AI Assisted Development
That Actually Works
Ever notice the more you let it think for you, the worse the results get? This is how you fix that.
Context Is Everything
The model gives you what it thinks is most likely correct based on your input. Vague in, vague out. Precise in, precise out.
Every message you send, the entire conversation history gets sent again. No memory between sessions. No persistent understanding of your project. It's like explaining your codebase to a new contractor every time you need something done.
When conversations get long and messy, output quality tanks. Failed attempts, contradictory instructions, abandoned approaches — all of it stays in context, confusing the model. The fix is counterintuitive: start fresh more often. A clean session with focused context beats a long thread where you've been iterating for hours.
The rule
If you're fighting the model, the problem is almost always upstream. Check your context.
Planning Mode
Hit shift + tab twice in Claude Code to enter Plan Mode. No file edits, no commands, no changes until you approve. The model thinks before acting.
The real power: Claude asks clarifying questions before proposing anything. Instead of assuming and going down the wrong path, it interviews you about ambiguous requirements.
Answer the questions. Let it build the plan. Then execute in the same session — the shared understanding is valuable.
Enter Plan Mode with a minimal prompt
"Add user authentication to the API" is enough. Don't over-specify upfront.
Answer the clarifying questions
Claude asks about architecture, tradeoffs, edge cases. Each question has options based on your codebase.
Review the plan, then execute
Keep the same session. Claude understands the decisions you made together.
Clear context for review
After development, use /clear and have a fresh agent review the work. Fresh eyes catch what tired eyes miss.
Tool Use
Claude Code can do more than edit files. MCPs (Model Context Protocol servers) connect it to external tools — browsers, databases, APIs.
Example: Chrome DevTools MCP lets Claude see what its code actually looks like in the browser. It can take screenshots, check console errors, inspect elements. Instead of coding blind, it can verify its own work visually.
The pattern applies broadly. If there's a tool that would help, there's probably an MCP for it. Check what's available, add what's useful.
Set it up onceProject Configuration
Stop repeating yourself. Set up your project once and let Claude remember the patterns.
CLAUDE.md
A markdown file in your project root that Claude reads automatically. Put your conventions here — tech stack, file structure, coding standards, things to avoid. Write it once, reference it forever.
Skills
Skills are the new thing. Folders with instructions that activate automatically based on context. Ask Claude to write Vue tests and it loads your Vue testing conventions without you asking.
Learn these before you go deep on MCPs. They're easier to set up, more powerful for most tasks, and way more context-efficient — they only load when relevant instead of sitting there consuming tokens constantly. MCPs still have their place for live external data, but Skills handle the majority of what you actually need.
Key commands
/context
See how your context window is filling up
/clear
Start fresh. Better than /compact.
/rewind
Undo mistakes, restore files
/model
Stick with Opus 4.5 unless you hit limits
Find Your Workflow
Everything here is a starting point. Some people use Plan Mode for everything. Others only for multi-file changes. Some teams have elaborate CLAUDE.md files. Others keep it minimal.
There's no correct answer. Experiment. Notice what wastes your time. Adjust. The developers getting the best results aren't following a prescribed method — they've built workflows that fit how they actually work.
The model is a tool. Learn to use it properly.