Claude Code is (actually) easy.
The 12-step roadmap in plain English:
If you're totally new to Claude Code:
Beginner:
lnkd.in/emwZS5yS
Intermediate:
lnkd.in/eG2-Fj6S
Advanced:
lnkd.in/ebC7NbUK
PHASE 1: Context (what Claude knows about you)
Step 0: Install the CLI
One terminal command gets it running:
"npm install -g
@anthropic-ai/claude-code"
Step 1: Projects
- Give Claude its own folder.
- Everything you build stays tied to it.
"I'm creating a new folder for my [project]. Create it for me and set it up so I can start working in it."
Step 2: claude .md
- Claude reads this before every chat.
- Role, voice, defaults. Set once, it sticks.
"Help me build my CLAUDE.md from scratch. Use Boris Cherny's CLAUDE.md as a starting template. Ask me about my business, voice, banned words, output defaults, and how I want you to work. Save the final file to ~/CLAUDE.md."
Step 3: Memory
- Every correction becomes a saved lesson.
- Same mistake never lands twice.
"From now on, whenever I correct you, save it as its own .md file at ~/.claude/projects/{project}/memory/, prefixed feedback_, user_, project_, or reference_. Index everything in MEMORY.md."
PHASE 2: Fire (how you trigger work)
Step 4: Skills
- Wrap a workflow in one keyword.
- Fire it from any chat, any folder, any time.
"Turn this workflow into a skill called /[name]. Set it up so I can fire it from any chat."
Step 5: /commands
Type the name and Claude fires the workflow.
"Save this prompt as a /[name] command. Set it up so I can run it any time."
Step 6: /plan
- Type /plan before starting any task.
- Claude lays out the steps. You approve it.
"/plan I want to [your task in plain English]."
PHASE 3: Extend (wire it to your stack)
Step 7: Hooks
- Auto-run something the moment an event fires.
- You never have to trigger it manually.
"Set up a hook that runs [thing you want] every time I [event]. Wire it up for me."
Step 8: MCP
- Plug Claude into Slack, Notion, Gmail, etc.
- You get live data from the tools you use.
"Connect Claude to [tool]. Set it up for me and walk me through it."
Step 9: Plugins
Install skills, agents, and MCPs in one command.
"/plugin install [plugin-name]"
PHASE 4: Scale (delegate and autopilot)
Step 10: Subagents
- Send out parallel workers.
- Get three jobs done at once.
"Use subagents to handle [task A], [task B] and [task C] in parallel."
Step 11: Agent Teams
- A pipeline of specialist AI agents.
- Each owns one job, hands off to the next.
"Build me an agent team for [process].
Step 12: Routines
- Schedule your agent team on the cloud.
- You set it once, walk away forever.
"/schedule [agent or skill] every [schedule]."
That's Claude Code from zero to autopilot.
12 steps with no coding background needed.
Repost ♻️ to help someone in your network.
P.S. Which step are you stuck on?