The Complete Claude Code Power User Guide: Slash Commands, Hooks, Skills & More

Most people use Claude Code like a slightly smarter terminal autocomplete. They type a request, Claude generates code, they copy it somewhere. That's fine, but it's leaving most of the tool on the table. Claude Code has a full extensibility stack: slash commands, hooks, skills, subagents, MCP servers, and plugins. Each one solves a different problem. Understanding which to reach for, and when, is what separates reactive usage from actually building a system. CLAUDE.md: The One File That Changes Everything Before touching any of the advanced features, get your CLAUDE.md right. This file is the agent's "constitution" — the primary source of truth for how your specific repository works. Every session, Claude reads it. Every session, it anchors Claude's behavior without you having to re-explain your project, your conventions, or what commands to run. A minimal CLAUDE.md worth having: # Project: my-tool ## Build npm run build ## Lint npm run lint -- --fix ## Test npm test ## Conventions - T