Using Claude Code for Large Engineering Projects

In this video, I walk through my complete workflow for tackling large coding projects using Claude Code's plan mode. I demonstrate how to start with a rough dictated prompt, use plan mode to explore the codebase and generate clarifying questions, and break complex work into multi-phase plans that can span multiple context windows. I show my custom rules configuration that keeps plans concise and adds unresolved questions, how to monitor context usage throughout implementation, and my strategy of storing plans as GitHub issues to preserve them across context resets. This approach combines upfront planning with aggressive auto-accept during implementation phases, allowing AI to handle substantial features while maintaining control and code quality. I share practical tips including my favorite concision rule, the benefits of multi-phase planning, and how to effectively manage context windows for large projects.

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