Advanced Techniques in Claude Code
These techniques separate good results from exceptional ones. All of them work directly in the Claude Code chat panel in VS Code — no code required.
Chain of Thought
Add "Think step by step before answering" to any complex request. Claude reasons through the problem out loud, which surfaces assumptions you can catch and correct before the final output appears.
Iterative Refinement
Treat the conversation as a drafting loop. After Claude's first response, follow up: "Make it 20% shorter." "Remove all passive voice." "Add a specific example." Each turn tightens the result.
Task Decomposition
Break large tasks into steps across messages: "Step 1: list the issues in @report.md." Review, then: "Step 2: draft fixes for the top 3." Errors in step 1 don't corrupt step 2.
Custom Instructions
VS Code's Claude Code supports a CLAUDE.md file at the root of your project. Put standing instructions here — tone, conventions, banned phrases — so every session starts with the right context automatically.
Using CLAUDE.md for Standing Instructions
# ThreadCo — Claude Standing Instructions
## Brand Voice
- Friendly, direct, slightly playful. Never corporate.
- Sustainability is a feature, not a badge. Mention it naturally.
- Forbidden words: vibrant, perfect, stylish, must-have, luxurious
- No exclamation marks in product copy.
## Code Conventions
- TypeScript everywhere. Prefer `const` over `let`.
- All async functions must handle errors explicitly.
- Test files live in __tests__/ next to the source file.
## Review Checklist
When reviewing any pull request, always check:
1. Does it have tests?
2. Are error states handled?
3. Does the UI copy match the brand voice above?
Refinement Loop in Practice
| Turn | What you type | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Write a product description for the Sunset Gradient Tee (@sunset-tee.md) | First draft — correct but generic |
| 2 | Good start. Make it exactly 2 sentences. Cut any adjectives that don't describe a physical property. | Tighter, more concrete |
| 3 | The second sentence is too functional. Rewrite it to evoke the feeling of wearing it, not just the spec. | Sensory, brand-authentic |
| 4 | Perfect. Now apply the same approach to @midnight-tee.md and @wave-crop.md. | Batch — Claude uses the refined style as the implicit example |
Claude Code has built-in slash commands: /clear resets the conversation, /compact summarises history to free up context, /review triggers a code review on the current file. Type / in the chat panel to see all available commands.
CLAUDE.md is the standing-instructions file for Claude Code in VS Code. If you also use Windsurf, that IDE uses a separate file called .windsurfrules — same concept, different tool, different filename. Do not confuse them or use one in place of the other.