Core Commands & Workflows
What you will learn
- Use slash commands to control Claude Code behavior efficiently
- Apply the 'describe the outcome, not the steps' prompting approach for coding tasks
- Use Claude Code for code review, refactoring, and debugging workflows
- Chain multiple tasks together in a single session
# Core Commands & Workflows
Now that Claude Code is installed, let's learn the workflows that make you genuinely faster — not just doing the same work with extra steps.
Essential Slash Commands
Claude Code has built-in slash commands that control its behavior:
| Command | What it does |
|---------|-------------|
| /help | Show all available commands |
| /clear | Clear conversation history and start fresh |
| /compact | Summarize the conversation to free up context window |
| /cost | Show token usage and estimated cost for the session |
| /init | Generate a CLAUDE.md file for the current project |
Pro tip: Use /compact when you have been working for a while and Claude Code seems to "forget" earlier context. It summarizes everything into a compressed form so you can keep going without starting over.
The Golden Rule: Describe Outcomes, Not Steps
Most people prompt Claude Code like they are writing instructions for an intern:
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What you'll learn:
- Use slash commands to control Claude Code behavior efficiently
- Apply the 'describe the outcome, not the steps' prompting approach for coding tasks
- Use Claude Code for code review, refactoring, and debugging workflows