Best Practices for Using Claude Code

wzdushu@gmail.com (wanzi) — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 10:30:00 +0800

Claude Code is the official AI coding tool launched by Anthropic. It can read codebases, edit files, run commands, and integrate with development tools. It excels in complex reasoning and code understanding, making it one of the most powerful AI coding tools available today.

Detailed Introduction to Claude Code

What is Claude Code

Claude Code is an AI-driven agent coding assistant that helps developers build features, fix bugs, and automate development tasks. It understands the entire codebase and can work across multiple files and tools to complete tasks.

Core Advantages:

Powerful code understanding and reasoning capabilities
Supports multiple interfaces including Terminal, VS Code, and JetBrains
MCP (Model Context Protocol) extension support
Multi-agent collaboration features
Full Git workflow integration
Supports the full family of Claude models

Claude Code Installation

macOS / Linux (Recommended)

`1`	`curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh \| bash`

Windows PowerShell

`1`	`irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 \| iex`

Windows CMD

`1`	`curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.cmd -o install.cmd && install.cmd && del install.cmd`

Homebrew

`1`	`brew install --cask claude-code`

WinGet (Windows)

`1`	`winget install Anthropic.ClaudeCode`

VS Code Extension

Search for “Claude Code” in the VS Code Extension Marketplace and install.

Quick Start

# Enter project directory
cd your-project

# Start Claude Code
claude

# Specify a task directly
claude "Help me create a user login feature"

Basic Usage of Claude Code

Basic Usage Tips

1. Task Decomposition Strategy

Do not ask the AI to complete complex tasks all at once:

# Inefficient ❌
claude "Help me write a complete e-commerce system"

# Efficient ✅
claude "Help me design the user database schema"
claude "Write a user registration API based on this structure"
claude "Add login verification logic"

2. Provide Complete Context

# Missing information ❌
claude "This code has an error"

# Complete information ✅
claude "I am writing a web service with Flask. The login endpoint returns a 500 error.
Error message: TypeError: Cannot read property 'name' of undefined
The stack trace shows it occurred at line 45 in app.py.
Help me analyze the cause and fix it."

3. Use Tool Calls

Claude Code can perform various operations:

# Read file
Read file: src/main.py

# Search code
Grep pattern: "def login" path: src/

# Execute command
Bash command: python -m pytest

# Write file
Write file: src/utils.py

# Batch operations
Glob pattern: "**/*.py"

Claude Code Model Selection

Claude Code supports multiple Claude models, which can be selected based on task complexity:

Model	Capability	Speed	Use Cases
Claude Opus 4.6	Highest	Slower	Complex architecture design, deep refactoring
Claude Sonnet 4.6	High	Medium	Daily development, code generation
Claude Haiku 4.5	Medium	Fast	Quick completion, simple tasks

1
2

# Switch model
/model claude-sonnet-4-6

Advanced Features of Claude Code

MCP Server Integration

MCP (Model Context Protocol) allows connecting Claude Code to external tools and data sources:

# Set up MCP servers in the configuration file
# ~/.claude/config.json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "filesystem": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@anthropic/mcp-server-filesystem"],
      "allowedDirectories": ["~/projects"]
    }
  }
}

CLAUDE.md File

Create a CLAUDE.md file in the project root directory. Claude Code will read it at the start of every session:

# Project Description

## Code Standards
- Use TypeScript strict mode
- Follow Airbnb ESLint configuration

## Architecture Decisions
- Use dependency injection pattern
- All API calls must include error handling

## Preferred Libraries
- State Management: Zustand
- HTTP Client: Ky

Custom Commands (Skills)

Create reusable command templates:

# Create /review-pr command
# ~/.claude/commands/review-pr.md
# Review Pull Request

Please review this PR:
1. Check code quality and style consistency
2. Look for potential security issues
3. Evaluate if test coverage is sufficient
4. Verify documentation is updated

@pr-url

Hooks Configuration

Automatically execute shell commands before or after operations:

# ~/.claude/config.json
{
  "hooks": {
    "PostEdit": [
      {
        "match": "*.ts",
        "command": "npx eslint --fix {file}"
      }
    ]
  }
}

Scheduled Tasks

# Run Claude on a schedule
claude /schedule

# Automate morning PR reviews
claude /loop 8h /pr review

# Automate nightly CI failure analysis
claude /schedule "0 22 * * *" "Analyze today's CI failures"

Multi-Agent Collaboration

# Start multiple agents working in parallel
claude "Start a team to handle this feature:
- Agent 1: Frontend component development
- Agent 2: Backend API development
- Agent 3: Test writing
Coordinate their work and merge the results"

Git and Workflow Integration

Git Workflow

# Commit changes
claude "commit my changes with a descriptive message"

# Create a branch
claude "Create a feature branch to implement user registration"

# Analyze change impact
claude "Analyze what changes exist in the current branch compared to main"

Code Review Process

# 1. Let Claude read the code
claude "Please read all Python files in the src directory to understand the project structure"

# 2. Propose specific review requirements
claude "For the file src/api/v1/users.py:
- Check if input validation is complete
- Look for potential security vulnerabilities
- Evaluate if error handling is reasonable"

# 3. Request fix suggestions
claude "For the issues found, please provide fix solutions one by one"

Debugging Tips

# Provide error information
claude "The following error occurs when running 'python app.py':
TypeError: Cannot read property 'name' of undefined
The stack trace shows the error occurred at line 45.
Help me locate the problem and fix it."

# Provide reproduction steps
claude "1. Run 'npm run dev'
2. Visit http://localhost:3000
3. Click the login button
4. Enter correct credentials and click submit
Expected: Login successful and redirect
Actual: Page freezes with no response
Console shows: Pending POST /api/login"

Domestic LLM Configuration

Claude Code natively uses Claude models but also supports configuring other domestic models as alternatives.

GLM4 Series (Zhipu AI)

Zhipu’s GLM series excels in Chinese understanding and code generation.

GLM4.7 Features:

Ultra-long context support
Powerful Chinese understanding capabilities
Strong code generation capabilities
Tool Calling support

Configuration Method:

# Configure GLM via MCP
# ~/.claude/config.json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "glm": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-openai"],
      "env": {
        "OPENAI_API_KEY": "your-zhipu-api-key",
        "OPENAI_BASE_URL": "https://open.bigmodel.cn/api/paas/v4"
      }
    }
  }
}

Kimi K2.5 (Moonshot AI)

Kimi K2.5 has unique advantages in long context and multimodal capabilities.

K2.5 Features:

256K ultra-long context
Multimodal understanding
Professional code generation, programming capability comparable to Claude

Pricing:

Input: ¥4.00/MTok
Output: ¥21.00/MTok
Cache Hit: ¥0.70/MTok

Configuration Method:

# Configure Kimi via MCP
# ~/.claude/config.json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "kimi": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-openai"],
      "env": {
        "OPENAI_API_KEY": "your-kimi-api-key",
        "OPENAI_BASE_URL": "https://api.moonshot.cn/v1"
      }
    }
  }
}

MiniMax M2.5

MiniMax M2.5 is designed specifically for programming, focusing on fast response.

M2.5 Features:

High throughput, low latency
Optimized for production environments
SOTA programming and Agent capabilities
High cost-performance ratio

Configuration Method:

# Configure MiniMax via MCP
# ~/.claude/config.json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "minimax": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-openai"],
      "env": {
        "OPENAI_API_KEY": "your-minimax-api-key",
        "OPENAI_BASE_URL": "https://api.minimax.chat/v1"
      }
    }
  }
}

Comparison with Other AI Coding Tools

Cursor

Cursor is one of the most popular AI-native IDEs, used by over half of the Fortune 500 companies.

Comparison with Claude Code:

Cursor is a complete AI editor, Claude Code is a CLI tool.
Cursor supports multiple models like GPT-5, Claude, and Gemini.
Claude Code has stronger reasoning capabilities, suitable for complex tasks.
Cursor has deeper AI integration.

Cursor Core Features:

Composer 2: Complete multi-file modifications with a single sentence.
Tab smart completion.
BugBot automatic code review.
Global codebase understanding.

Trae

Trae is an adaptive AI IDE focusing on local-first and privacy protection.

Comparison with Claude Code:

Trae has a Chinese-friendly interface and ample free quota.
Claude Code is more powerful and suitable for complex projects.
Trae is suitable for domestic users to get started quickly.

Trae Core Features:

Builder mode: Create files via conversation.
Chinese interface.
Privacy protection (data is not used for secondary training).
MCP protocol support.

OpenCode

OpenCode is a lightweight terminal AI coding tool developed in Go.

Comparison with Claude Code:

OpenCode is lighter and suitable for simple tasks.
Claude Code is more comprehensive in functionality.
OpenCode supports more model providers.

OpenCode Supported Models:

OpenAI: GPT-4.1, GPT-4.5, GPT-4o, O1, O3
Anthropic: Claude 4 Sonnet/Opus, Claude 3.5/3.7 Sonnet
Google: Gemini 2.5, 2.5 Flash, 2.0 Flash

Comparison Summary

Feature	Claude Code	Cursor	Trae	OpenCode
Type	CLI + Plugin	AI IDE	AI IDE	CLI Tool
Models	Claude	Multi-model	Multi-model	Multi-model
Reasoning	Strongest	Strong	Medium	Strong
Chinese Support	Average	Average	Excellent	Average
Learning Curve	Medium	Low	Low	Medium
Free Quota	Limited	Limited	Ample	Depends on API

Selection Advice:

Complex refactoring and deep tasks → Claude Code
Daily development and IDE experience → Cursor
Domestic users getting started quickly → Trae
Lightweight terminal tasks → OpenCode

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does Claude Code require payment?

A: Claude Code itself is free, but it requires a Claude API key. New users have a free quota, and subscribers have a more ample quota.

Q: Can domestic models replace Claude?

A: For daily programming tasks, domestic models are close to Claude’s level. Claude still has an advantage in complex reasoning tasks. Domestic models are cheaper.

Q: Can code written by AI be used directly?

A: No! AI code must be understood by yourself, tested locally, code reviewed, and confirmed safe before use.

Q: How do I choose a Claude model?

A: Use Haiku for simple tasks, Sonnet for daily development, and Opus for complex tasks.

Conclusion

Claude Code is one of the most powerful AI coding tools currently available, particularly suitable for:

Complex code understanding and refactoring
Batch operations across multiple files
Deep debugging and problem analysis
Tasks requiring strong reasoning capabilities

By configuring MCP, Claude Code can also use domestic models (GLM4, Kimi K2.5, MiniMax M2.5) as alternatives. Choose the appropriate tool and model based on task complexity and budget.

Trae on Wanzi's Blog – Notes on life, tech, and DevOps.

Best Practices for Using Claude Code

Detailed Introduction to Claude Code

What is Claude Code

Claude Code Installation

Quick Start

Basic Usage of Claude Code

Basic Usage Tips

Claude Code Model Selection

Advanced Features of Claude Code

MCP Server Integration

CLAUDE.md File

Custom Commands (Skills)

Hooks Configuration

Scheduled Tasks

Multi-Agent Collaboration

Git and Workflow Integration

Git Workflow

Code Review Process

Debugging Tips

Domestic LLM Configuration

GLM4 Series (Zhipu AI)

Kimi K2.5 (Moonshot AI)

MiniMax M2.5

Comparison with Other AI Coding Tools

Cursor

Trae

OpenCode

Comparison Summary

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion