SMART OBJECTS

Claude Code Workflow

Using AI-assisted development with task tracking and shared lessons.

SVA MFA Interaction Design · Winter 2026

OVERVIEW

What is Claude Code?

An AI coding assistant that runs in your terminal or VS Code.

  • Reads and edits files in your project
  • Runs terminal commands
  • Searches documentation and web
  • Learns from project context (CLAUDE.md)
Key idea: AI handles tedious debugging; you keep creative control.

PROJECT STRUCTURE

Key Files

FilePurposeIn Git?
CLAUDE.mdProject instructions for AIYes
.claude/settings.local.jsonYour personal AI settingsNo
tasks/lessons.mdShared debugging patternsYes
tasks/todo.mdYour personal task listNo

TASK MANAGEMENT

The tasks/ Folder

Shared (in git)

tasks/lessons.md

Collective knowledge: debugging patterns, gotchas, API changes everyone should know.

Personal (gitignored)

tasks/todo.md

Your current work-in-progress. Not committed to avoid clutter.

SHARED KNOWLEDGE

lessons.md Format

### USB 2.0 causes OAK camera crashes

- **Pattern**: Camera crashes with heap errors
- **Rule**: Use USB 3.0 port (blue interior)
- **Verify**: Run `diagnose.py` — should show SUPER
- **Date**: 2026-03-14

When you discover something, add it here so others don't repeat the mistake.

CONTRIBUTING

Adding to lessons.md

When you solve a tricky problem:

  1. Open tasks/lessons.md
  2. Add a new section with Pattern / Rule / Date
  3. Commit and push (or PR if you don't have write access)
Example patterns: API changes, hardware quirks, dependency issues, config gotchas

PROJECT CONTEXT

CLAUDE.md

This file tells Claude about the project:

  • Project structure and architecture
  • How to run scripts and tests
  • Common issues and their solutions
  • Coding conventions to follow

Claude reads this automatically when you open the project.

PERSONAL SETUP

Local Settings

Create .claude/settings.local.json for your preferences:

{
  "permissions": {
    "allow": ["Bash(git *)"],
    "deny": []
  }
}

This file is gitignored — your settings don't affect others.

WORKFLOW

Working with Claude

  1. Describe the goal — what you want to build or fix
  2. Let Claude explore — it reads files, runs diagnostics
  3. Review changes — approve or reject edits
  4. Capture lessons — if you learned something, add to lessons.md
Remember: Your brain does the creative thinking. Claude does the tedious parts.

SMART OBJECTS

Brain + AI

You bring the creative vision.
AI handles API docs and dependency struggles.

Questions? Check tasks/lessons.md first — your answer might be there.