File & Project Management with Claude Code

What You'll Learn

Where to run Claude Code (and where NOT to)
How Claude "sees" your files
Project structures that work WITH AI (not against it)
The difference between dev projects and founder projects

Why This Matters (2 min read)

The Problem Most Founders Have:

You open Claude Code, point it at your Desktop folder, and ask "help me with my product spec."

Claude says: "I see 847 files. Which one is the product spec?"

You forgot you have 3 years of random downloads, old presentations, family photos, and tax documents in there.

Claude just tried to read everything. Your context window is now at 80%. You haven't even started.

The Real Issue:

Claude Code isn't ChatGPT. It doesn't live in a sandbox. It edits REAL files on your computer.

If you don't organize your projects properly:

Claude wastes context reading junk
You can't find what Claude created
Files get lost in random folders
You spend more time managing chaos than building

How Claude Code Sees Your Files

Claude Code works with three key concepts:

1. Working Directory (Where You Run Claude)

When you run Claude Code in VSCode, it starts in whatever folder you have open.

This folder is Claude's universe. It can see:

Every file in that folder
Every subfolder
Everything in subfolders

It CANNOT see:

Files outside this folder
Your Desktop (unless you opened Desktop)
Other projects

Example:

text
You open: /Users/sarah/my-projects/saas-idea/
Claude can see:
├── specs/
├── research/
└── notes.md

Claude CANNOT see:
/Users/sarah/Downloads/
/Users/sarah/Desktop/taxes-2025.xlsx

2. File Tree (How Claude Navigates)

Claude reads your project structure like a map:

text
saas-idea/
├── specs/
│   ├── product-spec-v1.md
│   └── feature-list.md
├── research/
│   ├── competitors.md
│   └── customer-interviews/
│       ├── interview-sarah.txt
│       └── interview-alex.txt
├── marketing/
│   └── landing-page-copy.md
└── README.md

When you say "Claude, read my product spec," Claude:

Lists all files
Searches for "spec" in filenames
Finds specs/product-spec-v1.md
Reads it

If your files are named randomly (Document1.txt, Untitled.md), Claude can't find anything.

3. Context Window (Claude's Memory Limit)

Claude Code has a 200,000 token limit (~150,000 words).

Every file Claude reads eats into this budget.

Bad structure = wasted context:

Claude reads node_modules/ folder (10,000 files you don't need)
Claude reads old drafts you forgot to delete
Context blown before doing real work

Good structure = efficient context:

Only relevant files in working directory
Clear naming (Claude finds files fast)
Old stuff archived elsewhere

The Founder Project Structure (What Actually Works)

❌ What Founders Do (Wrong)

text
Desktop/
├── Final-Spec-V3-FINAL-USE-THIS.docx
├── competitor-research.txt
├── notes-random.txt
├── Screenshot 2025-01-15.png
├── taxes-2024.pdf
└── family-vacation.jpg

Problems:

Mixed personal + work files
No clear categories
Random naming
Claude wastes context on family photos

✅ What Founders Should Do (Right)

Create a dedicated workspace for AI-assisted work:

text
~/founder-workspace/
├── product-validation/        # One project per idea
│   ├── CLAUDE.md              # Tells Claude about this project
│   ├── specs/
│   │   ├── product-spec.md
│   │   └── feature-list.md
│   ├── research/
│   │   ├── competitors.md
│   │   └── interviews/
│   │       ├── 001-sarah-interview.txt
│   │       └── 002-alex-interview.txt
│   ├── analysis/              # Claude outputs here
│   │   └── (empty - Claude fills this)
│   └── prompts/               # Your prompts library
│       ├── 01-idea-validation.md
│       └── 02-competitor-analysis.md
│
└── marketing-campaigns/       # Another project
    ├── CLAUDE.md
    ├── landing-pages/
    └── email-sequences/

Key Principles (Remember These)

1. One Folder Per Project

Don't mix:

Product specs + marketing copy + customer research in one folder

Instead:

product-validation/ (specs, research)
marketing-q1-2025/ (copy, campaigns)
automation-workflows/ (Zapier, scripts)

Why: Each project has different context needs. Keeps Claude focused.

2. Descriptive File Names

❌ Bad:

text
Document1.txt
notes.md
stuff.docx

✅ Good:

text
product-spec-v2.md
competitor-analysis-jan2025.md
customer-interview-stephen.txt

Why: Claude uses filenames to decide what to read. "Document1" tells Claude nothing.

3. Clear Folder Categories

Use folders like:

specs/ — Product requirements, feature lists
research/ — Customer interviews, market analysis
analysis/ — Claude's outputs (syntheses, reports)
prompts/ — Your reusable prompt templates
drafts/ — Work in progress
archive/ — Old versions (exclude from Claude's view)

Why: Claude navigates by folder structure. Categories = faster file discovery.

4. Keep Archives Separate

text
product-validation/
├── specs/              ← Claude reads this
├── research/           ← Claude reads this
└── _archive/           ← Claude IGNORES this (starts with _)
    └── old-drafts/

Use _archive/ or .archive/ for old files. Why: Claude skips folders starting with _ or . by convention.

The "CLAUDE.md" File (Your Secret Weapon)

Every project should have a CLAUDE.md file at the root.

What it does: Tells Claude about this specific project BEFORE you even ask anything.

Example CLAUDE.md for a product validation project:

markdown
# Project: SaaS Idea Validation

## What This Project Is
I'm a non-technical founder validating a B2B SaaS idea (team collaboration tool).
This folder contains product specs, customer research, and competitive analysis.

## My Role
- Founder & Product Lead
- NOT a developer (don't write code)
- Focus: Product specs, customer insights, go-to-market strategy

## What I Need Help With
- Writing product specs from rough ideas
- Analyzing customer feedback for patterns
- Competitive research and positioning
- Prioritizing features (RICE scoring)

## File Structure
- `specs/` — Product requirement docs
- `research/` — Customer interviews, feedback
- `analysis/` — Your syntheses and reports (create here)
- `prompts/` — My reusable prompt templates

## How to Help Me
- Keep outputs concise (1-2 pages max)
- Use founder-friendly language (not technical jargon)
- Show your reasoning (don't just give answers)
- Save outputs to `analysis/` folder with clear names

Why this works:

When you open Claude Code in this folder, Claude reads CLAUDE.md automatically.

You say: "Help me validate this feature idea: [idea]"

Claude already knows:

You're a founder (not a dev)
This is a B2B SaaS product
You want concise, non-technical outputs
Outputs go in analysis/ folder

No repeated explanations. Context saved.

Founder Project Templates (Download & Use)

We've created starter templates you can clone:

Template 1: Product Validation Kit

text
product-validation-kit/
├── CLAUDE.md (pre-configured)
├── specs/
├── research/
│   ├── interviews/
│   └── competitors/
├── analysis/
└── prompts/
    ├── 01-idea-validation.md
    ├── 02-competitor-research.md
    └── 03-feature-prioritization.md

Use this for: Validating new product ideas, feature concepts

Template 2: Customer Research Kit

text
customer-research-kit/
├── CLAUDE.md
├── transcripts/         # Drop interview recordings here
├── feedback/            # User feedback snippets
├── analysis/
│   └── (Claude generates insights here)
└── prompts/
    ├── 01-interview-questions.md
    ├── 02-transcript-synthesis.md
    └── 03-pattern-finding.md

Use this for: Customer interviews, feedback analysis, persona building

Template 3: Content Generation Kit

text
content-kit/
├── CLAUDE.md
├── drafts/              # Your rough ideas
├── final/               # Claude's polished outputs
├── brand-assets/        # Tone guides, examples
└── prompts/
    ├── 01-landing-page-copy.md
    ├── 02-email-sequence.md
    └── 03-social-posts.md

Use this for: Landing pages, email campaigns, social content

Try This Now (Exercise — 10 Minutes)

Step 1: Create Your First Founder Project (3 min)

Open your terminal or file explorer
Create a new folder: mkdir ~/founder-workspace/my-first-project
Open it in VSCode: code ~/founder-workspace/my-first-project

Step 2: Add Structure (3 min)

Inside that folder, create:

text
my-first-project/
├── CLAUDE.md
├── specs/
├── research/
└── analysis/

Use VSCode's file explorer or terminal:

bash
mkdir specs research analysis
touch CLAUDE.md

Step 3: Write Your CLAUDE.md (4 min)

Copy this template and customize it:

markdown
# Project: [Your Project Name]

## What This Project Is
[1-2 sentences: What are you building or validating?]

## My Role
- [Your role: Founder, PM, etc.]
- [What you do: Product, strategy, etc.]
- [What you DON'T do: Code, design, etc.]

## What I Need Help With
- [Thing 1: e.g., Write product specs]
- [Thing 2: e.g., Analyze customer feedback]
- [Thing 3: e.g., Generate marketing copy]

## File Structure
- `specs/` — [What goes here]
- `research/` — [What goes here]
- `analysis/` — [Claude outputs here]

Step 4: Test It

Open Claude Code in VSCode (click the ✱ icon)
Say: "Read my CLAUDE.md and tell me what you understand about this project"
Claude should summarize your project context

If it works: You've successfully set up your first AI-ready project structure! 🎉

Common Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)

Mistake 1: Running Claude Code on Your Entire Desktop

Problem: Claude tries to read thousands of unrelated files.

Fix: Create a dedicated ~/founder-workspace/ directory. Only open PROJECT folders in VSCode.

Mistake 2: No CLAUDE.md File

Problem: You repeat "I'm a founder, I need help with product specs..." every session.

Fix: Write CLAUDE.md once. Claude remembers forever (per project).

Mistake 3: Random File Names

Problem: Files named Document1.txt, notes.md, stuff.docx

Fix: Use descriptive names: product-spec-v2.md, competitor-analysis-jan2025.md

Mistake 4: Mixing Projects

Problem: One folder with product specs + tax documents + family photos.

Fix: One project = one folder. Personal files stay OUT of work folders.

Pro Tips

Tip 1: Use Date Prefixes for Time-Series Files

text
research/interviews/
├── 2025-01-15-interview-sarah.txt
├── 2025-01-18-interview-alex.txt
└── 2025-01-22-interview-ben.txt

Why: Easy to sort by date, Claude sees chronology.

Tip 2: Create a "Prompts Library" Folder

Save your best prompts as files:

text
prompts/
├── 01-idea-validation.md
├── 02-competitive-analysis.md
└── 03-user-persona-builder.md

Why: Reuse prompts across projects. "Claude, run prompts/01-idea-validation.md on this new idea."

Tip 3: Use `.claudeignore` to Exclude Junk

Create a .claudeignore file (like .gitignore):

text
# Don't read these
_archive/
drafts/old-*
*.pdf
*.jpg
*.png

Why: Claude skips these files entirely. Saves context.

Downloads

📥 Founder Project Structure Template.zip — Clone and customize 📥 CLAUDE.md Template (Founder Version) — Copy-paste ready 📥 .claudeignore Template — Exclude common junk files 📥 Project Setup Checklist (PDF) — Step-by-step guide

What's Next

Now that you know HOW to organize projects, let's talk about CONTEXT MANAGEMENT.

In the next lesson, we'll cover:

What is Claude's "context window" (and why it matters)
How to check context usage
When to /recap and start fresh
Managing large projects without blowing your budget

→ Next Lesson: Context Window Management

Key Takeaways

✅ Run Claude Code in dedicated project folders (not Desktop, not random locations) ✅ Use clear file names (product-spec.md, not Document1.txt) ✅ Create CLAUDE.md in every project (tells Claude your context) ✅ Organize by category (specs/, research/, analysis/) ✅ Archive old files in _archive/ or .archive/ folders

Sources & Attribution:

This lesson curates content from:

Additional insights and founder-specific adaptations by NerdSmith.

Version: 1.0 (2026-02-08) Module: 0 — Claude Code Bootcamp Lesson: 1 of 5

What You'll Learn

Where to run Claude Code (and where NOT to)
How Claude "sees" your files
Project structures that work WITH AI (not against it)
The difference between dev projects and founder projects

Why This Matters (2 min read)

The Problem Most Founders Have:

You open Claude Code, point it at your Desktop folder, and ask "help me with my product spec."

Claude says: "I see 847 files. Which one is the product spec?"

You forgot you have 3 years of random downloads, old presentations, family photos, and tax documents in there.

Claude just tried to read everything. Your context window is now at 80%. You haven't even started.

The Real Issue:

Claude Code isn't ChatGPT. It doesn't live in a sandbox. It edits REAL files on your computer.

If you don't organize your projects properly:

Claude wastes context reading junk
You can't find what Claude created
Files get lost in random folders
You spend more time managing chaos than building

How Claude Code Sees Your Files

Claude Code works with three key concepts:

1. Working Directory (Where You Run Claude)

When you run Claude Code in VSCode, it starts in whatever folder you have open.

This folder is Claude's universe. It can see:

Every file in that folder
Every subfolder
Everything in subfolders

It CANNOT see:

Files outside this folder
Your Desktop (unless you opened Desktop)
Other projects

Example:

text
You open: /Users/sarah/my-projects/saas-idea/
Claude can see:
├── specs/
├── research/
└── notes.md

Claude CANNOT see:
/Users/sarah/Downloads/
/Users/sarah/Desktop/taxes-2025.xlsx

2. File Tree (How Claude Navigates)

Claude reads your project structure like a map:

text
saas-idea/
├── specs/
│   ├── product-spec-v1.md
│   └── feature-list.md
├── research/
│   ├── competitors.md
│   └── customer-interviews/
│       ├── interview-sarah.txt
│       └── interview-alex.txt
├── marketing/
│   └── landing-page-copy.md
└── README.md

When you say "Claude, read my product spec," Claude:

Lists all files
Searches for "spec" in filenames
Finds specs/product-spec-v1.md
Reads it

If your files are named randomly (Document1.txt, Untitled.md), Claude can't find anything.

3. Context Window (Claude's Memory Limit)

Claude Code has a 200,000 token limit (~150,000 words).

Every file Claude reads eats into this budget.

Bad structure = wasted context:

Claude reads node_modules/ folder (10,000 files you don't need)
Claude reads old drafts you forgot to delete
Context blown before doing real work

Good structure = efficient context:

Only relevant files in working directory
Clear naming (Claude finds files fast)
Old stuff archived elsewhere

The Founder Project Structure (What Actually Works)

❌ What Founders Do (Wrong)

text
Desktop/
├── Final-Spec-V3-FINAL-USE-THIS.docx
├── competitor-research.txt
├── notes-random.txt
├── Screenshot 2025-01-15.png
├── taxes-2024.pdf
└── family-vacation.jpg

Problems:

Mixed personal + work files
No clear categories
Random naming
Claude wastes context on family photos

✅ What Founders Should Do (Right)

Create a dedicated workspace for AI-assisted work:

text
~/founder-workspace/
├── product-validation/        # One project per idea
│   ├── CLAUDE.md              # Tells Claude about this project
│   ├── specs/
│   │   ├── product-spec.md
│   │   └── feature-list.md
│   ├── research/
│   │   ├── competitors.md
│   │   └── interviews/
│   │       ├── 001-sarah-interview.txt
│   │       └── 002-alex-interview.txt
│   ├── analysis/              # Claude outputs here
│   │   └── (empty - Claude fills this)
│   └── prompts/               # Your prompts library
│       ├── 01-idea-validation.md
│       └── 02-competitor-analysis.md
│
└── marketing-campaigns/       # Another project
    ├── CLAUDE.md
    ├── landing-pages/
    └── email-sequences/

Key Principles (Remember These)

1. One Folder Per Project

Don't mix:

Product specs + marketing copy + customer research in one folder

Instead:

product-validation/ (specs, research)
marketing-q1-2025/ (copy, campaigns)
automation-workflows/ (Zapier, scripts)

Why: Each project has different context needs. Keeps Claude focused.

2. Descriptive File Names

❌ Bad:

text
Document1.txt
notes.md
stuff.docx

✅ Good:

text
product-spec-v2.md
competitor-analysis-jan2025.md
customer-interview-stephen.txt

Why: Claude uses filenames to decide what to read. "Document1" tells Claude nothing.

3. Clear Folder Categories

Use folders like:

specs/ — Product requirements, feature lists
research/ — Customer interviews, market analysis
analysis/ — Claude's outputs (syntheses, reports)
prompts/ — Your reusable prompt templates
drafts/ — Work in progress
archive/ — Old versions (exclude from Claude's view)

Why: Claude navigates by folder structure. Categories = faster file discovery.

4. Keep Archives Separate

text
product-validation/
├── specs/              ← Claude reads this
├── research/           ← Claude reads this
└── _archive/           ← Claude IGNORES this (starts with _)
    └── old-drafts/

Use _archive/ or .archive/ for old files. Why: Claude skips folders starting with _ or . by convention.

The "CLAUDE.md" File (Your Secret Weapon)

Every project should have a CLAUDE.md file at the root.

What it does: Tells Claude about this specific project BEFORE you even ask anything.

Example CLAUDE.md for a product validation project:

markdown
# Project: SaaS Idea Validation

## What This Project Is
I'm a non-technical founder validating a B2B SaaS idea (team collaboration tool).
This folder contains product specs, customer research, and competitive analysis.

## My Role
- Founder & Product Lead
- NOT a developer (don't write code)
- Focus: Product specs, customer insights, go-to-market strategy

## What I Need Help With
- Writing product specs from rough ideas
- Analyzing customer feedback for patterns
- Competitive research and positioning
- Prioritizing features (RICE scoring)

## File Structure
- `specs/` — Product requirement docs
- `research/` — Customer interviews, feedback
- `analysis/` — Your syntheses and reports (create here)
- `prompts/` — My reusable prompt templates

## How to Help Me
- Keep outputs concise (1-2 pages max)
- Use founder-friendly language (not technical jargon)
- Show your reasoning (don't just give answers)
- Save outputs to `analysis/` folder with clear names

Why this works:

When you open Claude Code in this folder, Claude reads CLAUDE.md automatically.

You say: "Help me validate this feature idea: [idea]"

Claude already knows:

You're a founder (not a dev)
This is a B2B SaaS product
You want concise, non-technical outputs
Outputs go in analysis/ folder

No repeated explanations. Context saved.

Founder Project Templates (Download & Use)

We've created starter templates you can clone:

Template 1: Product Validation Kit

text
product-validation-kit/
├── CLAUDE.md (pre-configured)
├── specs/
├── research/
│   ├── interviews/
│   └── competitors/
├── analysis/
└── prompts/
    ├── 01-idea-validation.md
    ├── 02-competitor-research.md
    └── 03-feature-prioritization.md

Use this for: Validating new product ideas, feature concepts

Template 2: Customer Research Kit

text
customer-research-kit/
├── CLAUDE.md
├── transcripts/         # Drop interview recordings here
├── feedback/            # User feedback snippets
├── analysis/
│   └── (Claude generates insights here)
└── prompts/
    ├── 01-interview-questions.md
    ├── 02-transcript-synthesis.md
    └── 03-pattern-finding.md

Use this for: Customer interviews, feedback analysis, persona building

Template 3: Content Generation Kit

text
content-kit/
├── CLAUDE.md
├── drafts/              # Your rough ideas
├── final/               # Claude's polished outputs
├── brand-assets/        # Tone guides, examples
└── prompts/
    ├── 01-landing-page-copy.md
    ├── 02-email-sequence.md
    └── 03-social-posts.md

Use this for: Landing pages, email campaigns, social content

Try This Now (Exercise — 10 Minutes)

Step 1: Create Your First Founder Project (3 min)

Open your terminal or file explorer
Create a new folder: mkdir ~/founder-workspace/my-first-project
Open it in VSCode: code ~/founder-workspace/my-first-project

Step 2: Add Structure (3 min)

Inside that folder, create:

text
my-first-project/
├── CLAUDE.md
├── specs/
├── research/
└── analysis/

Use VSCode's file explorer or terminal:

bash
mkdir specs research analysis
touch CLAUDE.md

Step 3: Write Your CLAUDE.md (4 min)

Copy this template and customize it:

markdown
# Project: [Your Project Name]

## What This Project Is
[1-2 sentences: What are you building or validating?]

## My Role
- [Your role: Founder, PM, etc.]
- [What you do: Product, strategy, etc.]
- [What you DON'T do: Code, design, etc.]

## What I Need Help With
- [Thing 1: e.g., Write product specs]
- [Thing 2: e.g., Analyze customer feedback]
- [Thing 3: e.g., Generate marketing copy]

## File Structure
- `specs/` — [What goes here]
- `research/` — [What goes here]
- `analysis/` — [Claude outputs here]

Step 4: Test It

Open Claude Code in VSCode (click the ✱ icon)
Say: "Read my CLAUDE.md and tell me what you understand about this project"
Claude should summarize your project context

If it works: You've successfully set up your first AI-ready project structure! 🎉

Common Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)

Mistake 1: Running Claude Code on Your Entire Desktop

Problem: Claude tries to read thousands of unrelated files.

Fix: Create a dedicated ~/founder-workspace/ directory. Only open PROJECT folders in VSCode.

Mistake 2: No CLAUDE.md File

Problem: You repeat "I'm a founder, I need help with product specs..." every session.

Fix: Write CLAUDE.md once. Claude remembers forever (per project).

Mistake 3: Random File Names

Problem: Files named Document1.txt, notes.md, stuff.docx

Fix: Use descriptive names: product-spec-v2.md, competitor-analysis-jan2025.md

Mistake 4: Mixing Projects

Problem: One folder with product specs + tax documents + family photos.

Fix: One project = one folder. Personal files stay OUT of work folders.

Pro Tips

Tip 1: Use Date Prefixes for Time-Series Files

text
research/interviews/
├── 2025-01-15-interview-sarah.txt
├── 2025-01-18-interview-alex.txt
└── 2025-01-22-interview-ben.txt

Why: Easy to sort by date, Claude sees chronology.

Tip 2: Create a "Prompts Library" Folder

Save your best prompts as files:

text
prompts/
├── 01-idea-validation.md
├── 02-competitive-analysis.md
└── 03-user-persona-builder.md

Why: Reuse prompts across projects. "Claude, run prompts/01-idea-validation.md on this new idea."

Tip 3: Use `.claudeignore` to Exclude Junk

Create a .claudeignore file (like .gitignore):

text
# Don't read these
_archive/
drafts/old-*
*.pdf
*.jpg
*.png

Why: Claude skips these files entirely. Saves context.

Downloads

What's Next

Now that you know HOW to organize projects, let's talk about CONTEXT MANAGEMENT.

In the next lesson, we'll cover:

What is Claude's "context window" (and why it matters)
How to check context usage
When to /recap and start fresh
Managing large projects without blowing your budget

→ Next Lesson: Context Window Management

Key Takeaways

Sources & Attribution:

This lesson curates content from:

Additional insights and founder-specific adaptations by NerdSmith.

Version: 1.0 (2026-02-08) Module: 0 — Claude Code Bootcamp Lesson: 1 of 5

Framework

What You'll Learn

Why This Matters (2 min read)

How Claude Code Sees Your Files

1. Working Directory (Where You Run Claude)

2. File Tree (How Claude Navigates)

3. Context Window (Claude's Memory Limit)

The Founder Project Structure (What Actually Works)

❌ What Founders Do (Wrong)

✅ What Founders Should Do (Right)

Key Principles (Remember These)

1. One Folder Per Project

2. Descriptive File Names

3. Clear Folder Categories

4. Keep Archives Separate

The "CLAUDE.md" File (Your Secret Weapon)

Founder Project Templates (Download & Use)

Template 1: Product Validation Kit

Template 2: Customer Research Kit

Template 3: Content Generation Kit

Try This Now (Exercise — 10 Minutes)

Common Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)

Mistake 1: Running Claude Code on Your Entire Desktop

Mistake 2: No CLAUDE.md File

Mistake 3: Random File Names

Mistake 4: Mixing Projects

Pro Tips

Tip 1: Use Date Prefixes for Time-Series Files

Tip 2: Create a "Prompts Library" Folder

Tip 3: Use .claudeignore to Exclude Junk

Downloads

What's Next

Key Takeaways

Downloadable Resources

File & Project Management with Claude Code

Framework

What You'll Learn

Why This Matters (2 min read)

How Claude Code Sees Your Files

1. Working Directory (Where You Run Claude)

2. File Tree (How Claude Navigates)

3. Context Window (Claude's Memory Limit)

The Founder Project Structure (What Actually Works)

❌ What Founders Do (Wrong)

✅ What Founders Should Do (Right)

Key Principles (Remember These)

1. One Folder Per Project

2. Descriptive File Names

3. Clear Folder Categories

4. Keep Archives Separate

The "CLAUDE.md" File (Your Secret Weapon)

Founder Project Templates (Download & Use)

Template 1: Product Validation Kit

Template 2: Customer Research Kit

Template 3: Content Generation Kit

Try This Now (Exercise — 10 Minutes)

Common Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)

Mistake 1: Running Claude Code on Your Entire Desktop

Mistake 2: No CLAUDE.md File

Mistake 3: Random File Names

Mistake 4: Mixing Projects

Pro Tips

Tip 1: Use Date Prefixes for Time-Series Files

Tip 2: Create a "Prompts Library" Folder

Tip 3: Use .claudeignore to Exclude Junk

Downloads

What's Next

Key Takeaways

Downloadable Resources

Tip 3: Use `.claudeignore` to Exclude Junk

Tip 3: Use `.claudeignore` to Exclude Junk