How to Build Iterative Workflows in Claude Code
Users build iterative workflows in Claude Code by starting with a planning phase to outline goals and deliverables, then implementing changes, and refining through feedback loops. The approach works for code reviews, debugging, project planning, and data analysis. To manage Claude's context window and avoid repetition, users externalize state into files like plan.md and CLAUDE.md so Claude can read relevant sections on demand. This keeps sessions focused without re-establishing context each time. Advanced setups pair Claude Code with cheaper models for execution, build custom critic agents to catch gaps, and connect external tools through MCP servers for autonomous context gathering and verification.
Claude Code Best Practices for Context and Workflows
Treat Claude as a capable but context-limited junior developer by managing its context carefully and planning tasks before implementation. Keep your CLAUDE.md files short, ideally under 200 lines, focusing only on tech stacks, conventions, and domain rules Claude cannot infer on its own. Use MEMORY.md files and the /compact command to retain knowledge across sessions and compress context when responses degrade. Always use plan mode for complex tasks, break work into small incremental steps, and let Claude fix its own bugs to improve its understanding of your codebase. Use subagents to keep the main context window clean, and route mechanical tasks to cheaper models to save tokens.