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Patterson Academy

Set up a working session

Step 1. Open a session in your project

Section titled “Step 1. Open a session in your project”
Run claude from the repository root. Claude reads the project from there, so start in the folder you actually work in — not your home directory.
terminal
claude

Step 2. Confirm the install is healthy

Section titled “Step 2. Confirm the install is healthy”
Run /doctor. It checks the installation, authentication, connected MCP servers and registered hooks, and flags a CLAUDE.md that has grown too long.
terminal
/doctor

Step 3. Pick a model for the work

Section titled “Step 3. Pick a model for the work”
Sonnet handles most coding tasks. Switch to Opus with /model opus when you are making architectural decisions, and back again when you are not.
terminal
/model

Step 4. Give Claude one real task

Section titled “Step 4. Give Claude one real task”
Describe a small, verifiable job — "fix the failing test in checkout.test.ts" — and watch the loop: gather context, take action, verify. Press Esc to steer at any point.