Thread by @thetripathi58

I just "hired" a Senior Engineer for $20/month.

It works 24/7, never complains, and writes better docs than your lead dev.

Most people use Claude incorrectly. They treat it like a chatbot.
I treat it like a Coworker.

Here is the exact 15-step workflow to set up Claude Cowork so it builds while you sleep (Save this):

1. The "Context Injection" Protocol

Stop pasting code snippets. Claude needs the full picture.

Create a `context(.)md` file in your root.
Dump your project structure, tech stack versions, and current blockers.

Prompt:
"Read `context(.)md`. Acknowledge you understand the architecture. Do not generate code yet. Just say 'Ready'."

2. Define the Persona

Don't just say "Write code."
Assign a role.

Prompt:
"Act as a Staff Engineer at a FAANG company. Your priorities are:
1. Clean, maintainable code
2. Security best practices
3. Edge case handling
If I ask for a quick fix, refuse and give me the scalable solution instead."

3. The "Memory Bank" Setup

Claude forgets. Make it remember.

Tell it to maintain a "Session State" at the top of its context window.

Prompt:
"Maintain a running list of:
- Current file paths we are editing
- The last 3 bugs we fixed
- The immediate next step
Update this list before every response."

4. Automated Code Reviews

Before you merge, make Claude roast you.

Prompt:
"Review this PR diff. Be harsh. Look for:
- Memory leaks
- N+1 query issues
- Inefficient loops
- Missing error handling
Rate the code 1-10. If it's below an 8, tell me exactly what to rewrite."

5. The "Test-First" Enforcer

Force Claude to write tests before implementation.

Prompt:
"We are doing TDD.
Task: [Describe Feature].
Step 1: Write the failing unit tests in Pytest/Jest.
Do not write the implementation code until I confirm the tests look correct."

6. The "Refactor" Loop

Legacy code is a nightmare. Automate the cleanup.

Prompt:
"Analyze `messy_file.py`.
Identify functions with high cyclomatic complexity.
Refactor them into smaller, single-responsibility helper functions.
Keep the original logic intact."

7. Documentation that doesn't suck

Devs hate writing docs. Claude loves it.

Prompt:
"Generate a README section for this module.
Include:
- Installation steps
- Required env variables
- A 'Common Errors' troubleshooting section based on the code logic."

8. The "API Mocker"

Frontend waiting on Backend? Stop waiting.

Prompt:
"I need a mock API response for [Endpoint].
Generate a JSON object with 50 realistic user records.
Include edge cases like null values, extremely long names, and special characters."

9. SQL Optimization Partner

Slow queries kill apps.

Prompt:
"Here is my schema and my query.
Explain the query execution plan.
Suggest indexes I should add to optimize performance.
Rewrite the query to avoid full table scans."

10. The "Variable Naming" Committee

Naming things is the hardest problem in CS.

Prompt:
"Rename these variables to be descriptive and follow PEP8/CamelCase standards.
'x' and 'data' are banned.
Use intention-revealing names like `user_authentication_token` instead of `token`."

11. The "Commit Message" Scribe

Stop writing "fixed bug".

Prompt:
"Generate 3 semantic commit messages for these changes based on the Conventional Commits specification.
Format: <type>(<scope>): <subject>"

12. CI/CD Pipeline Generator

Don't write YAML from scratch.

Prompt:
"Write a GitHub Actions workflow.
Triggers: Push to main, PRs.
Steps:
1. Checkout code
2. Install dependencies (cache them)
3. Run linting
4. Run tests
5. Build Docker image"

13. The "Error Translator"

Stack traces are cryptic.

Prompt:
"Paste this error log: [LOG].
Explain it to me like I'm 5.
Then explain it like I'm a Senior Dev.
Point me to the exact line of code causing this."

14. Meeting Note Synthesis

Turn transcripts into tickets.

Prompt:
"Here is the transcript of our sprint planning.
Extract:
- Action items (assigned to whom)
- Deadlines
- Technical decisions made
Format this as a Jira ticket description."

15. The "Handover" Protocol

When you step away, make it easy to resume.

Prompt:
"Summarize our current session.
What is working?
What is broken?
What is the exact command I need to run first when I come back tomorrow?
Write this into a `handover.txt` file."

Most people use AI to write code.
Smart engineers use AI to manage the coding process.

If you set up these 15 protocols, you aren't just coding faster.
You're operating at a Staff Engineer level.

Follow me @thetripathi58for more systems to dominate tech.
Like/Repost the first tweet to help others setup their "coworker":

https://x.com/thetripathi58/status/2027773644374741273