Claude Code 101

Learn how to use Claude Code effectively in your daily development workflow.

About this course

Claude Code 101 is designed for developers who are either new to software engineering or experienced engineers who haven't yet explored AI coding agents. This course walks you through everything from installation to advanced customization, teaching you how to use Claude Code effectively in your daily workflow.

Learning objectives

By the end of this course, you'll be able to:

Explain what an AI coding agent is and how Claude Code differs from chat-based AI tools
Understand how the agentic loop, context window, tools, and permissions work together
Install and set up Claude Code in the terminal, VS Code, JetBrains, Claude Desktop, or on the web
Write effective prompts using approval mode, auto-accept, and Plan Mode
Follow the Explore → Plan → Code → Commit workflow for any feature or task
Manage your context window with /compact, /clear, and /context to stay productive
Create and maintain a CLAUDE.md file to give Claude persistent project memory
Build custom subagents to delegate tasks and keep your main context clean
Connect external tools and data sources using MCP servers
Write hooks for deterministic control over formatting, command blocking, and notifications

Prerequisites

Basic familiarity with a code editor and the command line
A Claude account (Pro, Max, or Enterprise) or an API key

Who this course is for

New developers getting into software engineering who want to learn AI-assisted workflows from the start, and experienced engineers who are curious about coding agents but haven't taken the plunge yet.

Curriculum

What is Claude Code?
What is Claude Code?
How Claude Code works
Your first prompt
Installing Claude Code
Your first prompt
Daily workflows
The explore → plan → code → commit workflow
Context management
Code review
Customizing Claude Code
The CLAUDE.md file
Subagents
Skills
MCP
Hooks
Quiz
Course quiz

About this course

Claude Code 101 is designed for developers who are either new to software engineering or experienced engineers who haven't yet explored AI coding agents. This course walks you through everything from installation to advanced customization, teaching you how to use Claude Code effectively in your daily workflow.

Learning objectives

By the end of this course, you'll be able to:

Explain what an AI coding agent is and how Claude Code differs from chat-based AI tools
Understand how the agentic loop, context window, tools, and permissions work together
Install and set up Claude Code in the terminal, VS Code, JetBrains, Claude Desktop, or on the web
Write effective prompts using approval mode, auto-accept, and Plan Mode
Follow the Explore → Plan → Code → Commit workflow for any feature or task
Manage your context window with /compact, /clear, and /context to stay productive
Create and maintain a CLAUDE.md file to give Claude persistent project memory
Build custom subagents to delegate tasks and keep your main context clean
Connect external tools and data sources using MCP servers
Write hooks for deterministic control over formatting, command blocking, and notifications

Prerequisites

Basic familiarity with a code editor and the command line
A Claude account (Pro, Max, or Enterprise) or an API key

Who this course is for

New developers getting into software engineering who want to learn AI-assisted workflows from the start, and experienced engineers who are curious about coding agents but haven't taken the plunge yet.

What is Claude Code?
What is Claude Code?
How Claude Code works
Your first prompt
Installing Claude Code
Your first prompt
Daily workflows
The explore → plan → code → commit workflow
Context management
Code review
Customizing Claude Code
The CLAUDE.md file
Subagents
Skills
MCP
Hooks
Quiz
Course quiz