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Claude Code 101

BasicSkill Level
Updated 05/2026
Learn how to use Claude Code effectively in your daily development workflows.
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ClaudeArtificial Intelligence3 hr12 videos36 Exercises2,400 XPStatement of Accomplishment

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Course Description

Claude Code 101 is designed for developers who are either new to software engineering or experienced engineers who haven't yet explored AI coding agents. This course walks you through everything from installation to advanced customization, teaching you how to use Claude Code effectively in your daily workflow.

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What you'll learn

  • Differentiate AI coding agents from chat-based AI tools and explain how the agentic loop, context window, and tools interact.
  • Apply structured prompting techniques using approval mode, auto-accept, and Plan Mode to guide agent behavior effectively.
  • Execute end-to-end development workflows by following the Explore → Plan → Code → Commit cycle for real-world tasks.
  • Manage AI context effectively to maintain performance, accuracy, and productivity over extended coding sessions.
  • Design and manage scalable agent systems by maintaining project memory, delegating to subagents, and integrating external tools via MCP servers and hooks.

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this course
1

What is Claude Code?

Learn what Claude Code is, how it differs from other AI tools, and watch it explore and explain an unfamiliar data analysis project.
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2

Your first prompt

3

Daily workflows

4

Customizing Claude Code

Claude Code 101
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FAQs

Is this course suitable for beginners?

Yes. The course assumes only basic familiarity with a code editor and the command line. No prior experience with AI tools is required, and it starts from first principles by explaining what an AI coding agent is and how the agentic loop works.

What topics does this course cover?

You will learn how to install Claude Code, write effective prompts, follow the Explore, Plan, Code, Commit workflow, manage your context window, create CLAUDE.md files for persistent project memory, build custom subagents, connect external tools through MCP servers, and write hooks for deterministic control.

Where can I use Claude Code after completing this course?

The course covers installation across multiple environments, including the terminal, VS Code, JetBrains, Claude Desktop, and the web, so you can integrate it into whichever development setup you already use.

Is this course free to take?

Yes. This course can be completed from beginning-to-end without a paid DataCamp subscription.

How does this course help experienced engineers, not just beginners?

It goes beyond basic usage into advanced customization, including building custom subagents, writing hooks for automated guardrails, and connecting external data sources through MCP servers, which are techniques for developers who want to tailor Claude Code to their existing projects and conventions.

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