creation.
164That’s why1 it matters in a world where speed wins markets.
Claude Code for Productivity Workflow I first tried it in May 2025. It wasn’t that accurate and pleasant, but it was
Normalizing the use of no UI and a terminal-based tool.
intuitive. It helped me in my learning. And later it became my daily driver.
NILESH BARLA
AUG 18, 2025 As a brief history, the tool started as an internal gem at Anthropic. Engineers
there used diverse setups like VS Code or Vim. They picked the terminal
because it fits anywhere, and engineers usually use the terminal to run
scripts, create files, and whatnot. It is a common demonitor. No new apps
needed.
Boris, the creator, shared how this choice sparked fast updates. Simple design
drove quick improvements.
So, what is Claude Code?
Claude Code is a command-line AI
AI. It embeds Claude Opus 4.1, Claude
Sonnet 4, and Haiku in your terminal. It scans codebases with agentic search.
Maps structures in seconds. Edits files. Runs commands. Handles git flows.
I have been using Claude Code for my research, coding, prototyping, and
learning codebases.
It saves hours on routine tasks, letting me focus on research, learning, and
contexts, now up to 1 million tokens with Sonnet 4 and for queries that don’t
require thinking it uses Haiku. Features like custom subagents add power.
Total cost: $0.4416
Total duration (API): 1m 39.6s
Total duration (wall): 52m 12.8s
Total code changes: 0 lines added, 0 lines removed
Usage by model:
claude-sonnet: 52 input, 2.1k output, 386.5k cache read,
78.3k cache write
claude-3-5-haiku: 414 input, 53 output, 0 cache read, 0
cache write
It turns ideas into working code fast, without switching tools.
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My Experience Using Claude Code
Let me walk you through my research workflow and how I use it.
Source: Claude Code
So let’s say that I want to learn a new topic in RL. And I found this repo to fit
In the AI tools space, it stands out. GitHub Copilot lives in IDEs for my needs. I would simply clone this repo and open Claude Code in this
directory.
suggestions. Claude Code acts autonomously in terminals. It processes huge
Once opened, I can ask anything about the repo. For example `> can you
give the structure of the reinforcement learning master
folder?`
Then I can ask it to `Explore the DP directory? I want to know and
study what’s in that directory.`
understand.`
In such a case, Claude Code will create a to-do list of things that it wants to
achieve.
You can see the entire process, and if it’s ready, it will prompt you to decide
whether to take the next step.
Once it successfully ticks off all the Todos, it creates the Notebook for you.
In my experience, it is very reflective. I know what is happening and if I want
to take a step further. As a researcher, it perfectly fits into my workflow.
I can even monitor my API usage.
I can even ask it to `Implement Dynamic Programming algorithms in a
new notebook? Ensure that it is simple and easy to I can spin up different Claude Code and work in parallel in the same codebase
It is fast. It helps me to explore ideas and find solutions that might fit my state and doesn’t disturb/change the existing codebase.
needs.
Agentic coding sits at the core of Claude Code. It reads queries/prompts.
It lets you be a part of the process by constantly inviting you to add your ideas
Gathers context via Bash. Makes changes. Some of the supporting features
or stop or resume the process. build on Claude Code,
It is intuitive as well. Universal fit works in any terminal or IDE like VS Code.
GitHub integration lets me `@Claude` on issues for auto-fixes.
Key Features Advanced models like Opus 4 one-shot tests perfectly.
Then we have Claude.md files. It groups instructions logically.
Claude Code boosts my output tenfold. It turns research into learning and
exploration. That’s why its agentic nature matters most in fast-paced
workflow.
I saw this firsthand when I was trying to implement Reinforcement Learning
with Verifiable Rewards or RLVR in my codebase. The tool scanned my
codebase alone. It planned steps. Then executed edits across files. Unlike
GitHub Copilot's inline hints, Claude acts independently. No constant tweaks
needed.
All it asked was if I needed to implement the changes in the existing codebase
(like the one shown before).
Source: Manage Claude's memory
Also, if I need to, I can interrupt the scanning or thinking process and later ask
it to continue from where I left off. Because it writes the code in a temporary
Root (/Library/Application/Support/ClaudeCode/Claude.md) for repo
rules.
Global (~/.claude/Claude.md) for all projects.
Use # to add memory details on the fly.
Why terminal?
Technically, the terminal choice enables rapid iteration. A simple interface
means quick updates. Anthropic engineers iterated fast on diverse stacks.
That's a monopoly edge over bloated alternatives.
Try testing it on a small task. Maybe just download an existing repo and
prompt it to “Explain the repo”, “create a comprehensive outline of the repo
and stack used”, etc.
Installation and Setup
Proper setup ensures Claude Code integrates reliably. That’s why precise
installation matters for consistent results.
I observed that Node.js is the core requirement. Many developers have it. Type `claude` and prompt: "Describe your version." It responds with
Without it, setup fails outright. details if set up correctly.
Prerequisites focus on the basics. Refer to official docs for updates.
Node.js (version 18 or higher recommended, tested on 20.x).
Supported OS: macOS 10.15+, Ubuntu 20.04+, Debian 10+, or Windows 10+ Usage and Examples
with WSL or Git Bash.
Claude Code sparks ideas into reality. It accelerates product cycles like
At least 4GB RAM for smooth operation.
nothing else. That's why its usage drives true leverage in development.
Anthropic API key from their dashboard.
I found it shines in quick tweaks. Say you want to improve a feature’s logic.
Step-by-step keeps it straightforward. Prompt it simply. It rethinks the core, suggests refinements. Suddenly, your
prototype evolves without hours lost.
Open your terminal.
Install globally: npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code For deeper flows, I used it to streamline team reviews. Describe a product
gap in an issue. It outlines fixes, drafts updates. This cut our iteration time
Navigate to your project directory where you want to run Claude Code.
in half during a recent sprint.
Run: claude to start Claude Code.
Think about your next prototype. How much faster could you validate
Go through the basic setup steps and you are ready to go.
assumptions? Envision turning vague concepts into testable builds
Common pitfalls include outdated Node.js, causing install errors. Update withovernight.
nvm or official installers. Check compatibility in diverse terminals like iTerm2Pro tip: Layer in ongoing notes via memory. Tell it to recall past decisions.
or VS Code. It keeps your vision consistent across sessions.
Verification confirms success. With tools like Claude Code, you can create faster prototypes, which means
quicker market tests. Start prompting today. Reflect on one product idea.Older
See models demanded repeats to steer right. Newer ones like Opus 4 fix
where it leads. that mostly.
Yet intuitions reset with each upgrade. I retest assumptions per release.
Limitations and Potential Drawbacks Track changes in docs. Adjust prompts accordingly. Stay ahead.
Claude Code has several limitations as well.
Cost hits hardest for heavy users. I burned through $150 in a month on
My Learnings
prototypes. It adds up when scaling products. I share my experience from a research perspective, but it does fit into almost
any workflow. I am eager to share more thoroughly from the product
This matters in solo ventures or startups. Budgets tighten. You hesitate on
perspective as well, where you can provide a screenshot to Claude Code, and
deep dives.
it will write the code.
Switch to Claude Max. It caps worries with unlimited access. I did, and
usage soared without fear. Yes, Claude Code is a multimodal terminal.
Complex tasks falter next. The tool stumbles on intricate data models. It can't
It is extremely versatile, fun, and responsive. But only if you write the prompt
always be one-shot interactions between components. with great detail. After all, it is built on top of language models. So prompt
engineering is the key.
I saw this in a multi-system refactor. Claude got stuck midway. Code
needed tweaks. Instructions that you often repeat can be stored in the memory folder. This
aligns the model with your thinking, purpose, and goals. And also, some things
Problems arise in large codebases or novel architectures. Prompts alone
fall short. I felt were prone to context overload, especially when it tries to refactor the
entire notebook.
Start with plans. Ask for outlines first. I add context by letting it read files
upfront. Then intervene manually for the final polish. So, working with a proper plan, phases, and chunks is what I recommend.
