Practical Lesson 7 of 7

Build Systems, Not One-Shots

Most people use Claude as a one-time answer machine: ask question, get answer, move on. This leaves enormous value on the table.

"Claude is most powerful as a system component,
not as a one-shot oracle."

One-Shot vs. System Thinking

One-Shot Approach

Ask Claude to write code. Copy-paste the result. Forget the conversation. Repeat from scratch next time.

System Approach

Build workflows where Claude's output feeds into the next step. Plans persist. Knowledge compounds.

Claude as a System Component

When you treat Claude as part of a system, you start thinking differently about every interaction:

Plans as Artifacts

Don't let Claude's research disappear. Save plans to docs/plans/. They become inputs for future sessions.

CLAUDE.md as Configuration

Your project instructions persist across sessions. Every new conversation starts with accumulated wisdom.

MCP Tools as Extensions

Connect Claude to your databases, APIs, and services. Claude becomes a programmable interface to your entire stack.

Hooks as Automation

Trigger actions automatically. Format code on save. Run tests after edits. Build pipelines around Claude's output.

The Compound Effect

Each plan you save makes the next plan better. Each CLAUDE.md improvement helps every future conversation. Small investments compound into massive productivity gains.

Stop thinking "How do I get Claude to answer this question?" Start thinking "How do I build a system where Claude makes my entire workflow better?"

Practical Steps

  1. Commit your plans - Every plan goes into version control
  2. Evolve CLAUDE.md - Add lessons learned after each project
  3. Set up MCP - Connect Claude to your real tools and data
  4. Create hooks - Automate repetitive validation and formatting
  5. Reference past work - Point Claude to similar previous implementations

Key Takeaways

  • Claude is most powerful as a system component
  • Plans, CLAUDE.md, MCP, and hooks compound over time
  • One-shot usage leaves enormous value unrealized
  • Build workflows where knowledge persists and grows
  • Small system investments yield massive returns