Summary  
This chapter covers how to direct an AI assistant to inspect and modify code by explicitly scoping its focus to relevant files or folders, excluding unrelated files, and requesting a brief plan before making changes.

General domain of usage  
AI-assisted code review and refactoring

### Keeping Claude Focused

Claude Code can inspect many files, but it does not always need the entire project. Giving it a clear scope helps reduce unnecessary work and keeps its response focused.

Mention the relevant file, folder, or feature directly in your prompt. You can also tell Claude what not to change.


> **Review the authentication files only. Identify the cause of the error, explain your proposed fix, and do not edit unrelated files.**

For larger tasks, ask Claude to inspect the project and create a plan before making changes. This gives you a chance to correct its understanding before it starts working.

> ### Task
>
> * Ask Claude to complete a small task in the provided workspace.
> * Specify which file or folder it should focus on.
> * Tell it not to edit unrelated files.
> * Ask for a short plan before it makes changes.
> * Review whether Claude stayed within the requested scope.


Learn how to use Claude Code to plan, build, improve, and automate a practical business application. You will set up an effective project environment, give Claude reliable context, turn specifications into working features, create reusable skills, connect external tools, and schedule recurring processes.

Explore how Claude Code works, install it locally, and use it to complete your first practical tasks. Learn how project context improves its results and how to refine and deploy what it creates.

Build a consistent project structure that helps Claude understand your codebase and instructions. Learn how to manage context, tokens, and conversations so Claude stays focused and produces reliable results.

Use Plan Mode and a project specification to design and build a functional business dashboard. You will also create reusable skills for lead research and automated website mockup generation.

Extend Claude Code by connecting it to services such as Gmail through MCP. Learn how to run tasks in parallel and schedule recurring processes that continue your workflows automatically.