Claude Code

Claude Code Automations

Last updated 2026-09-28

What's new

2026-09-28

Claude Code (a coding assistant that runs in your computer's terminal) and Computer Use (tools that let Claude interact with desktop applications) are two new applications built using the Claude API (a way for software to talk to Claude, an AI assistant).
These applications help you understand how to use the Claude API by showing you how to name inputs, see where the application works, and check the results.
The goal is to create a smaller, testable boundary between Claude and your application, making it easier to inspect and reuse.
This module is also a good practice for the Claude Certified Architect exam, which tests your knowledge of using Claude's tools.

2026-09-13

The "harness" (the tools and systems around an AI model) is more important than the model itself, as it enables the model to interact with and control your computer and other platforms.
Local AI models (like open-source ones you run on your own computer) can handle about 80% of everyday tasks, but you might need more powerful cloud-based models for complex tasks.
Cloud-based AI tools like Claude Code (a tool that uses AI to help you code and control your computer) can do more than just chat, like creating and moving files, and interacting with both your local computer and the cloud.
AI skills and tools can become outdated quickly, so it's important to regularly update and protect your own intellectual property (IP) and understanding, rather than relying solely on outsourced thinking.

2026-09-10

Combining AI models like GPT6 Astra (a powerful AI model from OpenAI) and Claude Fable 5.1 (a powerful AI model from Anthropic) can help you get the most out of both, as they excel at different tasks.
For simpler tasks, consider using cheaper models like Luna (a cost-effective AI model from OpenAI) or Terra (another affordable AI model from OpenAI), which can save you money compared to using only high-end models.
Using different AI models to build and evaluate work can improve quality, as models tend to grade their own work too favorably.
Tools like Claudex loop (a skill that helps manage AI model interactions) and Claudex route (a skill that helps choose the right AI model) can make it easier to work with multiple AI models.

2026-09-04

Claude Code (a coding assistant tool) now offers a free model with 1.5 billion tokens monthly, a significant cost-saving for users previously paying for credits.
Omni Route (a laptop app) aggregates free API keys from multiple providers, automatically switching between them to maximize free usage, avoiding the hassle of manual configuration.
This setup allows users to keep the Claude Code interface while changing the underlying AI model (the "brain") to a free one, making it versatile for other tools like Deep Sea Carnage (another AI coding tool).

2026-08-31

Claude Code, an AI tool for coding, now lets different coding sessions (called agents) communicate with each other, sharing only the necessary information, making multitasking easier.
The default setting for Claude Code is now "auto mode," where the AI can automatically execute actions without constantly asking for permission, making coding workflows smoother and safer.
Claude Code has a new "concise" output style, which provides shorter responses, saving on token usage (the way AI measures text input and output) during long coding sessions.
The Claude Code desktop app now launches twice as fast, and there's a 50% increase in weekly usage limits, with plans to make this increase permanent.

2026-08-22

Claude (an AI tool for creating websites and graphics) can now use a new system to create consistent, high-quality designs across different formats like websites, posters, and emails.
The "design loop" feature in Claude uses multiple AI agents to refine and improve designs, ensuring they match your vision and stay on brief.
Higgsfield (a platform for image and video models) can be connected to Claude to create images and videos, making it easier to produce consistent content across different media.

2026-08-19

For AI tasks, bigger models aren't always better; medium settings like Claude Fable 5 Medium or Opus 5 Medium often give the best balance of cost and performance for most tasks.
When using AI tools like Claude Code, start by setting a clear goal and asking it to question you to fill in any gaps, rather than trying to provide every detail upfront.
AI tools have a "context window" (the amount of conversation it can remember at once), which affects both cost and performance, so it's important to manage this by starting new chats when it gets too full.
Tokens are like words in a conversation with AI; the more tokens used, the more it costs and the worse the AI performs, so it's important to keep track of this.

2026-08-16

Claude Code (an AI coding assistant) and Codex (another AI coding tool) produced very different results when given the same task: building a Typeform (a popular online form builder) alternative, showing each has unique strengths.
Claude Code completed the task in 5 hours and spent $800, while Codex took 3 days and spent $3,000, highlighting differences in efficiency and cost.
The app built by Claude Code, named Realform, had a solid UI (user interface, the look and feel of the app) but was overwhelming and confusing to use, indicating room for improvement in user experience design.

2026-08-13

A new technique called the "gauntlet loop" (a process where independent critics challenge and improve designs) helps AI like Claude (a tool that creates designs and animations) produce better graphics and presentations with fewer mistakes.
You can create a "design system" (a set of design rules and assets) in Claude to help it understand and replicate your specific design style, making its outputs more consistent and tailored to your preferences.
The gauntlet loop uses multiple critics to evaluate and improve designs based on a given brief, design system, and craftsmanship, reducing the need for constant back-and-forth edits and resulting in better initial designs.

2026-08-01

**Claude Code (Anthropic's AI coding assistant)** helps teams edit code, run commands, and follow project rules, making it easier to work together safely and efficiently.
**Agent SDK (a toolkit for custom agents)** and **Claude API (a tool for custom apps)** let teams build their own automation and apps, choosing the right tool for the job.
**Shared settings, hooks (automatic checks), and permissions** help teams work faster and safer, like giving a new hire a handbook, clear rules, and the right tools for the job.
**Project memory (like a team handbook in Claude.md)** keeps everyone on the same page, while **skills and sub-agents (specialist tools)** help with specific tasks, making teamwork smoother.

2026-07-25

Learn to create unique web designs by first building a personal library of design inspiration from sites like Dribble (a website for designers to share their work), Pinterest (a visual bookmarking tool), and Twitter (a social media platform), to help cultivate your own taste.
Use tools like Impeccable (an open-source design improvement tool with 23 different commands) to enhance and refine your web designs, making them more impactful and easier to understand.
Develop a flexible roadmap for AI design work, including how to prototype, iterate, and tweak your designs until you achieve a result you like.

2026-07-19

Claude Fable 5 (a powerful AI model) autonomously found winning products on TikTok Shop (an online store) and created ad campaigns for them by analyzing successful ads on Meta (formerly Facebook) ads.
It identified products like a rotary cheese grater, a protein supplement, and a skincare system, then generated 45 ads across three campaigns without much human input.
The process involved finding winning ads, extracting their key elements, and creating new scripts and storyboards for the identified products using various AI tools and models.
Key tools used include Claude Code (a platform to run the AI), Watch Skill (a tool to analyze videos frame by frame), Higgs Field (a platform for image and video models), and Scrape Creators (an API to gather data from online stores and ad libraries).

2026-07-16

**Claude Code** (AI coding assistant) and **Fable** (new AI tool) have significantly improved, reducing the need for constant monitoring and speeding up tasks like video editing and software development.
**Product managers** (people who plan new features) now focus more on deciding what to build, as AI tools like **Claude Code** have drastically shortened the time from idea to implementation.
**Rewriting code** (updating existing code) is now encouraged, as AI tools help ensure the new code is accurate and well-tested, making it easier to improve and experiment with different implementations.

2026-07-13

Cloud Code (a tool for AI users) isn't just for developers; it helps non-technical users get reliable AI results by working with files and folders on your computer.
Use Cloud Code (not regular Claude, a chat-based AI) when you need to create, reuse, or improve files, like sales pages or customer research, that stick around in your business.
To start using Cloud Code, download the free app VS Code (from Microsoft), add the Cloud Code extension, and give it access to a folder on your computer to use as your workspace.
Once set up, you can tell Cloud Code to create new folders and files, and watch it make live changes in those files as it works.

2026-07-04

Claude (an AI tool by Anthropic) is helping non-coders build real businesses, like Vulcan, which won a Virginia state contract for government software.
Claude Code (a feature of Claude) builds full apps, websites, or automates tasks in minutes, just by describing what you want in plain English.
Claude is "agentic" (it takes action on its own), works in parallel (multiple tasks at once), and remembers things, making it a powerful tool for businesses and jobs.
Over half of the startups in Y Combinator's (a famous startup accelerator) newest batch are building with Claude, showing its growing popularity and effectiveness.

2026-07-01

Claude design 2.0 (a tool for creating websites, apps, and more using AI) now uses credits more efficiently, so you won't run out as quickly.
You can now access Claude design within the Claude desktop app (a program you download to use Claude on your computer), making it easier to use.
Claude design can create presentations, taking inspiration from images you provide, and even includes speaker notes for each slide.
You can export your designs to various platforms like PowerPoint, PDF, Miro (a collaborative online whiteboard), and Figma (a web-based design tool).

2026-06-28

Claude (an AI assistant) is designed to make users feel productive, not necessarily make money, which can limit earnings by reducing output quality and speed.
Claude tends to agree with users too much, a trait researchers call "sycophant" or "yes man," which can lead to poor decisions; a tool called "roast" helps combat this by challenging ideas.
The "roast" tool creates a council of personas to stress test ideas, including a contrarian, expansionist, first principles thinker, deep researcher, buyer, and judge, providing a verdict and cheap test suggestions.
These upgrades aim to improve Claude's usefulness for business, such as building apps, running agencies, or AI consulting, by enhancing output quality and speed.

2026-06-25

Claude (an AI assistant) has three main modes: Chat (quick answers), Co-work (file access), and Code (full access, best for building things).
Opus 4.8 is Claude's most capable model, Sonnet 4.6 for daily tasks, and 4.5 for fast, simple work.
Connect Claude to tools like Gmail, Google Drive, or Firecrawl (a web data grabber) to boost productivity.
Use "sub agents" in Claude to multitask, getting 5-10 times more output in the same time.

2026-06-16

A new tool called SkillSmith (a plugin for Claude, an AI assistant) lets you build AI agents (automated workers that can perform tasks) in minutes using simple text files, not complex code.
Claude skills (the new way to build agents) use plain text files to define triggers, context, frameworks, tasks, and templates, making them easier to create and understand.
SkillSmith offers four main functions: turning ideas into specs, building skills, distilling long-form content into frameworks, and auditing existing skills.
Appify (a marketplace for AI actors) and its MCP (a bridge between Claude and other software) help find and use the right AI actors for your workflows.

2026-06-10

Ultra Code is a new feature in Claude (an AI tool) that speeds up tasks by using up to 10 AI helpers (called agents) working at the same time, like a boss managing specialists in a factory.
To use Ultra Code, simply type "Ultra Code" in your prompt (the instruction you give the AI), and you can apply it to single tasks or entire conversations.
Ultra Code introduces new strategies like "adversarial verify" (where skeptics debate claims) and "judge panel" (where AI judges score and combine ideas), improving the quality and efficiency of AI outputs.
Unlike regular AI agents that might forget or make mistakes, Ultra Code uses scripts to manage tasks, ensuring they're completed accurately and quickly by running multiple agents in parallel (simultaneously).

2026-06-07

New tools like "Grill Me Codeex" and "Grill with Docs Codeex" help turn fuzzy ideas into clear plans using AI, building on Matt PCO's original skills (tools that guide you through planning and building with AI).
These tools add an extra step where Codeex (an AI that reviews code) checks Claude Code's (an AI that writes code) work, ensuring the plan makes sense to both, like a neutral referee.
The process is iterative, meaning Claude Code and Codeex talk back and forth up to five times to improve the plan, giving you more confidence in the final result.
This is especially helpful for non-technical users, as it bridges the gap between their ideas and optimal code, which can be hard to judge without expert knowledge.

2026-06-04

Claude Code (an AI tool from the company Anthropic that writes and edits code for you) can now build professional-looking websites that clients pay for.
A new CMS (content management system, a dashboard where you or clients can edit a website without touching code) lets anyone update text, prices, or pages by just chatting to AI.
The CMS also includes built-in SEO (settings that help your site show up in Google searches) and shows you a score to improve your ranking.
Clients can edit their own site without needing your login or breaking anything, so you can hand off the site and focus on other work.

2026-06-03

Ralph loops (AI-powered automation tasks) are replacing complex workflow tools, letting you build smart automation directly in Claude Code (AI coding assistant).
Many programmers now use AI assistants like Claude Code to write all their code—a huge shift from six months ago when almost nobody worked this way.
These tools work beyond coding: people use them for emails, newsletters, calendars, and daily work, not just programming.
Building Ralph loops is practical and hands-on—you create working tools that save time, unlike brittle platforms like N8N (workflow automation software) that break regularly.

Key points

What it is

Claude Code Automations is an AI tool that builds and runs automated tasks for you without manually coding each step.
It acts like an autonomous developer, working independently to read your workflows, pick the right tools, and fix errors on its own.
It connects to over 1,500 services through MCP (Model Context Protocol), an open standard for AI to plug into other tools.
This tool is already intelligent; the goal is to focus it better by removing distractions and setting clear rules.

How to use it

Install the free VS Code editor, search for and install the Claude Code extension, and sign in with a paid Claude plan.
Create a new, empty folder for your project and open it in VS Code to give Claude Code a workspace.
Type a conversational request, like "Build me a simple guessing game in Python," and Claude Code will generate the code.
Use skills (pre-built rules), hooks (event-triggered scripts), and agents (autonomous sub-tools) for deeper automation and quality control.

Watch out for

Avoid vague prompts and neglecting persistent project instructions (CLAUDE.md files) to prevent errors and hallucinations (invented solutions).
Be specific to avoid accidentally triggering unfinished features, and always start with a clear, concrete ask in its own folder.
Use plugins like Hookify to turn repeated corrections into permanent guardrails, and avoid treating Claude Code like a magic black box.
Surround your work with skills and hooks to lock in quality, update often, and never skip planning mode.

Tools named

VS Code (free code editor), Claude Code (AI automation tool), Hookify (plugin for auto-generating rules)

Lesson 1: What is Claude Code Automations and why it matters

Claude Code Automations is a feature that lets you build and run automated tasks inside your development environment without writing every step yourself. Unlike a chatbot that only suggests code, Claude Code acts as an autonomous developer (an AI that works independently) with access to your entire file system. It can read your workflows, check which tools it has, decide what to use, and if something breaks, it will research the error and fix it on its own.

This matters for AI development because it removes the bottleneck of manually coding every automation. You can build something that acts as a personal assistant for a one-time task or an automation you host somewhere that runs on a trigger. The real power comes from how Claude Code connects to other services through MCP (Model Context Protocol), an open standard that lets AI plug into GitHub, databases, design tools, and over 1,500 other services. Anthropic reports that Claude Code now runs in production across multi-million line codebases and at organizations with thousands of developers, even in languages like C, C++, and Java.

The key insight is that Claude is already intelligent enough. The goal is not to give it more rules but to remove noise and make it more focused. Claude Code acts like a project manager that handles the execution, letting you focus on what to build rather than how to build every piece of it.

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Lesson 2: How to use Claude Code Automations: step-by-step

To use Claude Code Automations, first install the free VS Code editor. Open VS Code, click the Extensions icon on the left sidebar, search “Claude Code,” and install the verified extension from Anthropic. You’ll need a paid Claude plan (pro or max — not free) to sign in. Once installed, click the orange button in the top right of VS Code to open Claude Code’s agent interface. Before chatting, give it a home: open your file explorer and create a new, empty folder for your project. Back in VS Code, use File > Open Folder to select that folder. Now you’re ready.

Type a conversational request. For example, say “Build me a simple guessing game in Python.” Claude Code will sketch the game code in your folder, letting you see files appear as it works. After it finishes, you can ask for changes: “Add a score counter and a hint system.” Claude Code will edit the files. For deeper automation, use skills (pre-built rules for specific tasks), hooks (scripts that run on events) to enforce quality checks, and agents (autonomous sub-tools that handle subtasks). These are bundled in one command. You can also point Claude Code at your existing codebase or internet research and ask it to generate a report with diagrams and annotated code snippets.

To run your game, ask Claude Code to test it; it may execute the code and show results in the terminal. The entire process—install, create folder, prompt, refine—takes minutes, even for beginners.

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Lesson 3: Best practices and pitfalls

Claude Code failures often boil down to vague prompts and neglected "persistent project instructions" (CLAUDE.md files that give ongoing context). A major mistake is letting the tool "hallucinate" (invent incorrect solutions) when you don't provide enough guardrails. The leaked codebase showed hidden "feature flags" (switches for unreleased capabilities) like "Proactive mode," which means you might accidentally trigger unfinished features if you’re not specific. Best practice: always start with a clear, concrete ask in its own custom folder, not mixed with existing files. Repeatedly correcting the same error? Use a plugin called Hookify to auto-generate a "rule" (a permanent guardrail) from those corrections — your frustrations become automatic fixes. Another pitfall: letting Claude build generic user interfaces; the most popular plugin is for making your UI not look like every other AI dashboard. Surround your work with "skills" (on-demand expertise via slash commands) and hooks (scripts that run on events) to lock in quality. The tool reads your entire project structure, so feed it patterns from your past successes using CLAUDE.md memory. Avoid the "game" of treating it like a magic black box — instead treat it as an autonomous developer that needs clear constraints. Update often (run Claude update to grab version 2.1.71) and never skip planning mode. Your frustrations become permanent guardrails when you automate.

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