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 |
|---|
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-assessmentacross 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
Step 5: Keep Progress in the Project
The installable learning-path skill turns the seven modules into a local progression. It selects only modules whose prerequisites are complete, requires a non-empty evidence note, and writes state to .claude/learning/claude-code-guide-progress.json in the learner's project.
Use the skill when the reading path spans several sessions or when another person must inspect what was completed. Its review schedule is 1, 3, 7, 14, 30, 60, and 90 days. Those intervals are project policy, not a claim that one schedule is optimal for every learner.
The Proofpack companion project carries one issue through configuration, implementation, tests, a guarded release check, evidence review, packaging, and an optional Docker boundary. Use it when you want one continuous exercise across all seven modules.
The learning path slides provide a short workshop version. The video production briefs connect individual exercises to observable checks.
Current Product Surfaces
The path also routes to focused pages for product surfaces that sit outside the seven-module sequence:
| After | Continue with | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Module 02 | Computer Use | Understand the current desktop interaction boundary |
| Module 05 | Plugin Distribution | Package and distribute reusable capabilities |
| Module 07 | Claude apps gateway | Separate the first-party surface from adjacent gateway patterns |
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
Read: 01-installation.mdThen: 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
/planto plan a real task, observe the flow
Read: 02-core-loop.mdThen: 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
Read: 03-memory.mdThen: 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
Read: 04-agents.mdThen: 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
Read: 05-skills.mdThen: 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 and test one narrow
PreToolUsevalidation hook
Read: 06-hooks.mdThen: 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
Read: 07-advanced.mdThen: 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:
- Proofpack companion project: one tested release-verification CLI across all seven modules
- 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: InstallationAlready using Claude Code: → Assess your level, jump to relevant module Team adoption: → Module 03: Memory & Config
Or take the quick assessment: /self-assessment quick (5 minutes)