Claude Code Advanced tutorial

Advanced · step 1 of 7

Decompose and chain

1. Split a big job into steps with a clear output each.
2. Feed each step's output into the next.
3. Check the output between steps, not just at the end.

Why this step matters: Small steps with a checked output each fail visibly and early, instead of one big answer that is wrong somewhere.

Advanced · step 2 of 7

Structured output

Ask for a fixed table or JSON so you can check and reuse it.

Return only JSON: [{"claim": "...", "source_url": "...", "quote": "...", "confidence": "high|medium|low"}]

Why this step matters: A fixed format can be checked by eye or by code and reused without retyping.

Advanced · step 3 of 7

Automation and agents

Claude Code can run non-interactively in scripts and CI, and supports hooks and MCP servers for tools. Start with read-only jobs (review a diff, explain failures), require human approval for pushes and deploys, and log every run.

Why this step matters: Automation repeats mistakes at scale, so you need to know exactly what is run and what is checked.

Advanced · step 4 of 7

Failure modes to watch

• Edits that pass the happy path but break edge cases. Run the full test suite.
• Commands with side effects (deletes, pushes). Read before approving.
• Over-large changes. Ask for the smallest diff.

Why this step matters: Knowing how it typically fails tells you where to look when you review its work.

Advanced · step 5 of 7

Cost control

• Not included in Claude Free.
• Pro: $20/month, or $17/month billed yearly ($200).
• Max: from $100/month. Ultra: $200/month.
• Team and Enterprise plans include it too.

Claude Code shares your plan’s usage limits: a 5-hour window and weekly limits (claude.com/pricing, checked Oct 30, 2026).

Claude Code shares your Claude plan’s limits: a rolling 5-hour window plus weekly limits (claude.com/pricing).

Why this step matters: Paying for features you don't use is the most common waste. Knowing the limits first tells you if the free tier is enough.

Advanced · step 6 of 7

Privacy and team rules

• Don't paste passwords, ID numbers, card numbers or other people's private details.
• Assume the company can read and keep your chats unless its official policy says otherwise.
• For health, money or legal decisions, confirm with a professional or an official source.
• Keep secrets in environment variables or a secrets manager, never in files Claude Code reads into chat.
• Review every command before you approve it, especially anything that deletes, pushes or deploys.
• Use your employer’s approved plan for company code.
• Write down which data is allowed in which tool, and who approves paid plans.

Why this step matters: Anything you paste may be stored and read. Deciding what never goes in is easier than undoing a leak.

Advanced · step 7 of 7

Build a 10-task test set

1. Collect 10 real tasks with known good answers.
2. Run them now and score each pass/fail.
3. Re-run them when the model, plan or your prompt changes.
4. Keep the prompt that wins, not the one that feels better.

Why this step matters: Without a fixed test set, 'better' just means 'felt better'. Scores let you compare prompts and models fairly.