Claude Code best practices

Summary

This video highlights the latest features in Claude 4, including model switching, advanced thinking capabilities, and improved integrations with VS Code and JetBrains. Key upgrades allow Claude to process multiple files, follow instructions more effectively, and manage multi-agent execution. Users are encouraged to interact with Claude through tools like Cloud MD for project management and can easily switch between models to suit their needs. The speaker discusses enhancements like deeper thinking between tool calls and improved handling of code refactoring, making it a valuable tool for developers looking for more efficient workflows.

Takeaways

• 😀 Claude allows users to switch between different models (e.g., Sonnet, Opus) for better compatibility and performance.
• 😀 Cloud 4 introduces the ability for Claude to think between tool calls, allowing for more advanced problem-solving and debugging.
• 😀 The thinking process in Cloud 4 is visually indicated by lighter gray text and involves calling various tools to analyze projects.
• 😀 Integration with IDEs like VS Code and JetBrains is improved, enabling Claude to recognize and interact with the file being worked on.
• 😀 Claude can now handle multiple `cloud.md` files in a project, but by default, it only reads the one in the current working directory.
• 😀 Users can reference other `cloud.md` files across directories using the '@' sign to bring in additional context.
• 😀 Cloud 4 improves Claude’s ability to follow instructions, reducing issues where it left unnecessary inline comments during code refactoring.
• 😀 The issue of Claude leaving comments explaining obvious code parts has been largely fixed in Cloud 4, making it follow prompts better.
• 😀 Users should periodically review and update their `cloud.md` files to ensure Claude’s behavior is optimized and aligned with new model capabilities.
• 😀 Multi-agent execution and sharing context between agents is possible, but users are encouraged to use shared files (e.g., `ticket.md`) for agents to communicate.
• 😀 Stay up-to-date with changes and improvements by following Claude’s GitHub project, where issues and changelogs are regularly posted.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the slash commands (/model and /config) in Cloud?

The slash commands are used to switch between different models in Cloud, such as Sonnet and Opus. This allows users to select the model that best suits their needs for a given task or project.

How has Claude 4 improved thinking between tool calls compared to previous models?

Claude 4 can now think between tool calls, which was a limitation in earlier versions. This allows the model to perform more complex tasks, such as analyzing and solving bugs, by utilizing extended thinking between calls.

What feature of Claude 4 makes it more effective when working with coding tasks in IDEs like VS Code and JetBrains?

Claude 4 integrates seamlessly with IDEs like VS Code and JetBrains, allowing it to recognize the file you're working on and perform context-aware tasks, such as reading or editing specific files within the project.

What improvements were made in Claude 4 regarding the use of Cloud MD files?

Claude 4 now follows Cloud MD files more accurately. It handles configuration files better, ensuring that the instructions in these files are respected, including refining its behavior for tasks like removing unnecessary inline comments in code.

How can Claude 4 handle multiple Cloud MD files within a project?

Claude 4 can work with multiple Cloud MD files in a project, but by default, it reads the file in the current working directory. If there are relevant files in subdirectories, it will consider them if specified, or you can reference them explicitly within the Cloud MD file.

What strategy is recommended when Claude doesn't follow instructions as expected, particularly for removing inline comments?

To address issues like unwanted inline comments, it's advised to ensure that your Cloud MD file is updated for Claude 4's new behavior. Additionally, Claude 4 is better at following instructions, so reviewing and refining the Cloud MD file may help resolve such issues.

Can Claude 4 perform multi-agent execution, where agents share context between each other?

Claude 4 does not yet fully support multi-agent execution with shared context natively, but a workaround could be using shared markdown files where agents can communicate and update their tasks. Future updates may introduce more native features for this.

What should users do if they want to enhance Claude's understanding of a specific task or project?

Users should regularly check the updates and changelogs on the Claude Code GitHub repository to stay informed about new features and improvements. This can help refine tasks and ensure Claude's behavior aligns with user expectations.

What is the role of the 'think hard' feature in Claude 4?

The 'think hard' feature allows Claude to analyze and understand complex tasks more deeply. When activated, Claude performs extended thinking, reading files and executing multiple tool calls to better understand and solve a problem, especially useful for debugging or exploring project files.

What are the potential benefits of using Claude 4 in a collaborative development environment?

Claude 4 enhances collaboration by enabling multiple developers to interact with the same project context. Its ability to read and interact with project files and provide insights or suggestions in real-time can streamline communication and problem-solving within teams.