CC - Checklists & Todos

Breaking up the work

When you ask Claude Code to do something complex, it'll often figure out a way to do it — but maybe not your way. Checklists let you define the steps you want Claude Code to follow, so the task gets done the same way every time.

Think of it like writing a procedure. You're not writing code, but you are defining an algorithm — a sequence of steps the agent will follow in order. The clearer those steps are, the more consistent and predictable the output becomes.

Claude Code's tool for this is TaskCreate. When Claude Code uses it, a to-do list appears as it works, and items get checked off one by one. If something interrupts the agent mid-task, it can resume from where it left off — the checklist holds its place.

You can ask Claude Code to use TaskCreate and let it figure out the steps on its own:

✏️ Run this prompt:

Review the codebase. Use the TaskCreate tool to break the work up into 4 steps.

Watch a to-do list appear in the chat as Claude Code works through it. Claude Code is doing its own planning here — which is fine for exploratory work — but you have no guarantee it will approach the task the same way twice.

For repeatable workflows, define the steps explicitly in your prompt. Claude Code will follow your plan exactly.

First, drag and drop a folder from your project directly into the Claude Code chat window to attach it as context. Then run:

✏️ Run this prompt:

Look at the tests folder and identify any missing tests.

Use the TaskCreate tool to break the work into these steps:
1. Read all the tests
2. Identify missing edge cases
3. Generate a summary for me

This time, the to-do list matches your steps exactly. That's the version you want when the process matters.

✏️ Exercise

Write a prompt asking the agent to explain the codebase to you according to your employee_profile.md

Ask the agent to use the TaskCreate tool to break up the work into 3 todo items

Quickly review the code to build basic context
Read the employee profile
Present an explanation that the employee will understand

BONUS:

Add a persona
Interrupt the agent halfway through then have it continue

You are a tech communicator.

I need you to explain the codebase to me based on my employee profile.

Use the TaskCreate tool to break the work into these steps:
1. Quickly review the codebase to build context
2. Read the employee-profile.md file
3. Present an explanation appropriate to my background and role

You'll get an explanation tailored to whoever is in that profile — very different output depending on whether the person is a senior engineer or a product manager.

Next: CC - Reusable Prompts