Claude Code just destroyed all coding apps… it’s insane

Key Concepts

• Claude Code: An AI coding agent by Anthropic that runs locally in the terminal.
• Vibe Coding: Using AI tools to enhance coding productivity.
• Auto Accept Mode: A Claude Code mode where commands are automatically approved.
• Plan Mode: A Claude Code mode for designing plans and outlines.
• MVP (Minimum Viable Product): A product with just enough features to satisfy early customers.
• Anthropic API: An interface for accessing Anthropic's AI models.
• Pandoc: A command-line tool for converting documents between formats.
• Cursor: A code editor with AI integration.
• Gemini 2.5 Pro: A powerful reasoning model by Google.
• Deep Work: Focused, uninterrupted work on a single task.
• Vibe Learning: Learning while using AI tools to code.

Installation and Setup of Claude Code

1. Node.js Requirement: Claude Code requires Node.js version 18 or higher. A link to download Node.js is provided.
2. Global Installation: The command npm install -g @anthropic/claude-code is used to install Claude Code globally on the computer. This command is executed in the terminal.
3. Cursor Integration: Claude Code is used within the Cursor code editor. An empty folder is opened in Cursor.
4. Terminal Activation: A terminal is opened in Cursor using command J (or control J on Windows) or via the "Terminal" menu.
5. Claude Activation: The command claude is typed in the terminal to activate Claude Code.
6. Permissions: Claude Code requests permission to read files and folders, which must be granted.
7. Theme Selection: The user is prompted to select a theme (e.g., dark mode).
8. Prompting: After setup, the user can type prompts to instruct Claude Code.

Building a Slides Generator MVP

1. Project Goal: To build an MVP of an app that generates presentation slides from plain English input, inspired by a tweet from Andrej Karpathy.
2. Initial Prompt: The user provides a prompt based on Karpathy's tweet, specifying the need for an MVP that converts plain English to presentation slides. The prompt includes clo pendoc syntax into pendoc Google slides.
3. Mode Switching: The user switches to "plan mode" using shift tab to design a concise plan and codebase outline.
4. Plan Generation: Claude Code generates an initial plan, including web search and a summary of the MVP's core value proposition and technical stack (NodeJS, CLI, Anthropic API, Pandoc, Google Drive API).
5. Feedback and Refinement: The user provides feedback to simplify the MVP, focusing on using the Anthropic API to generate Pandoc, with the user manually importing it into Google Slides.
6. Revised Plan: Claude Code provides a revised plan with a minimal codebase, including cursor-slides, package.json, .env, and code files.
7. Codebase Outline Generation: The user switches to "auto accept mode" and instructs Claude Code to create the codebase outline.
8. Detailed Code Architecture: Claude Code designs a detailed code architecture, including folders like src with services for API integration, Pandoc execution, prompts, and utilities.
9. File Creation: The user refines the prompt to instruct Claude Code to actually create the files in the outline.
10. File Creation Process: Claude Code creates files like package.json, .env, and files within the src folder, following the designed architecture.
11. Command Approval: The user approves commands (e.g., mkDir) and can set them to be auto-accepted for the project.
12. Settings.json: Claude Code saves approved commands in the settings.json file within the .claude folder.

Daily Use and Productivity Tips

1. Combining Tools: The speaker emphasizes the power of combining Claude Code with other AI tools like Cursor's Gemini 2.5 Pro preview and GPT-4.
2. Prompt Refinement: The speaker demonstrates how to refine previous prompts by pressing escape twice and using arrow keys to select and edit previous messages.
3. MVP Roadmap: The user instructs Claude Code to design a five-stage plan for building the MVP.
4. Model Selection: The user discusses the /model command to switch between different Claude models (Opus, Sonnet, Haiku), noting the trade-offs between speed and cost.
5. Cost Management: The speaker discusses the cost of using Opus and suggests using Sonnet for most tasks to manage expenses.
6. Login Options: The speaker explains the login options for Claude Code, including using a Claude subscription or API key.
7. Claude Max Subscription: The speaker recommends the Claude Max subscription for heavy users due to its increased usage limits.
8. Markdown Formatting: The speaker recommends formatting prompts in Markdown for better AI model adherence.
9. /init Command: The speaker highlights the /init command, which initializes a cloud.md file with codebase documentation.
10. Focus and Productivity: The speaker emphasizes that Claude Code encourages focus on a single task, contrasting it with asynchronous agents that promote multitasking.
11. Vibe Learning: The speaker encourages "vibe learning" by using Cursor's ask mode to learn about concepts while Claude Code is running.

Building the MVP Stages

1. Stage 1: Command-Line Interface (CLI): Claude Code sets up the CLI, including argument parsing and environment variable loading.
2. Stage 2: Anthropic API Integration: Claude Code implements the Anthropic API client and designs a prompt template for Pandoc Markdown.
3. Stage 3: Pandoc Execution: Claude Code creates a Pandoc execution function and handles Markdown to PPTX conversion.
4. Stage 4: Component Connection: Claude Code connects all components in the main CLI workflow, adds error handling, and implements file cleanup.
5. Stage 5: Testing and Polish: Claude Code tests the tool, improves error handling, and validates the output.

Testing and Results

1. Google Slides Import: The speaker tests the generated PPTX file by importing it into Google Slides.
2. Successful Presentation: The presentation is successfully imported, with editable text and a title.
3. Content Quality: The generated slides contain real information about Bitcoin, demonstrating the quality of the output.

Key Takeaways

• Claude Code is a powerful AI coding agent that can significantly enhance coding productivity.
• Combining Claude Code with other AI tools and adopting a "vibe learning" approach can further boost productivity.
• Careful prompt engineering, cost management, and a focus on deep work are essential for effective use of Claude Code.
• The speaker's experience building a successful AI startup, Vectal, provides valuable insights into using AI for coding and productivity.
• The MVP built in the video demonstrates the potential of Claude Code for automating tasks like generating presentations.