Claude Code Study Plan (~5 Hours)

A 5-hour study plan for CS undergrads with Python experience transitioning from GitHub Copilot to Claude Code.

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Hour 1 — Setup & Core Concepts (60 min)

Goal: Get oriented, understand the mental model

• Install & authenticate (15 min)
  • npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code
  • Run claude and authenticate
• Read the docs overview (20 min)
  • How Claude Code differs from Copilot: it's agentic, not just autocomplete
  • It reads, edits, runs commands, and reasons across your whole codebase
• Try basic prompts in this repo (25 min)
  • Ask it to create a simple Python file
  • Ask it to explain the file it just created
  • Ask it to add a function to that file

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Hour 2 — File & Codebase Operations (60 min)

Goal: Learn how Claude Code navigates and edits code

• Key tools to understand (20 min)
  • Read, Write, Edit — how it reads before editing
  • Glob — finds files by pattern
  • Grep — searches file contents
• Hands-on exercise (40 min)
  • Create a small Python project (e.g., a todo list CLI)
  • Ask Claude Code to: add a feature, fix a bug you intentionally introduce, refactor a function
  • Watch how it reasons — read the tool calls it makes

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Hour 3 — Agentic Features & Tasks (60 min)

Goal: Use Claude Code for multi-step autonomous work

• Learn about the Task/subagent system (15 min)
  • Claude Code can spin up specialized subagents (Bash, Explore, Plan, etc.)
• Try Plan Mode (20 min)
  • Ask: "Add user authentication to my todo app"
  • See how it enters plan mode, asks clarifying questions, then executes
• Task tracking (25 min)
  • Ask Claude Code to break a large feature into tasks and track them
  • Notice how it marks tasks in_progress → completed

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Hour 4 — Customization & Power Features (60 min)

Goal: Make Claude Code work your way

• CLAUDE.md (20 min)
  • Create a CLAUDE.md in your project — this gives Claude persistent instructions
  • Example: preferred language style, test framework, "never auto-commit"
• Slash commands / Skills (15 min)
  • Try /commit — it writes a git commit message for you
  • Try /help to see what's available
• Hooks (25 min)
  • Learn how hooks let you run shell commands on events (e.g., auto-format on file save)
  • Set up a simple hook in ~/.claude/settings.json

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Hour 5 — Real Project + Comparison (60 min)

Goal: Solidify learning by building something real

• Mini project (40 min)
  • Start a small Flask or FastAPI app from scratch using only Claude Code prompts
  • Practice: describe what you want in plain English, review what it does, iterate
• Reflection: Claude Code vs Copilot (20 min)

	GitHub Copilot	Claude Code
Style	Inline autocomplete	Conversational + agentic
Scope	Current file	Whole codebase
Actions	Suggests code	Reads, writes, runs commands
Best for	Typing faster	Complex, multi-step tasks

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Key Resources

• Docs: claude.ai/code
• Try: claude --help in terminal anytime
• Use this repo as your practice sandbox

Tip: The fastest way to learn is to narrate what you want in full sentences. Claude Code rewards clear, descriptive prompts more than short autocomplete-style ones.