20 Real-World CLI Scenarios

Welcome to the Claude Code lessons - a collection of real-world scenarios that will transform you from a Claude Code beginner into a command-line virtuoso. These lessons are drawn from actual development workflows at companies using Claude Code in production.

Your Learning Journey

Each lesson builds on the previous ones, but you can also jump to specific scenarios that match your immediate needs. Whether you’re starting a greenfield project or maintaining a legacy codebase, these lessons provide practical, actionable guidance.

Foundation Lessons

Start here to build a solid understanding of Claude Code’s core capabilities.

Project Initialization

Learn how to bootstrap new projects with Claude Code, from simple scripts to full-stack applications. Master the art of turning ideas into working code in minutes. Start Building →

Codebase Analysis

Discover how to use Claude Code to understand large, unfamiliar codebases. Learn techniques for navigating millions of lines of code with confidence. Explore Codebases →

Feature Planning

Master the PRD → Plan → Todo workflow. Use Claude’s deep reasoning capabilities to transform requirements into actionable development plans. Plan Features →

Implementation

Turn plans into production-ready code. Learn how to guide Claude through complex implementations while maintaining code quality. Write Code →

Development Workflows

Essential patterns for day-to-day development tasks.

Debugging

Transform frustrating debug sessions into systematic problem-solving. Learn Claude’s debugging superpowers for tracking down elusive bugs. Fix Bugs →

Testing

Generate comprehensive test suites that actually catch bugs. Master TDD workflows and edge case discovery with Claude. Write Tests →

Refactoring

Safely restructure large codebases without breaking functionality. Learn patterns for incremental, systematic refactoring. Refactor Code →

Documentation

Keep documentation in sync with code automatically. Generate API docs, README files, and architectural diagrams. Document Code →

Backend Development

Master server-side development with Claude Code.

API Development

Build REST and GraphQL APIs that scale. Learn patterns for authentication, validation, and error handling. Build APIs →

Database Work

Design schemas, write queries, and manage migrations. Master both SQL and NoSQL patterns with Claude’s help. Work with Data →

Deployment

Automate deployments from local to production. Learn container orchestration and cloud deployment patterns. Deploy Apps →

Monitoring

Set up observability for your applications. Implement logging, metrics, and alerting strategies. Monitor Systems →

Advanced Topics

Take your Claude Code skills to the next level.

Security Audit

Identify and fix vulnerabilities before they become problems. Learn security scanning and remediation workflows. Secure Code →

Performance

Optimize applications for speed and efficiency. Master profiling, benchmarking, and optimization techniques. Optimize Performance →

Migrations

Handle complex database and code migrations safely. Learn patterns for zero-downtime deployments. Migrate Systems →

Integrations

Connect with third-party services and APIs. Master the Model Context Protocol (MCP) ecosystem. Integrate Services →

Automation & Infrastructure

Scale your impact through intelligent automation.

Task Automation

Transform repetitive tasks into self-running workflows. Master hooks, headless mode, and batch operations. Automate Tasks →

CI/CD Pipelines

Integrate Claude Code into your continuous integration workflows. Automate testing, deployment, and code reviews. Configure Pipelines →

Containerization

Master Docker and Kubernetes with Claude. Build, optimize, and deploy containerized applications. Containerize Apps →

System Architecture

Design scalable, maintainable systems. Use Claude’s reasoning to make architectural decisions. Design Systems →

Real Success Stories

These lessons aren’t theoretical - they’re based on how teams actually use Claude Code:

Anthropic’s Data Infrastructure Team reduced Kubernetes debugging time from hours to minutes by feeding Claude Code dashboard screenshots and error logs.

A Growth Marketing Team with no coding experience built complex A/B testing infrastructure, going from “I can’t code” to shipping production features.

Security Engineers use Claude Code to synthesize documentation from multiple sources, creating runbooks that reduce incident resolution time by 50%.

Product Designers prototype interactive features in hours instead of waiting weeks for engineering resources, fundamentally changing how design and engineering collaborate.

How to Use These Lessons

For Beginners

Start with Project Initialization to get comfortable with basic commands
Move to Codebase Analysis to learn exploration techniques
Practice with Implementation on a real project
Gradually work through other lessons as needed

For Experienced Developers

Jump directly to advanced topics like Performance or Architecture
Explore Automation to multiply your productivity
Master CI/CD Pipelines for team-wide impact

For Team Leads

Focus on Integrations and CI/CD Pipelines for team productivity
Study Security Audit and Monitoring for production readiness
Use Documentation patterns to maintain knowledge

What Makes These Lessons Special

Real-World Focus: Every lesson addresses actual problems developers face daily, not toy examples.

Progressive Complexity: Start simple, build confidence, then tackle increasingly sophisticated scenarios.

Multi-Language Examples: See patterns in JavaScript/TypeScript, Python, Elixir, PHP, and more.

Production-Ready: Learn not just how to make it work, but how to make it maintainable, secure, and scalable.

Time-Saving Tips: Discover workflows that compress days of work into hours or minutes.

Ready to Transform Your Development Workflow?

Pick a lesson that matches your current challenge and dive in. Each lesson includes:

Clear learning objectives
Step-by-step instructions
Real code examples
Common pitfalls to avoid
Pro tips from power users

Remember: Claude Code isn’t just another tool - it’s a new way of working. These lessons will help you make that paradigm shift from writing every line yourself to orchestrating an AI assistant that amplifies your capabilities.

Start with Project Initialization Begin your Claude Code journey by learning how to bootstrap new projects