Claude Code Cheat Sheet

Install and Start

• Start claude in your project root and avoid your home folder.
• Sign in with a paid Claude plan or an Anthropic Console account.
• Type / for commands and ? for shortcuts.

$ curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh \
    | bash

PS> irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex

$ claude --version
$ claude update

$ cd my-project/
$ claude                      # Interactive
$ claude "explain this repo"  # With prompt
$ claude -n auth-fix          # Named

$ claude -c          # Latest one in this dir
$ claude -r          # Pick from a list
$ claude -r auth-fix "finish the PR"

$ claude --model sonnet
$ claude --effort high
$ claude --permission-mode plan
$ claude --add-dir ../shared-lib
$ claude -w feature-x   # In a git worktree

Walk through a full project in How to Use Claude Code to Write and Debug Python.

Want a guided first session?

Show me where to learn Claude Code basics

Run Claude Code Headless

• -p prints one answer and exits, so it fits scripts and CI.
• --allowedTools pre-approves the tools a script needs.
• --bare skips CLAUDE.md, hooks, skills, and MCP for faster starts.

$ claude -p "explain this function"
$ cat error.log | claude -p "root cause?"
$ claude -c -p "check for type errors"

$ claude -p "summarize this project" \
    --output-format json | jq -r '.result'
$ claude -p "fix the failing test" \
    --allowedTools "Read,Edit,Bash" \
    --max-turns 5

Scripting Claude Code?

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Session Slash Commands

• Type / to list commands, then keep typing to filter.
• Put the command at the start of your message.
• Run /clear when you switch tasks and /compact to keep going.

Background Work

Command	What it does
/tasks	List running shells and agents
/subtask <task>	Hand a task to a forked subagent
/fork [prompt]	Run a copy in the background
/background	Detach the session. Also /bg
/goal [condition]	Keep working until the goal is met
/loop 5m <prompt>	Repeat a prompt on an interval

Not sure which one to use?

Help me choose between /fork, /subtask, and /background

Setup and Review Slash Commands

• Press s in the /model picker to switch for this session only.
• Raise /effort for hard problems, at the cost of more tokens.

Plan and Review

Command	What it does
/init	Draft a CLAUDE.md
/plan [task]	Enter plan mode
/diff	Review the working tree
/code-review --fix	Find and fix bugs
/code-review ultra	Run a deep cloud review
/security-review	Find security issues
/simplify	Clean up the code

Plan first, then edit?

Show me how plan mode fits my workflow

Free Bonus: Download the Claude Code Cheat Sheet PDF and keep the essentials at hand.

More Slash Commands

• Your skills and plugin skills share the same / menu.
• MCP server prompts show up as /server:prompt.

Extend

Command	What it does
/plugin	Browse and install plugins
/reload-skills	Pick up new skills
/workflows	Watch dynamic workflows
/schedule	Set up recurring cloud routines

Want to extend Claude Code?

Show me where to learn about plugins

Keyboard Shortcuts

• On macOS, press Option for Alt. Most of these need Option set as Meta, but Option+T works without it.

Write Your Prompt

Keys	Action
\ Enter, Ctrl+J	New line
Shift+Enter	New line in most terminals
Ctrl+R	Search prompt history
Ctrl+G	Edit prompt in your editor
Ctrl+S	Stash or restore the prompt
Ctrl+V	Paste an image
Cmd+V	Paste an image in iTerm2
Alt+V	Paste an image on Windows or WSL
! at start	Shell mode
@	Mention a file or subagent
?	Show all shortcuts

Curious about @ and !?

Show me what these prompt tricks do

CLAUDE.md and Memory

• CLAUDE.md holds instructions you write. Auto memory holds notes Claude writes.
• All files load together from broad to specific, so remove contradictions.
• Since v2.1.277, AGENTS.md loads when a repo has no CLAUDE.md.

Where CLAUDE.md Files Live

File	Scope
~/.claude/CLAUDE.md	You, in every project
./CLAUDE.md	Your team. Commit it
./CLAUDE.local.md	You, in this project
sub/CLAUDE.md	Loads on demand

Language: Markdown Text Filename: Import Files

# Project Notes
See @README.md for an overview.
- Testing: @docs/testing.md
- Mine: @~/.claude/my-notes.md

Language: Markdown Text Filename: Scope a Rule in .claude/rules/api.md

---
paths:
  - "src/api/**/*.py"
---
- Validate every request body

Set up global, project, and local files in How to Write a CLAUDE.md File for Claude Code.

Starting a CLAUDE.md?

Help me write my first CLAUDE.md

Permissions and Modes

• Shift+Tab cycles default, acceptEdits, and plan, plus auto when it’s available.
• Since v2.1.283, most terminal and VS Code sessions start in auto.
• The UI labels default mode as Manual.
• Rules check deny, then ask, then allow. The first match wins.
• Deny rules hold in every mode, even bypassPermissions.

{
  "permissions": {
    "allow": ["Bash(uv run pytest *)"],
    "ask": ["Bash(git push *)"],
    "deny": ["Read(./.env)"]
  }
}

Still fuzzy on permission rules?

Explain permission rules another way

Settings Files

• Managed settings win, followed by --settings, local, project, and user.
• List keys like permissions.allow merge across files.
• Settings files are strict JSON with no comments or trailing commas.
• /status shows which files loaded.

Where Settings Live

File	Scope
~/.claude/settings.json	User
.claude/settings.json	Project, shared
.claude/settings.local.json	Project, just you

Two files, one key?

Show me what happens when settings conflict

Hooks

• Hooks run your commands at fixed points in Claude’s loop.
• Exit code 2 from PreToolUse blocks the tool call.
• /hooks shows what’s registered.

Key Events

Event	When it runs
SessionStart	Session begins or resumes
UserPromptSubmit	Before Claude sees your prompt
PreToolUse	Before a tool runs. Can block it
PostToolUse	After a tool succeeds
Notification	Claude needs your input
Stop	Claude finished replying

Language: JSON Filename: Format After Every Edit

{
  "hooks": {
    "PostToolUse": [{
      "matcher": "Edit|Write",
      "hooks": [{
        "type": "command",
        "command": "ruff format ."
      }]
    }]
  }
}

Go deeper with these hooks resources:

• How to Automate Your Workflow With Claude Code Hooks
• Claude Code Hooks Cheat Sheet

Wondering how the matcher works?

Show me what this hook does on every edit

Skills

• A folder with a SKILL.md becomes a /name command.
• Claude also loads a skill when its description fits the task.
• disable-model-invocation: true makes a skill manual-only.
• Old .claude/commands/*.md files still work.

Where Skills Live

File	Scope
~/.claude/skills/<name>/SKILL.md	You
.claude/skills/<name>/SKILL.md	Project

Language: Markdown Text Filename: A Minimal SKILL.md

---
name: docstring-doctor
description: >-
  Writes Google-style Python docstrings.
  Use when asked to document code.
---
Open with a one-line summary...

Claude follows the instructions below the frontmatter each time the skill runs.

Think you’ve got skills down?

Quiz me on skills

Subagents

• A subagent works in its own context and reports back.
• Built-in subagents include Explore, which searches without editing, and Plan.
• Claude can write one for you, or you can add a file to .claude/agents/.

---
name: code-reviewer
description: Reviews code for quality
tools: Read, Glob, Grep
model: sonnet
---
You are a code reviewer...

$ claude --agent code-reviewer

@agent-code-reviewer check my changes

Skill or subagent?

Help me choose between a skill and a subagent

MCP Servers

• MCP connects Claude Code to outside tools and data.
• Scopes are local, project, and user, with local as the default.
• Project scope saves servers to a shared .mcp.json file.
• For stdio servers, -- comes before the server command.
• Connect databases with a read-only user.

$ claude mcp add --transport http \
    notion https://mcp.notion.com/mcp
$ claude mcp add --transport stdio \
    --scope project db \
    -- npx -y @bytebase/dbhub \
    --dsn "postgresql://readonly:pw@host/db"

$ claude mcp list
$ claude mcp get notion
$ claude mcp remove notion

Want to go deeper on MCP?

Show me where to learn more about MCP

Everyday Workflow

• Switch to plan mode with Shift+Tab before big changes.
• Review every diff and commit between tasks.
• Run /branch before a risky experiment.
• /rewind restores Claude’s file edits but not changes from shell commands.

A Typical Loop

Command	What it does
/init	Once per project
/plan add a CLI	Agree on a plan
/diff	Review the edits
/code-review --fix	Catch bugs early
/clear	Start the next task

Ready to test yourself?

Quiz me on the everyday workflow

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You can download this information as a printable cheat sheet:

Free Bonus: Claude Code Cheat Sheet

Get a Claude Code Cheat Sheet (PDF) with slash commands, shortcuts, CLI flags, CLAUDE.md, permissions, hooks, skills, subagents, and MCP on two printable pages:

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