Working With AI Tools•Working With AI Tools•16 min lesson

Claude Code — Goals, Loops, Memory, and Terminal Agents

Use Claude Code as a repo-aware terminal agent: set goals, manage memory, choose models deliberately, verify work, and keep loops bounded.

Read the matching lesson

ai-toolsclaude-codeterminalanthropicgoalsloopsagent-workflow

Copy-ready prompt

"I'm using Claude Code on this project.
First, read the codebase and summarize:
1. what the app does
2. how the architecture is organized
3. the risky areas to avoid touching casually

Then propose a `CLAUDE.md` file and a safe goal for this change: [describe change].
Include:
- outcome
- scope
- expected files
- tools or commands needed
- verification
- stop condition
- rollback or checkpoint plan

Do not modify [list protected areas] without asking first.
Use loops only for bounded verification, not open-ended improvement.
Include the verification command or browser check you will use before saying the task is done."

Prompt FAQ

Questions to answer before you paste it

When should I use the Claude Code — Goals, Loops, Memory, and Terminal Agents prompt?

Use Claude Code as a repo-aware terminal agent: set goals, manage memory, choose models deliberately, verify work, and keep loops bounded. Use it when you need a safer starting point than a blank prompt and you want the agent to stay inside explicit constraints.

Should I paste this prompt exactly as written?

No. Treat it as a safe starter. Replace the task, files, constraints, and verification details with your actual context before you run it.

What should I do after the agent answers?

Read the diff, run the checks, and stop after one reviewable step. If you need deeper context, open the lesson that explains the reasoning behind the prompt.

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