Claude Code Cheat Sheet

Who Should Read

Developers who use Claude Code in the terminal daily but frequently forget commands or shortcuts — especially those who want to properly leverage advanced features like MCP server configuration, agent workflows, and context management.

Core Mechanics

• The cheat sheet covers four main areas: keyboard shortcuts (Esc escaping, Ctrl+C canceling, etc.), slash commands (/clear, /compact, /memory), CLI flags (--continue, --resume, --print), and MCP configuration syntax.
• The memory management section is particularly useful: it documents the difference between /memory (view current memory), /memory add (add a memory), and the CLAUDE.md file for persistent project context.
• The MCP section documents the JSON config format for adding MCP servers, which is underdocumented in the official docs and frequently asked about.
• Auto-update is implemented by fetching the latest version from a remote source, so the cheat sheet reflects new Claude Code features as they're released.
• The project is open-source and accepts contributions — several community members have added tips for specific use cases (monorepos, Python projects, etc.).

Evidence

• The cheat sheet became a popular bookmark in developer communities within days of release — many developers reported learning shortcuts they didn't know existed.
• Commenters frequently mentioned the MCP configuration section as the most valuable part, as the official documentation on MCP setup is sparse.
• Several developers noted they'd been using /clear when they should have been using /compact — a common mistake the cheat sheet clarifies.
• The auto-update feature was noted as particularly thoughtful since Claude Code releases updates frequently and cheat sheets for rapidly-evolving tools go stale fast.

How to Apply

• Bookmark or pin the cheat sheet URL in your browser for quick access during Claude Code sessions.
• Pay special attention to /compact vs /clear — /compact summarizes context to free up space while preserving memory, while /clear wipes everything.
• For team adoption, share the MCP configuration section specifically — it answers the most common setup questions.
• If you're using Claude Code with a specific stack (Python, TypeScript, monorepo), check the community contributions section for stack-specific tips.

Code Example

# Analyze a file in non-interactive mode and receive JSON results
cat myfile.py | claude -p "Find bugs in this code" --output-format json --max-budget-usd 2

# Resume by session name
claude -r "my-session-name"

# Continue from the last conversation
claude -c

# Start in plan mode (review before execution)
claude --permission-mode plan

# Minimal headless mode (no hooks/LSP/plugins)
claude --bare

# Set default effort level via environment variable
export CLAUDE_CODE_EFFORT_LEVEL=high
export MAX_THINKING_TOKENS=0  # Disable thinking
export IS_DEMO=1  # Remove welcome banner

# Isolated work per feature using Git Worktree
claude --worktree feature/new-api

Terminology

Related Resources

• https://cc.storyfox.cz
• https://github.com/notque/claude-code-toolkit