Learning Timeline
Key Insights
The 'Copy-Paste' Debugging Technique
You don't need to understand the technical cause of an error. Simply copy the raw error from your browser and give it to Claude Code; it will identify the problematic file and fix it directly within your directory.
The Advantage of a Single Main File
Even if Claude generates a long, 'clunky' single file, Claude Code is highly efficient at automatically breaking it down into a more organized (modular) application structure.
Prompts
Finance Tracker Development Prompt
Target:
Claude
Build a personal finance tracker using Python and web-based dashboard. Users should be able to log expenses, categorize spending, and visualize trends with matplotlib. This app should include an AI feature that suggests ways to save money based on spending patterns.
Step by Step
Workflow for Building & Debugging Python Apps with Claude Code
- Open the Claude interface (Claude.ai) and enter a detailed prompt to build a 'Finance Tracker' application.
- Copy the Python code generated by Claude into a single main file (e.g., app.py).
- Create a new folder on your computer and save the file inside it.
- Open your terminal or Command Prompt and navigate to that project folder.
- Launch Claude Code by typing the command 'claude' (ensure the tool is already installed).
- Enter the command 'Set all of this up for me' in the Claude Code terminal to automatically start the file structure and dependencies setup.
- Run the application (usually with 'python app.py' or the provided command).
- Open your browser to view the application dashboard; if an error occurs, keep the browser open.
- Copy the entire error message that appears in the browser or terminal.
- Paste the error message into Claude Code and press Enter.
- Let Claude Code analyze the error and automatically fix the code.
- Refresh your browser or restart the application to see the fixed results.
