Project Setup

Initializing Claude Code for Your Project

When you first run Claude Code in a project directory, it operates without any project-specific context. The /init command bootstraps project awareness by analyzing your codebase and generating a CLAUDE.md file that serves as persistent memory.

bashBootstrapping project awareness with /init

cd your-project/
claude

# Bootstrap project awareness
> /init

# Claude will:
# 1. Scan directory structure and key files
# 2. Identify tech stack (languages, frameworks, tools)
# 3. Note architectural patterns and conventions
# 4. Generate CLAUDE.md with structured project summary

ℹ️

What Goes in CLAUDE.md

The generated CLAUDE.md typically includes: project description, tech stack, directory structure overview, key files and their purposes, coding conventions, build/test commands, and any notable architectural decisions.

Customizing Project Configuration

After /init generates the base CLAUDE.md, you should customize it with project-specific instructions that improve Claude's effectiveness. Think of it as an onboarding document -- what would a new developer need to know?

•Always reference critical files: 'Check src/db/schema.prisma before any database changes'
•Document testing conventions: 'Run tests with npm test, use vitest for unit tests'
•Specify coding style: 'Use functional components with hooks, no class components'
•Note deployment: 'Main branch auto-deploys to production via Vercel'
•Flag sensitive areas: 'Never modify src/auth/encryption.ts without security review'

✨

Team Sharing

CLAUDE.md is committed to git, so the entire team benefits from project instructions. Each developer can add personal preferences to .claude/settings.local.json (gitignored) without affecting others.

Key Takeaways

✓Use /init to bootstrap project awareness -- it generates CLAUDE.md from codebase analysis
✓CLAUDE.md acts as persistent memory, included in every request automatically
✓Customize CLAUDE.md with critical file references, conventions, and project-specific rules
✓CLAUDE.md is committed to git so the whole team benefits from shared project instructions
✓Personal preferences go in .claude/settings.local.json (gitignored) to avoid conflicts

Check Your Understanding

Test what you learned in this lesson.

Q1.What does the /init command generate?

Q2.Where should personal Claude Code preferences that shouldn't be shared with the team go?

Q3.Why should you add critical file references to CLAUDE.md?

Practice This Lesson

Claude Code Setup

Adding Context