# Claude Code Learning Path **Master Claude Code in 8-11 hours. Go deep on what matters to you with optional deep dives.** This is your structured entry point. Follow the modules in order, then jump into the full guide for depth. --- ## The 7-Module Path | Module | Time | Focus | Complexity | |--------|------|-------|------------| | **[01-Installation & Setup](01-installation.md)** | 15 min | Get Claude Code running | ⭐ Beginner | | **[02-Core Loop](02-core-loop.md)** | 45 min | How Claude Code actually works | ⭐ Beginner | | **[03-Memory & Config](03-memory.md)** | 1 hour | CLAUDE.md and settings | ⭐⭐ Intermediate | | **[04-Agents & Specialization](04-agents.md)** | 1.5 hours | Creating focused agents | ⭐⭐ Intermediate | | **[05-Skills & Automation](05-skills.md)** | 1.5 hours | Reusable capabilities | ⭐⭐ Intermediate | | **[06-Hooks & Events](06-hooks.md)** | 1 hour | Triggering automation | ⭐⭐ Intermediate | | **[07-Advanced Patterns](07-advanced.md)** | 2-3 hours | Multi-agent orchestration | ⭐⭐⭐ Advanced | **Total: 8-11 hours base learning** + optional deep dives. --- ## How to Use This Path ### Step 1: Assess Your Level **Beginner** (day 1 of Claude Code): - Take the quick path: 01 → 02 → 03 (2 hours) - Then jump to full guide `Part 1: Quick Start` **Intermediate** (using Claude Code 1-4 weeks): - Take the full path: 01 → 07 (8-11 hours) - Focus on modules 04, 05, 06, 07 for depth **Advanced** (using Claude Code 1+ months): - Skim 01-03, deep-dive 04-07 - Jump to guide Part 9: Advanced Patterns for orchestration ### Step 2: Choose Your Track **Track A: Master the Fundamentals** (11 hours) - Follow modules 01-07 in order - Complete all exercises - Take `/lesson-quiz [topic]` after each module - Finish with `/self-assessment comprehensive` **Track B: Skill-Focused Deep Dive** (4-6 hours) - Module 01-02 (basics) - Skip to Module 04, 05, or 06 based on your goal - Go deep on that one module - Link to advanced patterns as needed **Track C: Team Adoption** (5-7 hours) - Module 01-02 (teach fundamentals) - Module 03 (team configuration) - Modules 04-07 (team workflows) - Run `/self-assessment` across team, identify gaps - Create follow-up training plan from gaps ### Step 3: Learn & Validate Each module includes: - 📖 **Reading** (10-30 min) — Concepts and mental models - 🔨 **Hands-on practice** (20-45 min) — Real examples from `examples/` - 📝 **Validation** — `/lesson-quiz [topic]` to verify understanding ### Step 4: Go Deeper After this path, you have options: **Option A: Deep Reference** → Jump to relevant section in `guide/ultimate-guide.md` **Option B: Master a Domain** → Read dedicated guides (e.g., `guide/security/`, `guide/ops/`) **Option C: Build with Plugins** → Install a plugin bundle from `examples/plugins/` **Option D: Self-Assess** → Run `/self-assessment comprehensive` to identify remaining gaps --- ## Module Details ### Module 01: Installation & Setup (15 min) **Goal:** Get Claude Code running and confirm it works - Install for your platform (macOS/Linux/Windows) - Run your first command - Understand the prompt → output loop - **Exercise:** Complete the "First 5 Minutes" workflow **Complexity:** ⭐ (Beginner) **Read:** [01-installation.md](01-installation.md) **Then:** Part 1: Quick Start in main guide --- ### Module 02: Core Loop (45 min) **Goal:** Understand how Claude Code works at the system level - The interaction loop (prompt → tool → decision → feedback) - Context and sessions - Plans and thinking modes - **Exercise:** Use `/plan` to plan a real task, observe the flow **Complexity:** ⭐ (Beginner) **Read:** [02-core-loop.md](02-core-loop.md) **Then:** Part 2: Core Concepts in main guide --- ### Module 03: Memory & Config (1 hour) **Goal:** Configure Claude Code for your workflow - CLAUDE.md structure and hierarchy - Settings precedence (global → project → session) - Environment variables - **Exercise:** Create your first CLAUDE.md, customize settings **Complexity:** ⭐⭐ (Intermediate) **Read:** [03-memory.md](03-memory.md) **Then:** Part 3: Memory & Settings in main guide --- ### Module 04: Agents & Specialization (1.5 hours) **Goal:** Create focused agents for specific tasks - When to use agents vs a single session - Tool restriction and isolation - Creating agents (AGENT.md format) - **Exercise:** Build 2 agents (generalist + specialist), test them **Complexity:** ⭐⭐ (Intermediate) **Read:** [04-agents.md](04-agents.md) **Then:** Part 4: Agents in main guide --- ### Module 05: Skills & Automation (1.5 hours) **Goal:** Build reusable capabilities that trigger automatically - Skill lifecycle and frontmatter - Auto-invocation patterns - Bundling scripts with skills - **Exercise:** Create a skill that solves a repeated problem **Complexity:** ⭐⭐ (Intermediate) **Read:** [05-skills.md](05-skills.md) **Then:** Part 5: Skills in main guide --- ### Module 06: Hooks & Events (1 hour) **Goal:** Automate responses to system events - Hook events and matching - Pre-validation vs post-execution - Writing safe hooks - **Exercise:** Add 2 hooks (one pre, one post) to your config **Complexity:** ⭐⭐ (Intermediate) **Read:** [06-hooks.md](06-hooks.md) **Then:** Part 7: Hooks in main guide --- ### Module 07: Advanced Patterns (2-3 hours) **Goal:** Orchestrate multi-agent workflows - Multi-agent teams and dependencies - Orchestration patterns - Error handling and recovery - **Exercise:** Design a 3-agent workflow for a realistic scenario **Complexity:** ⭐⭐⭐ (Advanced) **Read:** [07-advanced.md](07-advanced.md) **Then:** Part 9: Advanced Patterns in main guide --- ## After the Learning Path ### Assessment Take `/self-assessment comprehensive` to: - Measure where you stand - Identify knowledge gaps - Get a personalized next-step plan ### Specialization Choose where to go next: | Interest | Path | |----------|------| | **Security & Production** | → `guide/security/` (43KB) | | **DevOps & Operations** | → `guide/ops/` (113KB) | | **Architecture & Design** | → `guide/core/architecture.md` (77KB) | | **Building with AI** | → `guide/roles/learning-with-ai.md` (53KB) | | **Teams & Adoption** | → `guide/roles/adoption-approaches.md` (15KB) | ### Practice Try one of the practice projects from `/self-assessment` results: - Project 1: Your first automation workflow - Project 2: Team configuration - Project 3: Production-grade setup --- ## Time Estimates **For different goals:** - **Just getting started:** 2 hours (Modules 01-02 only) - **Daily usage:** 6 hours (Modules 01-05) - **Team adoption:** 8-11 hours (Modules 01-07) - **Deep mastery:** 15-20 hours (Path + guide deep-dives) - **Specialization:** 20-30+ hours (Path + domain expertise) --- ## What You'll Be Able to Do After this learning path, you'll: ✓ Navigate Claude Code without the docs ✓ Create custom agents and skills for your workflow ✓ Configure team-level settings and governance ✓ Build multi-agent orchestration ✓ Automate repetitive tasks with hooks ✓ Know where to go for deeper expertise --- ## Common Questions **Q: Can I skip modules?** A: Yes, but 01-03 are prerequisites. If you know basics, start at 04. **Q: How long does it really take?** A: 8-11 hours for the full path. Budget extra time for exercises. **Q: Do I need prior Claude Code experience?** A: No, start at Module 01. If you've used it before, skim 01-02. **Q: After this, what's the full guide?** A: `guide/ultimate-guide.md` (25K lines) is your reference. This path gets you to the point where you can read it effectively. --- ## Ready? Start Here **First time:** → [Module 01: Installation](01-installation.md) **Already using Claude Code:** → Assess your level, jump to relevant module **Team adoption:** → [Module 03: Memory & Config](03-memory.md) --- **Or take the quick assessment:** `/self-assessment quick` (5 minutes)