I’ve been using Claude Code as my primary coding assistant for the past few months. As someone managing an engineering team, I need tools that actually work — not toys that demo well but fall apart in production.
Here are 10 tips that genuinely save me hours every week.
1. Use Claude Code for Code Review Pre-screening
Before I review my team’s PRs, I run them through Claude Code first:
claude "Review this diff for bugs, security issues, and style problems" < git diff main..feature-branch
This catches ~70% of the issues I’d normally flag, so my actual review focuses on architecture and logic — the stuff that matters.
Time saved: ~3 hours/week
2. Generate Test Cases from Requirements
Instead of writing tests from scratch:
Claude Code is surprisingly good at thinking of edge cases you’d miss. I usually keep 80% of what it generates and tweak the rest.
Time saved: ~2 hours/week
3. The “Explain Like I’m Onboarding” Trick
When inheriting legacy code:
I used this when taking over a legacy data pipeline. What would’ve taken a week of code reading took an afternoon.
4. Batch Refactoring with Context
Don’t refactor file by file. Give Claude Code the full context:
It understands cross-file dependencies better than you’d expect.
5. Write Migration Scripts, Not Migrations
Instead of writing database migrations manually:
The downgrade part is key — Claude Code remembers to include it when you ask.
6. Debug Production Logs Faster
Paste a stack trace and ask:
The ranking by probability part forces structured thinking instead of a dump of possibilities.
7. Generate Documentation That Developers Actually Read
The curl example is the secret — developers will actually test it.
8. Use It as a Rubber Duck (But Smarter)
When stuck on architecture decisions:
It won’t make the decision for you, but it’ll surface tradeoffs you haven’t considered.
9. Sprint Planning Prep
Before sprint planning:
This saves the “wait, this ticket is way bigger than it looks” surprise mid-sprint.
10. Automate the Boring Commit Messages
git diff --staged | claude "Write a conventional commit message for this change. Be specific about what changed and why."
Small thing, but good commit messages compound. Your future self (and your team) will thank you.
The Meta-Tip
The biggest productivity gain isn’t any single trick — it’s building the habit of asking “can Claude Code do this?” before starting any repetitive task.
Half the time, it can. The other half, it can’t — but you only lost 30 seconds asking.
What Claude Code tips do you use? I’m always looking for new workflows.