First Conversation

This guide walks you through your first conversation with Claude Code.

Starting a Session

Navigate to your project directory and start Claude Code:

cd /path/to/your/project
claude

Understanding the Interface

You’ll see the welcome screen with:

• Session information
• Recent conversations
• Latest updates and tips

Type /help to see available commands.

Your First Prompt

Start by understanding your codebase:

> What does this project do?

Claude will analyze your files and provide a summary.

Common First Questions

> What technologies does this project use?

> Where is the main entry point?

> Explain the folder structure

Making Your First Edit

Ask Claude to make a simple change:

> Add a hello world function to the main file

Claude will:

1. Find the appropriate file
2. Show proposed changes
3. Ask for your approval
4. Execute the edit

Using Git

> What files have I changed?

> Commit my changes with a descriptive message

Ending a Session

Type exit or press Ctrl+C to end the session.

Tips

• Be specific: Instead of “fix the bug”, try “fix the login bug where users see a blank screen”
• Break down tasks: Handle complex tasks in steps
• Let Claude explore first: Ask Claude to analyze before making changes