The Explore → Plan → Code → Commit workflow in Claude Code

Core Workflow

• Explore → Plan → Code → Commit
• Avoid jumping straight to coding; this reduces course-correction later

Explore & Plan Phase

• Use Plan Mode (Shift+Tab) to explore without editing files
• Claude reads files, researches, and generates an action plan
• Review the plan before approval — this is the best place to course-correct before code is written
• Can also explore codebase without Plan Mode by asking Claude directly

Plan Approval & Execution

• Select Approve to accept the plan
• Choose whether Claude auto-accepts file edits or asks for confirmation each time
• Claude troubleshoots before marking the plan complete

Making Plans Effective

• Be explicit about what you consider "correct" in your plan
• Add tools to help Claude succeed:
• Use Claude in Chrome extension for UI testing
• Include a test suite Claude can validate against continuously
• Ensure tests are a source of truth for your team

Code Phase

• Collaborate with Claude through iterations until results match the plan
• Use context from the plan to guide course-corrections

Commit Phase

• Run a sub-agent code reviewer before committing
• Have Claude generate a commit message in your style
• Review and push code to start the next feature

Takeaways

• Plan before coding: Use Plan Mode to explore and generate an action plan, then review and approve it—this is the most effective place to catch issues before writing code.

• Be explicit about success criteria: Clearly define what "correct" means in your plan so Claude can validate work accurately throughout the workflow.

• Add validation tools: Include test suites, UI testing capabilities, and other tools that Claude can use continuously to verify work matches the plan.

• Iterate collaboratively: After approval, work through code iterations with Claude using the plan as a reference guide for course-corrections.

• Review before committing: Use a code reviewer sub-agent and have Claude generate commit messages before pushing to ensure quality control at the final step.