Advanced Workflows
Claude Code's true power emerges when you adopt advanced workflows that leverage its AI capabilities strategically. In this module, we'll explore Test-Driven Development with Claude, master Plan Mode, optimize memory management, and harness parallel sessions.
By the end of this module, you'll be able to:
- Implement Test-Driven Development (TDD) with Claude as your pair programmer
- Use Plan Mode to break down complex tasks systematically
- Manage Claude's memory effectively for long sessions
- Run parallel Claude sessions for concurrent development tasks
TDD with Claude transforms the red-green-refactor cycle into a collaborative process where Claude helps write both tests and implementations.
The Claude-Enhanced TDD Cycle
Real-World TDD Example
Let's build a rate limiter using TDD with Claude:
TDD Best Practices with Claude
💡Claude excels at generating comprehensive test cases, including edge cases you might miss. Always review and enhance the generated tests.
- Test First, Always: Ask Claude for tests before implementation
- Edge Case Discovery: "What edge cases should I test for this function?"
- Test Refactoring: "How can I make these tests more maintainable?"
- Coverage Analysis: "What test cases am I missing for full coverage?"
Plan Mode transforms Claude from a coding assistant into a strategic planning partner. It's perfect for complex, multi-step tasks.
Activating Plan Mode
Plan Mode in Action
Here's how Claude breaks down a complex migration:
Advanced Plan Mode Techniques
Plan Validation
Claude's context window is powerful but finite. Effective memory management ensures productive long sessions.
Understanding Context Windows
Memory Optimization Techniques
1. Chunking Large Tasks
2. Memory Markers
3. Context Summarization
Memory Management Patterns
💡The "Checkpoint Pattern": Regularly save progress summaries and clear context to maintain performance over long sessions.
Maximize productivity by running multiple Claude sessions for different aspects of your project.
Setting Up Parallel Sessions
Parallel Session Strategies
1. Feature Development Pattern
2. Refactoring Pattern
3. Multi-Language Pattern
Session Coordination
1. In TDD with Claude, what should you always ask for before implementation?
- A)Performance benchmarks
- B)Comprehensive tests including edge cases
- C)Code style guidelines
- D)Database schemas
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
In TDD with Claude, always ask for comprehensive tests first. Claude excels at generating thorough test cases including edge cases you might miss.
2. What command would you use to check Claude's context usage?
- A)claude --memory
- B)claude --context-info
- C)claude --status
- D)claude --check-tokens
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
The --status flag shows current context usage, including tokens used, files in context, and active memory markers.
3. What is the Checkpoint Pattern used for?
- A)Creating database backups
- B)Saving progress and clearing context in long sessions
- C)Version control commits
- D)Testing deployments
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
The Checkpoint Pattern involves regularly saving progress summaries and clearing context to maintain performance over long coding sessions.
4. When running parallel Claude sessions, what's the benefit of using --session-name?
- A)It makes Claude work faster
- B)It allows context isolation between different tasks
- C)It's required for Claude to work
- D)It automatically syncs code between sessions
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Using --session-name creates isolated contexts for different tasks, allowing you to work on multiple aspects of a project simultaneously without context pollution.
Let's build a complete feature using all the advanced workflows we've learned.
Scenario: Real-time Commenting System
Build a real-time commenting system with nested replies, reactions, and live updates.
Exercise Tasks
- TDD Challenge: Use Claude to build a rate limiter with sliding window algorithm using pure TDD
- Plan Mode Project: Plan a migration from REST to GraphQL API using Claude's planning capabilities
- Memory Management: Build a large feature using the checkpoint pattern, never exceeding 50% context usage
- Parallel Development: Use 4 parallel sessions to build a full-stack feature with automatic session coordination
The "Documentation-Driven Development" Pattern
- Always review generated tests for completeness
- Ask for edge cases explicitly
- Use Claude to refactor tests for maintainability
- Request performance tests when relevant
Plan Mode
- Break large plans into phases
- Ask for alternative approaches
- Request risk analysis for critical paths
- Use hierarchical planning for complex projects
Memory Management
- Monitor context usage regularly
- Create checkpoints before major transitions
- Use selective context loading
- Summarize before clearing
Parallel Sessions
- Name sessions clearly by function
- Coordinate through shared checkpoints
- Use session export/import for context sharing
- Merge sessions for integration work
- TDD Transformation: Claude makes TDD faster and more thorough
- Strategic Planning: Plan Mode turns complex tasks into manageable phases
- Memory Mastery: Effective context management enables long productive sessions
- Parallel Power: Multiple sessions multiply productivity
- Pattern Application: Combine workflows for maximum effectiveness
Beyond parallel sessions, Claude Code now supports sophisticated multi-agent architectures with sub-agents and orchestration patterns.
Understanding Sub-Agents
Sub-agents are specialized Claude instances that handle specific tasks, responding to your primary agent rather than directly to you.
The Sub-Agent Architecture
Creating Effective Sub-Agents
💡Sub-agents receive their context from the primary agent, not from your conversation history. Design accordingly.
Multi-Agent Orchestration Patterns
Pattern 1: Sequential Processing
Pattern 2: Parallel Specialists
Pattern 3: Hierarchical Agents
Building a Meta-Agent
Create agents that create other agents:
Advanced Multi-Agent Workflows
Workflow 1: Full-Stack Feature Development
Workflow 2: Codebase Modernization
Multi-Agent Best Practices
- Clear Boundaries: Each agent should have a single, well-defined purpose
- Minimal Tools: Only grant necessary permissions
- Explicit Communication: Define how agents report back
- Context Awareness: Remember sub-agents start fresh
- Orchestration Logic: Primary agent must coordinate effectively
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
⚠️Pitfall 1: Assuming sub-agents have conversation context
Solution: Pass all necessary context explicitly
Pitfall 2: Creating too many similar agents
Solution: Consolidate overlapping agents
Pitfall 3: No clear trigger conditions
Solution: Use explicit keywords in descriptions
Debugging Multi-Agent Systems
1. What is the key difference between sub-agents and parallel sessions?
- A)Sub-agents are faster
- B)Sub-agents respond to the primary agent, not to you
- C)Sub-agents have more memory
- D)Sub-agents can use more tools
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Sub-agents communicate with your primary agent, not directly with you. This creates a delegation pattern where the primary agent orchestrates specialized agents.
2. What must you remember when designing sub-agent prompts?
- A)They need to be very long
- B)They must include your API keys
- C)They have no conversation history
- D)They require special syntax
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Sub-agents start with a fresh context. They only know what the primary agent explicitly tells them, so prompts must be self-contained.
3. What is a meta-agent?
- A)An agent that reviews other agents
- B)An agent that creates other agents
- C)An agent with extra memory
- D)An agent that runs faster
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
A meta-agent is an agent designed to create other agents. It generates agent configurations based on requirements, automating the agent creation process.
You've mastered advanced workflows and multi-agent patterns that transform how you develop with Claude Code. In our final module, we'll explore building custom integrations with the Claude Code SDK.
💡Coming Next: Build custom tools, create Unix utilities, and extend Claude Code with your own integrations using the SDK.