Claude Code Experiments: 4 Tests to Optimize Your Workflow

Problem: You use the same prompting patterns every session - and you have no idea if they are optimal or costing you time.

Quick Win: Run this experiment right now to see how prompt style changes Claude's output:

# Experiment A: Direct command
claude "Fix the bug in auth.js"
 
# Experiment B: Collaborative framing
claude "Let's debug auth.js together. Walk me through what you see first."

Compare the outputs. The collaborative version typically produces more thorough analysis and catches edge cases the direct version misses. That is experimentation in action.

Experiment 1: Prompt Style Showdown

The same task produces dramatically different results based on how you frame it. Try these three styles on any debugging task:

# Style 1: Command
claude "Fix the login validation bug"
 
# Style 2: Teaching request
claude "Explain what's wrong with login validation and show me the fix step by step"
 
# Style 3: Review mode
claude "Review the login validation code. What bugs, security issues, or edge cases do you see?"

What you'll discover: Style 3 (review mode) consistently finds more issues because it frames the task as analysis rather than quick-fix execution. Document which style works best for different task types in your projects.

Experiment 2: File Context Impact

Claude's code quality changes based on what files you provide as context. Test this yourself:

# Experiment A: Single file
claude "Refactor UserService.ts for better error handling"
 
# Experiment B: Related files included
claude "Refactor UserService.ts for better error handling. Related files: AuthController.ts, types/user.ts, utils/errors.ts"

The second version produces refactors that align with your existing patterns. Without context, Claude invents patterns that may conflict with your codebase.

Try this: Before your next refactoring task, explicitly list 2-3 related files. Compare the output quality to working with a single file.

Experiment 3: Planning Mode vs Direct Execution

Planning mode (Shift+Tab twice) changes how Claude approaches problems. Run this comparison:

# Direct execution
claude "Add user role permissions to the dashboard"
 
# Planning first (enter planning mode, then)
claude "Add user role permissions to the dashboard"

In planning mode, Claude analyzes your codebase and presents options before touching files. You get to review the approach, catch potential issues, and choose the best path forward.

The discovery: Complex features (3+ files affected) almost always benefit from planning mode. Simple fixes do not. Find your threshold.

Experiment 4: CLAUDE.md Configurations

Your CLAUDE.md file directly shapes Claude's behavior. Test different configurations:

# Configuration A: Minimal
 
Always run tests after changes.
 
# Configuration B: Detailed
 
Always run tests after changes.
Prefer small, focused commits.
Ask before modifying files outside src/.
Use existing patterns from the codebase.

Run the same task with each configuration and compare:

• How many clarifying questions does Claude ask?
• Does it follow your project patterns?
• Are the commits appropriately scoped?

Your CLAUDE.md is not documentation - it is an operating system. Experiment with different instructions to find what produces the best results for your workflow.

Building Your Experiment Log

Create a simple tracking file:

# Experiments Log
 
## 2025-01-15: Prompt Framing
 
- **Test**: "Fix X" vs "Review X for issues"
- **Result**: Review framing found 3 additional edge cases
- **Action**: Use review framing for any security-related code
 
## 2025-01-16: Context Loading
 
- **Test**: Single file vs multi-file context
- **Result**: Multi-file context matched existing error patterns
- **Action**: Always include related type files for refactors

This log becomes your personal optimization guide. Patterns that work get repeated. Patterns that fail get avoided.

Next Experiments

Ready to test more? Try these:

1. Context management: What happens at 60% vs 90% context usage?
2. Auto-planning: Does automated planning outperform manual mode switching?
3. Model selection: How do different models handle the same complex task?

Stop guessing what works. Run the experiment. Document the result. Iterate.

Every session is a chance to discover something that makes you faster. The developers who experiment systematically outperform those who stick with their first approach.

This experimentation approach is what we call the "system evolution mindset." It's one of 5 Claude Code best practices that separate top developers from everyone else.