Coding with AI tools

Stage 2 · Lesson 2 of 6

Writing CLAUDE.md

Setup and project context

is a Markdown file loads at the start of every session. Put a project one at ./CLAUDE.md or ./.claude/CLAUDE.md and commit it; personal preferences for all projects go in ~/.claude/CLAUDE.md, and private notes for one project in CLAUDE.local.md, which you add to .gitignore.

Run /init to draft one from your codebase, then edit it hard: keep the commands it cannot guess, conventions that differ from the defaults and known gotchas. suggests under 200 lines per file; longer files get followed less well.

/memory opens the files for editing, and @path lines import other files. If your already has , a CLAUDE.md line reading @AGENTS.md shares it.

Common trapwriting a long essay of general advice, so the one rule that matters gets lost.

A question to check yourself, an AI practice session and 3 cheat sheet entries come when you add the roadmap to your account. Add it

Resources for this stage

Start with

  • CourseFree
    Claude Code 101

    Anthropic · Beginner

    The installation, first prompt and CLAUDE.md lessons match this stage

Keep handy

  • Claude Code Documentation

    The memory, settings and permissions pages cover every file named in this stage

  • AGENTS.md

    The shared format your tool can read, with examples of what to put in it

Also worth your time

Mark this stage as not done?