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Module 1 — Your First AI Win (in 15 Minutes)

This is the page that makes Claude feel personal. By the end of it, you'll have an AI that knows your name, your job, your tools, and how you like to work — before you've typed a single instruction.

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Page 4 of 14 · Module 1 — Your First AI Win

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What CLAUDE.md Actually Does

Every time you open Claude Code, the first thing it does is read CLAUDE.md. It's your identity file.

The difference it makes is significant:

• Without CLAUDE.md: Every session starts from scratch. You have to re-explain who you are, what project you're working on, and how you want things formatted. Every time.
• With CLAUDE.md: Claude already knows all of that. You just get to work.

Create the File

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Create your CLAUDE.md file

1. In VS Code, make sure you have your Claude folder open (the one you created on the last page)
2. Go to File → New File
3. Name it exactly: CLAUDE.md (capital letters, no spaces)
4. Save it in your Claude folder

Now paste in the template below and fill in your details.

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Starter Template

Gets you up and running in 5 minutes. Perfect for your first session.

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Power Template

How your CLAUDE.md looks after 3 months of use. We're giving it to you on day one.

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Your Starter Template

Test It

Once you've filled in your template and saved the file:

1. In the VS Code terminal, type claude and press Enter to start a new session