What is CLAUDE.md and why it matters
- Level 1: Minimal template (5 min)
- Level 2: Production template (15 min)
- Level 3: Enterprise template (30 min)
- Real-world examples (Express, React, Python, Go)
- Maintenance and best practices
Section 4: Core Workflows
Essential development patterns including the 7-phase feature development workflow, debugging strategies, code navigation, automated task execution, and Git integration.
Key Topics:
- 7-phase feature development workflow
- Debugging workflow (analyze → diagnose → fix)
- Code navigation and comprehension
- Automated task execution
- Test-driven development patterns
- Git workflow integration
Section 5: Day-in-the-Life - Real Developer Workflows
Practical, copy-paste ready workflows for your entire workday. From morning catch-up to end-of-day cleanup, see exactly how to use Claude Code in real scenarios.
Key Topics:
- Morning routines (catch-up, stand-up prep)
- Feature development workflows
- Code review patterns
- Debugging production issues
- Safe refactoring process
- Daily wrap-up and planning
Quick Start (45 Minutes)
Prerequisites: Complete Part 0: Introduction (15 min) if you haven’t already.
- Read Section 01 (15 min) - Understand the landscape and architecture
- Follow Section 02 (10 min) - Complete installation and configuration
- Create Section 03 (10 min) - Set up CLAUDE.md for your project
- Try Section 04 (5 min) - Run your first development workflow
- Explore Section 05 (5 min) - See daily patterns in action
Learning Objectives
After completing Part 1, you will:
- ✅ Understand when to use CLI vs API vs Agent SDK
- ✅ Know which model to choose for different tasks
- ✅ Have Claude Code CLI installed and configured
- ✅ Understand project configuration with CLAUDE.md
- ✅ Execute basic workflows (feature development, debugging)
- ✅ Understand extended thinking and when to use it
- ✅ Be ready for advanced topics in Parts 2-7