A field guide for complete beginners
Learn Claude Code,
from zero to confident.
Claude Code is an AI assistant that lives in your editor. You describe what you want in plain English; it reads your files, writes the code, and shows you every change before it happens. This guide takes you from "what is VS Code?" to automating your whole workflow.
↑ This is what a real session looks like. You'll run one yourself in chapter 02.
How to use this guide
Read chapters 01–03 in order; they get you working. Everything after that is reference: dip in when you need it. Short on inspiration? The idea gallery is prompts to steal. The sidebar remembers what you've read, and Ctrl K searches every command and topic from any page.
No experience needed. If you have never opened a code editor before, start at chapter 01. If you already use VS Code, jump straight to your first session.
The chapters
VS Code basics
Install the editor, open a folder, find the terminal. The five things you actually need.
02Your first session
Install Claude Code, say hello, and understand the permission prompt before you meet it.
03Everyday controls
Point at files, interrupt, undo, and the three modes that change how much Claude asks.
04Slash commands
Every built-in command in one filterable table.
05CLAUDE.md & memory
Teach Claude your project once so you never repeat yourself.
06Skills & subagents
Package workflows you reuse, and delegate side-quests to helpers.
07MCP & hooks
Connect Claude to Slack, GitHub, and databases. Make things happen automatically.
08Beyond the terminal
Scheduled routines, the web and desktop apps, and settings that stick.
09Good habits
The official best practices, distilled into nine simple rules.
10Idea gallery
Dashboards, data detective work, morning briefs: prompts to steal.