Claude Code Cheatsheet

1 printable page - Daily essentials for maximum productivity

Author: Florian BRUNIAUX | Founding Engineer @Méthode Aristote

Written with: Claude (Anthropic)

Version: 3.23.4 | Last Updated: February 2026

Essential Commands

Command	Action
`/help`	Contextual help
`/clear`	Reset conversation
`/compact`	Free up context
`/status`	Session state + context usage
`/context`	Detailed token breakdown
`/plan`	Enter Plan Mode (no changes)
`/execute`	Exit Plan Mode (apply changes)
`/model`	Switch model (sonnet/opus/opusplan)
`/insights`	Usage analytics + optimization report
`/teleport`	Teleport session from web
`/tasks`	Monitor background tasks
`/remote-env`	Configure cloud environment
`/exit`	Quit (or Ctrl+D)

Keyboard Shortcuts

Shortcut	Action
`Shift+Tab`	Cycle permission modes
`Esc` × 2	Rewind (undo)
`Ctrl+C`	Interrupt
`Ctrl+R`	Search command history
`Ctrl+L`	Clear screen (keeps context)
`Tab`	Autocomplete
`Shift+Enter`	New line
`Ctrl+B`	Background tasks
`Ctrl+D`	Exit

File References

@path/to/file.ts    → Reference a file
@agent-name         → Call an agent
!shell-command      → Run shell command

IDE	Shortcut
VS Code	`Alt+K`
JetBrains	`Cmd+Option+K`

Features Méconnues (But Official!)

Feature	Since	What It Does
Tasks API	v2.1.16	Persistent task lists with dependencies
Background Agents	v2.0.60	Sub-agents work while you code
TeammateTool	Experimental	Multi-agent coordination (unstable)
Session Forking	v2.1.19	Rewind + create parallel timeline
LSP Tool	v2.0.74	Code intelligence (go-to-def, refs)

Pro tip: These aren't "secrets"—they're in the CHANGELOG. Read it!

Permission Modes

Mode	Editing	Execution
Default	Asks	Asks
Auto-accept	Auto	Asks
Plan Mode	❌	❌

Shift+Tab to switch modes

Memory & Settings (2 levels)

Level	macOS/Linux	Windows	Scope	Git
Project	`.claude/`	`.claude\`	Team	✅
Personal	`~/.claude/`	`%USERPROFILE%\.claude\`	You (all projects)	❌

Priority: Project overrides Personal

File	Where	Usage
`CLAUDE.md`	Project root	Team memory (instructions)
`settings.json`	`.claude/`	Team settings (hooks)
`settings.local.json`	`.claude/`	Your setting overrides
`CLAUDE.md`	`~/.claude/` (Win: `%USERPROFILE%\.claude\`)	Personal memory

.claude/ Folder Structure

.claude/
├── CLAUDE.md           # Local memory (gitignored)
├── settings.json       # Hooks (committed)
├── settings.local.json # Permissions (not committed)
├── agents/             # Custom agents
├── commands/           # Slash commands
├── hooks/              # Event scripts
├── rules/              # Auto-loaded rules
└── skills/             # Knowledge modules

Typical Workflow

1. Start session      → claude
2. Check context      → /status
3. Plan Mode          → Shift+Tab × 2 (for complex tasks)
4. Describe task      → Clear, specific prompt
5. Review changes     → Always read the diff!
6. Accept/Reject      → y/n
7. Verify             → Run tests
8. Commit             → When task complete
9. /compact           → When context >70%

Context Management (CRITICAL)

Statusline

Model: Sonnet | Ctx: 89.5k | Cost: $2.11 | Ctx(u): 56.0%

Watch Ctx(u): → >70% = /compact, >85% = /clear

Enhanced statusline (ccstatusline): Add to ~/.claude/settings.json:

{ "statusLine": { "type": "command", "command": "npx -y ccstatusline@latest", "padding": 0 } }

Context Thresholds

Context %	Status	Action
0-50%	Green	Work freely
50-70%	Yellow	Be selective
70-90%	Orange	`/compact` now
90%+	Red	`/clear` required

Actions by Symptom

Sign	Action
Short responses	`/compact`
Frequent forgetting	`/clear`
>70% context	`/compact`
Task complete	`/clear`

Context Recovery Commands

Command	Usage
`/compact`	Summarize and free context
`/clear`	Fresh start
`/rewind`	Undo recent changes
`claude -c`	Resume last session (CLI flag)
`claude -r <id>`	Resume specific session (CLI flag)

Under the Hood (Quick Facts)

Concept	Key Point
Master Loop	Simple `while(tool_call)` — no DAGs, no classifiers
Tools	8 core: Bash, Read, Edit, Write, Grep, Glob, Task, TodoWrite
Context	~200K tokens, auto-compacts at 75-92%
Sub-agents	Isolated context, max depth=1
Philosophy	"Less scaffolding, more model" — trust Claude's reasoning

Deep dive: Architecture & Internals

Plan Mode & Thinking

Feature	Activation	Usage
Plan Mode	`Shift+Tab × 2` or `/plan`	Explore without modifying
OpusPlan	`/model opusplan`	Opus for planning, Sonnet for execution

⚠️ Opus 4.5+ Change: Thinking mode is now ON by default at max budget. Keywords like "ultrathink" are cosmetic only.

Control	Action	Persistence
Alt+T	Toggle thinking on/off	Session
/config	Enable/disable globally	Permanent

Cost tip: For simple tasks, Alt+T to disable thinking → faster & cheaper.

OpusPlan workflow: /model opusplan → Shift+Tab × 2 (plan with Opus) → Shift+Tab (execute with Sonnet)

Required for: features >3 files, architecture, complex debugging

Dynamic Model Switching (Mid-Session)

Pattern: Start Sonnet (speed) → swap Opus (complexity) → back Sonnet

Workflow:

# Session start (default Sonnet)
claude

# Complex feature encountered
> "Implement OAuth2 flow with PKCE"
/model opus                    # Switch to deep reasoning

# Feature complete, back to routine
/model sonnet                  # Speed + cost optimization

Best Practices:

✅ Swap on task boundaries, not mid-task
✅ Use Opus for: architecture decisions, complex debugging, security-critical code
✅ Use Sonnet for: routine edits, refactoring, test writing
✅ Use Haiku for: simple fixes, typos, validation checks
❌ Don't swap mid-implementation (context loss)

Cost Impact:

Model	Input	Output	Use Case
Opus	$15/MTok	$75/MTok	Complex reasoning (10-20% of tasks)
Sonnet	$3/MTok	$15/MTok	Most development (70-80% of tasks)
Haiku	$0.25/MTok	$1.25/MTok	Simple validation (5-10% of tasks)

Dynamic switching optimizes cost while maintaining quality on complex tasks.

Source: Gur Sannikov embedded engineering workflow

MCP Servers

Server	Purpose
Serena	Indexation + session memory + symbol search
grepai	Semantic search + call graph analysis
Context7	Library documentation
Sequential	Structured reasoning
Playwright	Browser automation
Postgres	Database queries
doobidoo	Semantic memory + multi-client + Knowledge Graph

Serena memory: write_memory() / read_memory() / list_memories()

Serena indexation:

# Initial index
uvx --from git+https://github.com/oraios/serena serena project index

# Force rebuild
serena project index --force-full

# Incremental update (faster)
serena project index --incremental --parallel 4

Check status: /mcp

Creating Custom Components

Agent (`.claude/agents/my-agent.md`)

---
name: my-agent
description: Use when [trigger]
model: sonnet
tools: Read, Write, Edit, Bash
---
# Instructions here

Command (`.claude/commands/my-command.md`)

# Command Name
Instructions for what to do...
$ARGUMENTS[0] $ARGUMENTS[1] (or $0 $1) - user args

Hook (macOS/Linux: `.sh` | Windows: `.ps1`)

Bash (macOS/Linux):

#!/bin/bash
INPUT=$(cat)
# Process JSON input
exit 0  # 0=continue, 2=block

PowerShell (Windows):

$input = [Console]::In.ReadToEnd() | ConvertFrom-Json
# Process JSON input
exit 0  # 0=continue, 2=block

Anti-patterns

❌ Don't	✅ Do
Vague prompts	Specify file + line with @references
Accept without reading	Read every diff
Ignore warnings	Use `/compact` at 70%
Skip permissions	Never in production
Negative constraints only	Provide alternatives

Quick Prompting Formula

WHAT: [Concrete deliverable]
WHERE: [File paths]
HOW: [Constraints, approach]
VERIFY: [Success criteria]

Example:

Add input validation to the login form.
WHERE: src/components/LoginForm.tsx
HOW: Use Zod schema, show inline errors
VERIFY: Empty email shows error, invalid format shows error

CLI Flags Quick Reference

Flag	Usage
`-p "query"`	Non-interactive mode (CI/CD)
`-c` / `--continue`	Continue last session
`-r` / `--resume <id>`	Resume specific session
`--teleport`	Teleport session from web
`--model sonnet`	Change model
`--add-dir ../lib`	Allow access outside CWD
`--permission-mode plan`	Plan mode
`--dangerously-skip-permissions`	Auto-accept (use carefully)
`--debug`	Debug output
`--mcp-debug`	Debug MCP servers
`--allowedTools "Edit,Read"`	Whitelist tools

Debug Commands

claude --version     # Version
claude update        # Check/install updates
claude doctor        # Diagnostic
claude --debug       # Verbose mode
claude --mcp-debug   # Debug MCPs
/mcp                 # MCP status (inside Claude)

CI/CD Mode (Headless)

# Non-interactive execution
claude -p "analyze this file" src/api.ts

# JSON output
claude -p "review" --output-format json

# Economic model
claude -p "lint" --model haiku

# With auto-accept
claude -p "fix typos" --dangerously-skip-permissions

Task Management (v2.1.16+)

Two systems available:

System	When to Use	Persistence
Tasks API (v2.1.16+)	Multi-session projects, dependencies	✅ Disk (`~/.claude/tasks/`)
TodoWrite (Legacy)	Simple single-session	❌ Session only

Tasks API Commands

# Enable persistence across sessions
export CLAUDE_CODE_TASK_LIST_ID="project-name"
claude

# Inside Claude: Create task hierarchy
> "Create tasks for auth system with dependencies"

# Resume later (new session)
export CLAUDE_CODE_TASK_LIST_ID="project-name"
claude
> "TaskList to see current state"

Key capabilities:

📁 Persistent: Survives session end, context compaction
🔗 Dependencies: Task A blocks Task B
🔄 Multi-session: Broadcast state to multiple terminals
📊 Status: pending → in_progress → completed/failed

⚠️ Limitation: TaskList shows id, subject, status, blockedBy only. For description/metadata → use TaskGet(taskId) per task.

Tip: Store key info in subject for quick scanning.

Migration flag (v2.1.19+):

# Revert to old TodoWrite system
CLAUDE_CODE_ENABLE_TASKS=false claude

→ Full workflow: guide/workflows/task-management.md

The Golden Rules

Always review diffs before accepting
Use /compact before context gets critical (>70%)
Be specific in requests (WHAT, WHERE, HOW, VERIFY)
Plan Mode first for complex/risky tasks
Create CLAUDE.md for every project
Commit frequently after each completed task
Know what's sent — prompts, files, MCP results → Anthropic (opt-out training)

Quick Decision Tree

Simple task       → Just ask Claude
Complex task      → Tasks API to plan first
Risky change      → Plan Mode first
Repeating task    → Create agent or command
Context full      → /compact or /clear
Need docs         → Use Context7 MCP
Deep analysis     → Use Opus (thinking on by default)

Common Issues Quick Fix

Problem	Solution
"Command not found"	Check PATH, reinstall npm global
Context too high (>70%)	`/compact` immediately
Slow responses	`/compact` or `/clear`
MCP not working	`claude mcp list`, check config
Permission denied	Check `settings.local.json`
Hook blocking	Check hook exit code, review logic

Health Check Script (save & run):

# macOS/Linux
which claude && claude doctor && claude mcp list

# Windows PowerShell
where.exe claude; claude doctor; claude mcp list

Cost Optimization

Model	Use For	Cost
Haiku	Simple fixes, reviews	$
Sonnet	Most development	$$
Opus	Architecture, complex bugs	$$$
OpusPlan	Plan (Opus) + Execute (Sonnet)	$$

Tip: Use --add-dir to allow tool access to directories outside your current working directory

Resources

Official docs: docs.anthropic.com/claude-code
Advanced guide: Claudelog.com - Tips & patterns
Full guide: ultimate-guide.md (this repo)
Project memory: Create CLAUDE.md at project root
DeepSeek (cost-effective): Configure via ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL

Author: Florian BRUNIAUX | @Méthode Aristote | Written with Claude

Last updated: February 2026 | Version 3.23.4

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Claude Code Cheatsheet

Essential Commands

Keyboard Shortcuts

File References

Features Méconnues (But Official!)

Permission Modes

Memory & Settings (2 levels)

.claude/ Folder Structure

Typical Workflow

Context Management (CRITICAL)

Statusline

Context Thresholds

Actions by Symptom

Context Recovery Commands

Under the Hood (Quick Facts)

Plan Mode & Thinking

Dynamic Model Switching (Mid-Session)

MCP Servers

Creating Custom Components

Agent (`.claude/agents/my-agent.md`)

Command (`.claude/commands/my-command.md`)

Hook (macOS/Linux: `.sh` | Windows: `.ps1`)

Anti-patterns

Quick Prompting Formula

CLI Flags Quick Reference

Debug Commands

CI/CD Mode (Headless)

Task Management (v2.1.16+)

Tasks API Commands

The Golden Rules

Quick Decision Tree

Common Issues Quick Fix

Cost Optimization

Resources

FilesExpand file tree

cheatsheet.md

Latest commit

History

cheatsheet.md

File metadata and controls

Claude Code Cheatsheet

Essential Commands

Keyboard Shortcuts

File References

Features Méconnues (But Official!)

Permission Modes

Memory & Settings (2 levels)

.claude/ Folder Structure

Typical Workflow

Context Management (CRITICAL)

Statusline

Context Thresholds

Actions by Symptom

Context Recovery Commands

Under the Hood (Quick Facts)

Plan Mode & Thinking

Dynamic Model Switching (Mid-Session)

MCP Servers

Creating Custom Components

Agent (.claude/agents/my-agent.md)

Command (.claude/commands/my-command.md)

Hook (macOS/Linux: .sh | Windows: .ps1)

Anti-patterns

Quick Prompting Formula

CLI Flags Quick Reference

Debug Commands

CI/CD Mode (Headless)

Task Management (v2.1.16+)

Tasks API Commands

The Golden Rules

Quick Decision Tree

Common Issues Quick Fix

Cost Optimization

Resources

Agent (`.claude/agents/my-agent.md`)

Command (`.claude/commands/my-command.md`)

Hook (macOS/Linux: `.sh` | Windows: `.ps1`)