Claude Code Tips & Tricks

Claude Code Tips & Tricks

A comprehensive guide to Claude Code commands, shortcuts, and advanced techniques to boost your AI programming efficiency

This article covers common commands, shortcuts, and advanced techniques for Claude Code to help you use this AI programming assistant more efficiently.

1. Common Commands

1.1 Basic Commands

# Help command
claude --help

# Check version
claude --version
# List MCP
claude mcp list

# MCP help
claude mcp --help
# Config help
claude config --help

# List configurations
claude config list

1.4 Session Commands

CommandDescriptionUse Case
/clearClear contextWhen you need to start fresh, or feel the AI can no longer solve the problem
/compactCompress conversationRestart conversation without losing previous memory
/costShow costsMax users don’t need this, API users can check their usage
/login /logoutLogin/LogoutSwitch accounts etc.
/modelSwitch model$200 tier can switch to Opus model, $100 tier has no choice
/statusStatusCheck current CC status
/doctorDiagnoseCheck CC installation status

2. Auto-Edit Mode

Use Case: When you don’t want to confirm every file creation

How to Use: Press Shift + Tab once to enter this mode


3. Specify Files

Use Case: When you need to operate on a specific file

How to Use: Use the @ symbol to specify files directly


4. Deep Thinking

Use Case: When facing difficult problems, planning solutions, refactoring code, or solving complex bugs

How to Use: Use keywords like ultrathink or think deeply in your prompts


5. Plan Mode

Use Case: When planning projects in early stages or solving complex issues

How to Use: Press Shift + Tab twice to see this option

It will ask if you want to continue:


6. Paste Images

Use Case: When adjusting page structure or troubleshooting errors

How to Use:


7. YOLO Mode

Use Case: Refactoring code, new projects, or fixing bugs

How to Use:

claude --dangerously-skip-permissions

💡 After entering this mode, you can still adjust it using the Shift + Tab shortcut


8. Memory Files

8.1 Global Memory File

Location: ~/.claude/CLAUDE.md

8.2 Project Memory File

Location: CLAUDE.md file in your project directory

💡 For existing projects with code, it’s recommended to use the /init command to auto-generate


9. Use Previous Message Prompts

Use Case: When you want to restore a previous conversation

How to Use: Press Esc twice


10. How to Restore Code

Use Case: When you regret the code changes and want to revert

How to Use:


11. Resume Conversation / View Chat History

How to Use:

# Use /resume command
/resume

# Or use these flags
claude -c  # Continue last conversation
claude -r  # Resume conversation

12. Execute Terminal Commands

Use Case: Check current directory or execute special commands

How to Use: Use ! (exclamation mark) to enter command mode

# Check current directory
! pwd

# List files
! ll

13. Monitor Usage

# Check usage
npx ccusage@latest

# Real-time usage monitoring
npx ccusage@latest blocks --live

14. Background Service

Use Case: When completing features, Claude Code usually starts a service for accessing interfaces or UI. Without background service capability, Claude Code stays stuck on the service startup screen, preventing other conversation needs.

How to Use: Ctrl + B


15. Other Shortcuts

ShortcutFunction
Ctrl + JNew line
Ctrl + BBackground service
Shift + TabSwitch modes (once for auto-edit, twice for Plan mode)
Esc × 2Use previous message prompts

Summary

Mastering these Claude Code techniques can significantly boost your AI programming efficiency:

Hope this article helps you use Claude Code more effectively!

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