AI-Assisted Development Best Practices

AI coding assistants are incredibly powerful, but like any tool, they work best when used correctly. Here are the practices that help me get the most out of Claude Code.

Start with Context

The single biggest improvement you can make is providing context. Don’t just say “fix the bug” - explain what the bug is, where it manifests, and what you’ve already tried.

Less effective:

> Fix the login bug

More effective:

> The login form submits but returns a 401 error. The credentials are correct
> in the database. I think it might be a token issue in src/auth/middleware.ts

The more context, the faster Claude can zero in on the solution.

Use CLAUDE.md Files

Every project should have a CLAUDE.md file in the root. This gives Claude persistent context about:

• Project architecture and conventions
• Important files and their purposes
• Common commands (test, build, deploy)
• Team preferences (styling, naming conventions)

Here’s a minimal example:

# Project: E-commerce API

## Stack
- Node.js + Express
- PostgreSQL with Prisma
- Jest for testing

## Commands
- `npm test` - Run tests
- `npm run build` - TypeScript compile
- `npm run migrate` - Run Prisma migrations

## Conventions
- Use kebab-case for file names
- All API routes in src/routes/
- Prefer async/await over callbacks

Review Every Diff

AI-generated code isn’t perfect. Always review the diffs before confirming changes. Look for:

• Logic errors - Does the code do what you asked?
• Edge cases - Are null checks and error handling present?
• Style consistency - Does it match your codebase?
• Security issues - Any obvious vulnerabilities?

Claude will often ask “Should I make this change?” - take that moment to actually review, don’t just say yes.

Think in Tasks, Not Commands

Instead of treating Claude as a command executor, think of it as a task completer. Give it the goal, let it figure out the steps.

Command-style (less effective):

> Open src/utils.ts
> Find the formatDate function
> Change the format string to YYYY-MM-DD

Task-style (more effective):

> Change the date format throughout the app to YYYY-MM-DD

Claude will search for all date formatting, show you the locations, and make consistent changes.

Let Claude Explore

When debugging, don’t assume you know where the bug is. Let Claude search:

> Users are seeing a blank page after login. Help me find the cause.

Claude will:

1. Search for login-related code
2. Check error handling paths
3. Look for recent changes
4. Identify potential causes

Often it finds issues you wouldn’t have thought to look for.

Break Down Complex Tasks

For large refactors or new features, break the work into phases:

1. Phase 1: Have Claude explain the current implementation
2. Phase 2: Discuss the approach before writing code
3. Phase 3: Implement incrementally, testing between changes
4. Phase 4: Review the complete change

This prevents runaway changes that are hard to review or revert.

Trust But Verify

Claude is good at:

• Finding patterns in code
• Implementing well-known solutions
• Explaining complex code
• Refactoring for readability

Claude is less reliable at:

• Novel algorithmic problems
• Complex business logic
• Security-critical code
• Performance optimization

For the latter categories, use Claude as a starting point and apply extra scrutiny.

Iterate on Prompts

If Claude’s first attempt isn’t right, don’t start over. Build on it:

> That's close, but the error handling should use our custom ApiError class

or

> Good, but can you also add logging for when the cache misses?

Iterative refinement often gets better results than rephrasing from scratch.

Know When to Stop

Sometimes the AI approach isn’t working. Signs to step back:

• Going in circles with the same error
• Claude suggesting increasingly complex solutions
• The diff is larger than you can review

At that point, it’s often faster to write the code yourself or pair with a human colleague.

The Future is Hybrid

The best developers I know treat AI as one tool among many. They:

• Use Claude for exploration and boilerplate
• Write critical logic themselves
• Pair with humans for design decisions
• Run thorough test suites regardless of who wrote the code

AI makes you faster, but it doesn’t replace understanding. Keep learning, keep reviewing, and use AI to amplify your skills rather than replace them.