# 1 Hour on Claude Code — Quick Start (Free Edition)

> AI Starter Package | aistarterpackage.com
>
> Set up Claude Code as a real engineering partner in 60 minutes.

---

## The Clock

| Time | Step | What You Do |
|------|------|-------------|
| 0–5 min | First task | Run Claude Code on your project, no config |
| 5–20 min | CLAUDE.md | Write your brain file (rules, stack, conventions) |
| 20–30 min | Memory | Create memory.md + knowledge-base.md |
| 30–40 min | _context/ | Set up context folder with brand + tech docs |
| 40–50 min | Commands | Install /start and /sync commands |
| 50–60 min | First real session | Run /start and do real work |

---

## Step 1: The Brain File (CLAUDE.md)

Create `CLAUDE.md` in your project root. This is the single most important file — Claude reads it at the start of every session.

```markdown
# [Your Project Name]

## What This Is
[One paragraph about the project]

## Tech Stack
- Framework: [e.g., Next.js 15]
- Language: [e.g., TypeScript]
- Database: [e.g., PostgreSQL]

## Rules
1. TypeScript only — never plain JavaScript
2. No hardcoded secrets — use env vars
3. No `any` type — use proper interfaces
4. Components under 150 lines

## Key Files
- Database: [path]
- Auth: [path]
- Types: [path]
```

**One good CLAUDE.md replaces months of repeating yourself.**

---

## Step 2: Memory (.claude/memory.md)

```bash
mkdir -p .claude
```

Create `.claude/memory.md`:

```markdown
# Working Memory

## Now
- [Current task]

## Next
- [What's coming]

## Learned
- [Patterns that work in this project]
```

Update this every session. Claude reads it and picks up where you left off.

---

## Step 3: Context Folder (_context/)

```bash
mkdir -p _context
```

Add your canonical docs — brand voice, tech decisions, ICP. Reference them in CLAUDE.md with `@` imports:

```markdown
@./_context/brand-voice.md
@./_context/tech-decisions.md
```

Update once, every session sees it. Scales to 20+ projects.

---

## Step 4: Your First Command (.claude/commands/start.md)

```bash
mkdir -p .claude/commands
```

Create `.claude/commands/start.md`:

```markdown
Initialize a new working session.

## Instructions
1. Read CLAUDE.md for project rules
2. Read .claude/memory.md for current context
3. Run `git status` and `git log --oneline -5`
4. Report current branch and uncommitted changes
5. Suggest starting points from memory
```

Now type `/start` in Claude Code. Magic.

---

## What You Get (Free vs Pro)

| Feature | Free | Pro ($97) |
|---------|------|-----------|
| CLAUDE.md brain template | 1 | 1 (advanced) |
| Memory system | Basic | 3-layer + auto-sync |
| Commands | 2 (/start, /sync) | 6 (+ review, deploy, audit, wrap-up) |
| Agents | 0 | 8 specialists |
| Hooks | 0 | 12 with intelligence engine |
| Skills | 0 | 1,700+ with installer |
| Cheatsheets | 1 | 7 |
| _context/ pattern | Guide | Guide + templates |

**Get Pro at aistarterpackage.com** — one-time purchase, no subscription.

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*AI Starter Package | aistarterpackage.com*
*"Stop Prompting. Start Building Systems."*
