Getting Started With Claude Code: Essential Setup Tips

Whether you're transitioning from Cursor, exploring AI coding assistants for the first time, or looking to optimize your current Claude Code workflow, this guide provides the practical tips and tricks that make a real difference in daily development work.

VS Code Extension: Multiple Instances for Maximum Productivity

The Claude Code extension works seamlessly with VS Code, Cursor, and Windsurf. While the extension itself is minimal—functioning primarily as a launcher—this simplicity enables a powerful workflow: running multiple Claude Code instances in parallel.

Pro tip: Open 2-3 Claude instances simultaneously, each focused on different parts of your codebase. Use your IDE's split pane feature to have one instance handling backend logic while another works on frontend components. This parallel processing transforms how you tackle complex features.

Terminal Interface Navigation Tricks

The terminal UI might seem basic at first, but it's packed with powerful features that aren't immediately obvious:

Smart File References: Use @ symbols to reference files instantly. Instead of typing full paths, just type @UserSer and hit Tab for autocomplete. This works across your entire project structure.

Command History: The up arrow doesn't just show your last command—it persists across sessions. You can access complex prompts from days ago, making it easy to rerun similar tasks.

Quick Context Clearing: Use /clear religiously. Every new feature or bug fix should start fresh. This prevents token waste and keeps responses focused. Think of it as closing browser tabs—essential for mental clarity.

Terminal Interface Quirks And Solutions

Every powerful tool has its idiosyncrasies. Here are the non-obvious terminal behaviors that trip up new users and their solutions:

Multi-line Input Fix

Shift+Enter doesn't work for new lines by default—incredibly frustrating when writing detailed prompts. Solution: Run /terminal-setup once. Claude will configure your terminal properly, and Shift+Enter will work as expected forever after.

File Dragging Secret

Dragging files into the terminal normally opens them in a new IDE tab. To reference files in Claude, hold Shift while dragging. This small detail isn't documented anywhere but makes file handling seamless.

Image Pasting Trick

Command+V won't paste images from clipboard. Use Control+V instead (yes, even on Mac). This catches everyone initially, but muscle memory adapts quickly.

Stopping Claude Properly

Your instinct says Control+C to stop execution, but that exits the program entirely. Use Escape instead. Press Escape twice for a bonus feature: a searchable list of all previous messages in your conversation.

Essential Claude Code Shortcuts:
- Escape: Stop current operation
- Escape x2: Show message history
- Up Arrow: Command history (persistent)
- Tab: Autocomplete file paths
- Ctrl+V: Paste images (not Cmd+V)
- /clear: Start fresh conversation
- /help: Show all commands

Advanced Techniques For Power Users

Message Queuing: The Productivity Multiplier

Unlike traditional coding assistants, Claude Code allows intelligent message queuing. This fundamentally changes your workflow. Instead of waiting for each task to complete, queue multiple prompts:

"Add user authentication to this module"
"Include proper error handling"
"Write comprehensive Jest tests"
"Update the README with usage examples"

Claude processes these intelligently, pausing for input when needed and continuing autonomously when possible. You can outline an entire morning's work, then return to find most tasks completed.

Custom Hooks: Enforce Your Standards Automatically

Create a .claude/hooks.mjs file to enforce code quality automatically:

// Run before accepting any edit
export async function preEdit({ filePath, oldContent, newContent }) {  
  // Auto-format TypeScript/JavaScript files
  if (filePath.match(/\.(ts|tsx|js|jsx)$/)) {
    execSync(`npx prettier --write "${filePath}"`, { stdio: 'pipe' });
  }
  
  // Prevent editing protected files
  const protected = ['package-lock.json', '.env.production'];
  if (protected.includes(path.basename(filePath))) {
    throw new Error(`Cannot edit protected file: ${filePath}`);
  }
  
  return { proceed: true };
}

These hooks run automatically, ensuring every Claude edit meets your standards without manual intervention.

Custom Slash Commands

Create project-specific commands by adding markdown files to .claude/commands/:

Create comprehensive tests for: $ARGUMENTS

Requirements:
- Use Jest and React Testing Library
- Test all major functionality
- Include edge cases
- Mock external dependencies
- Aim for 80%+ coverage

Now /test MyComponent generates perfect tests following your exact standards. Create commands for common tasks: /refactor, /optimize, /document.

Handling Large Files And Complex Refactoring

One area where Claude Code truly excels is handling massive files that crash other AI assistants. Here's how to work effectively with large codebases:

The 18,000 Line Test

When working with extremely large files, use these strategies:

Targeted Context: Instead of @LargeComponent.tsx refactor this, be specific: @LargeComponent.tsx refactor the user authentication section (lines 5000-6000)

Incremental Updates: Break large refactoring into queued messages: "First, update the state management pattern" then "Next, modernize the event handlers" then "Finally, update the render logic"

Pattern Recognition: Claude excels at finding patterns across large files. Use prompts like "Find all instances of the legacy API pattern and list them" before "Now update all instances to use the new pattern"

Complex Navigation Commands

Claude understands architectural queries that go beyond simple search:

• "Show me how user authentication flows through the app"
• "Find all components that depend on the UserContext"
• "Trace the data flow from API call to UI rendering for products"
• "Identify circular dependencies in the module structure"

These high-level queries help you understand and refactor complex systems efficiently.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

When Claude Gets Confused

Symptom: Responses seem to ignore your context or give generic answers
Solution: You've accumulated too much conversation history. Use /clear and restate your task with fresh context.

Symptom: Claude keeps asking permission despite using skip-permissions flag
Solution: Some operations still require confirmation. Create a hook to auto-approve specific operations you trust.

Symptom: File changes aren't being recognized
Solution: Claude caches file contents. Use @filename --refresh to force a reload.

Performance Optimization

Slow Responses: Check if you're including unnecessary files. Each @ reference adds to processing time.

Token Limits: Watch the token counter. When approaching limits, start a fresh conversation with /clear rather than letting Claude compress history.

Model Switching: If Opus is being slow, manually switch to Sonnet with /model sonnet for faster responses on simpler tasks.

Mastering Claude Code: Your Journey Forward

These tips and tricks represent hundreds of hours of real-world Claude Code usage distilled into actionable insights. The key to mastery isn't using every feature—it's finding the combination that fits your workflow.

Start with the basics: skip-permissions mode, clear context management, and message queuing. As these become second nature, layer in custom hooks, commands, and advanced navigation. Remember that Claude Code improves rapidly, so stay curious and experiment with new features as they appear.

The developers who extract maximum value from Claude Code are those who treat it as a true coding partner rather than just an autocomplete tool. They invest time in setting up their environment, creating custom commands, and building project-specific context. That investment pays dividends in productivity and code quality.

"The best Claude Code setup is the one you'll actually use. Start simple, iterate often, and let your workflow evolve naturally."

— Experienced Claude Code Developer