Claude Code: Part 4 - Slash Commands and Custom Commands

The Problem

You type the same instructions to Claude every day: "Run tests", "Check TypeScript errors", "Review changes". Repetitive and wasteful.

The Solution

Slash commands turn repeated instructions into shortcuts. /test replaces paragraphs of testing instructions.

Built-in Commands

/clear      # Fresh start
/compact    # Compress history  
/help       # Show commands
/agents     # Manage subagents
/add-dir    # Add working directory
/bug        # Report bug
/config     # Show configuration
/mcp        # MCP servers
/review     # Request code review
/exit       # End session

Custom Commands

Create .claude/commands/test-all.md:

1. Run pnpm type:check
2. Run pnpm lint
3. Run pnpm test
4. Report issues

Now /test-all runs everything.

Example Commands

.claude/commands/morning.md: Daily setup (git pull, tests, status) .claude/commands/ready.md: Pre-commit checks .claude/commands/review.md: PR preparation

Organization

Group commands by phase (planning/, development/, deployment/) or domain (frontend/, backend/, testing/).

Best Practices

• Be specific: "Check TypeScript errors in src/" not "Check code"
• Include success criteria: "0 test failures, 80% coverage"
• Keep commands under 10 steps
• Use numbered lists for clarity

Sharing Commands

• Team: Commit .claude/commands/ to git
• Personal: Use ~/.claude/commands/ globally

Advanced Features

Commands can include:

• Parameters: "Ask for feature name, create feature/[name]"
• Conditionals: "If production, run security scan"
• Context awareness: "Analyze current file"

Getting Started

1. Identify what you repeat daily
2. Create .claude/commands/[name].md
3. Keep instructions under 10 steps
4. Test and refine

Slash commands eliminate repetitive instructions.

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Claude Code Blog Series

Previous: Part 3 - Conversation Management and Context Next: Part 5 - MCP Servers and Tool Integration

Full Series:

1. Part 1 - Getting Started and Installation
2. Part 2 - CLAUDE.md Configuration Files
3. Part 3 - Conversation Management and Context
4. Part 4 - Slash Commands and Custom Commands (this post)
5. Part 5 - MCP Servers and Tool Integration
6. Part 6 - Subagents and Task Delegation
7. Part 7 - IDE Integration with VS Code and JetBrains
8. Part 8 - Hooks for Automated Quality Checks
9. Part 9 - Complete Development Workflows
10. Part 10 - Power User CLI Options and Scripting
11. Part 11 - Troubleshooting and Recovery