How to Set Up Claude Code in a Project
Learn how to configure Claude Code for your project with CLAUDE.md, custom instructions, and project-specific settings.
Step-by-step
How to Set Up Claude Code in a Project
Navigate to your project root
Open your terminal and `cd` into your project directory. Claude Code works best when started from the project root where your source code and config files live.
Create a CLAUDE.md file
Create a `CLAUDE.md` file in your project root. This file tells Claude about your project's conventions, tech stack, important files, and any rules to follow. Think of it as project-specific instructions.
Run claude to start a session
Run `claude` in your terminal. Claude automatically reads your CLAUDE.md file and any .claude/ configuration directory.
Start with exploration
Ask Claude to explore your codebase first: "read the project structure and summarize the architecture". This helps Claude build context for future tasks.
Tips
Pro tips
- *
Keep CLAUDE.md concise — focus on conventions, key file paths, and anti-patterns
- *
Add a .claude/ directory for project-specific memory that persists across sessions
- *
Use `/init` to have Claude generate a CLAUDE.md by analyzing your codebase automatically
Related guides