Claude Code Tips & Tricks

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

1.2 MCP Related

# List MCP
claude mcp list

# MCP help
claude mcp --help

1.3 Configuration Related

# Config help
claude config --help

# List configurations
claude config list

1.4 Session Commands

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:

• If unsatisfied, choose No and continue explaining your requirements
• If it looks good, choose Yes and it will start working

6. Paste Images

Use Case: When adjusting page structure or troubleshooting errors

How to Use:

• On Mac, use Command + V to paste images directly
• You can also drag and drop image files into the terminal

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:

• Directly ask Claude Code to roll back to the previous version
• Or use Git to revert versions

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

Summary

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

• Basic Commands: Familiarize yourself with /clear, /compact, /status, etc.
• Shortcuts: Make good use of Shift + Tab, Ctrl + B, etc.
• Advanced Features: Utilize YOLO mode, deep thinking, Plan mode
• Memory Files: Properly configure global and project-level CLAUDE.md

Hope this article helps you use Claude Code more effectively!