The Complete Guide to Claude Code: Your £5.23/Day Full-Stack Developer

Welcome to Week 33

Hi there,

Two weeks ago I promised you the complete guide to Claude Code. Here it is.

Three and a half months ago, I knew virtually nothing about Python or Django. I started with copy-pasting into ChatGPT and Claude.ai in the browser. I built my first audit tool that way - copying code, pasting into files, debugging manually. I worked eighteen hour days to get it working. It was as frustrating as, well, as frustrating can be.

Then Claude Code launched. Everything changed.

No more copy-paste. No more context switching. Claude Code writes directly to your files, runs commands, debugs errors - it’s like looking over the shoulder of a senior developer and guiding her to the right solution. But of course you need to know how to guide!

After building £20,000+ worth of features in just the last 14 days for less than the cost of a pint of Amstel a day, I’ve distilled everything I’ve learned into this guide.

This isn’t theory - these are the exact methods that took me from browser copy-paste to professional development in weeks.

The Reality Check: My Actual Development Timeline

Let me show you exactly what I built and when:

Weeks 1-4: The Copy-Paste Era (April 2025)

Tool: Claude.ai in browser
Method: Copy code, paste into files, pray it works

I built my first scraper:

• 19 different scraper files (scraper.py, scraper_enhanced.py, scraper_concurrent.py…)
• Each iteration trying to fix the last one’s problems
• I spent weeks getting the scraper to work
• Manual debugging in Claude.ai. Every time there was an error I’d paste the error back expecting a solution.

Reality: 60+ hours for a basic working scraper

Weeks 5-12: The Django Platform Build (April-June 2025)

Tool: Still Claude.ai, but using Projects feature
Method: Better context, but still copy-paste

I created the SEO audit engine and Django platform:

• Integrated with Google Sheets API (took 2 full days)
• Built conditional formatting system
• Added retry logic for failed requests
• Created the entire dashboard system

Reality: 120+ hours for working platform, but fragile and slow to iterate

Week 13+: Claude Code Changes Everything (Mid-June 2025)

Tool: Claude Code
Method: Direct file manipulation, integrated terminal

This was two months development work:

• Complete Django admin interface with 15 models
• Wix invoice import system (706 invoices, £120k revenue tracking)
• P&L reporting with expense categorisation
• Marketing automation with email tracking
• Client success document management
• Mission Control task management system
• Newsletter system with MDX support
• Comprehensive Emergency Recovery Kit - complete disaster recovery system for crashed client sites
• Real-time audit monitoring with progress tracking

Last 2 Weeks (August 2025): The Astro Website Sprint

While writing this newsletter, I also:

• Built this entire Astro website (webuildstores.co.uk) from scratch
• Migrated 45+ blog posts from the old platform
• Designed responsive layouts and components
• Set up newsletter system with MDX support
• Created audit result pages with dynamic content
• Added SEO optimization and performance tuning

Reality: Two major projects running simultaneously - Claude Code makes this possible.

Reality: Claude Code can code ten times faster than my old approach.

The difference? Claude Code can:

• See your entire codebase context (reads files automatically)
• Run commands to test changes (integrated terminal)
• Fix errors immediately (no copy-paste cycle)
• Remember patterns from previous sessions (file system awareness)
• Create and manage todo lists (tracks progress automatically)
• Work with multiple tools simultaneously (parallel operations)
• Monitor background processes (like dev servers, Celery workers)
• Navigate your project structure intelligently
• Handle git operations (commits, pushes, branch management)
• Edit multiple files in one operation (batch edits)
• Debug stack traces and fix issues instantly
• Search across your entire codebase with context

How Claude Code Actually Works (Real Conversation Examples)

Here are actual conversation excerpts from building real features. Notice how different this is from browser Claude:

Starting a New Feature (Real Example: Wix Invoice Import)

Me: “I need to import 706 Wix invoices from CSV into my Django platform. Can you help?”

Claude Code: “I’ll help you build the invoice import system. Let me first examine your current project structure to understand how your models are organized.”

[Claude Code uses Read tool on models.py, examines the file structure]

Claude Code: “I can see you have a Django project with a dashboard app. I notice you’re using Django 4.2 and PostgreSQL. I’ll create Invoice and PaymentRecord models that follow your existing patterns. Should I create these in the dashboard app or would you prefer a separate financial app?”

Me: “Dashboard app is fine.”

Claude Code: “Perfect. I’ll create a todo list to track this work:

1. Create Invoice and PaymentRecord models
2. Build management command for CSV import
3. Add duplicate detection logic
4. Create admin interface for review

Let me start by adding the models to your existing dashboard/models.py file…”

[Claude Code reads the existing models file, adds the new models, then creates the management command, tests it, and handles errors - all without me having to copy-paste anything]

Bug Fixing (Real Example: Celery Task Failure)

Me: “My audit task is failing with ‘Connection refused’ error”

Claude Code: “Let me check your current setup. I’ll examine your Celery configuration and task definitions.”

[Claude Code uses multiple tools simultaneously - reads celery.py, settings.py, and the failing task file]

Claude Code: “I see the issue. You’re running Redis on Windows with Memurai, but your Celery broker URL is pointing to the default Redis port. Let me check if your Memurai service is running…”

[Runs bash command to check Windows services]

Claude Code: “Memurai isn’t running. I’ll add this to our todo list and start the service for you.”

[Updates todo list, starts the service, tests the task - problem solved in 2 minutes]

Complex Feature (Real Example: Mission Control Dashboard)

Me: “I want to build a Mission Control system for tracking tasks across all my clients”

Claude Code: “Excellent idea! Let me examine your current Client and Document models to understand the relationships, then I’ll design a task management system that integrates properly.”

[Claude Code reads multiple files: models.py, views.py, templates to understand existing patterns]

Claude Code: “I can see you’re using Bootstrap 5 with custom CSS, and you have a clean model structure. I’ll create a MissionControlTask model that links to your existing Client model. For the Kanban view, I’ll use your existing UI patterns.

Let me create a comprehensive todo list for this feature:

1. Create MissionControlTask model with Client relationship
2. Add task status choices (Pending, In Progress, Completed)
3. Build Kanban board template matching your existing UI
4. Add drag-and-drop functionality
5. Create task creation and editing modals
6. Add filtering by client and priority
7. Include document attachment capabilities

Should I proceed with step 1?”

[I say yes, and Claude Code builds each component step by step, testing as it goes, creating the model, migration, admin interface, then the views, then the templates - each step building on the previous one]

Real Client Win: The Database Nightmare

The Problem: Client’s WooCommerce site crashed. Years of order data trapped in corrupted database backups. Previous developer quoted £2,500 to “rebuild everything from scratch.”

My Solution with Claude Code:

1. Used Claude to write custom SQL extraction scripts
2. Built a Django import system to clean and validate the data
3. Created a reconciliation report showing what was recovered
4. Generated customer-friendly order history exports

Time taken: 2 hours
Cost: £0.44 (£5.23 ÷ 24 × 2)
Client saved: £2,499.56
Data recovered: 100% of orders, 98% of customer records

The client literally cried with relief. Their entire business history was saved.

Then I Built the Emergency Recovery Kit

After that experience, I realised every business needs a disaster recovery system. So I built a comprehensive Emergency Recovery Kit that includes:

• Automated backup systems
• Database recovery scripts
• Site reconstruction tools
• Step-by-step recovery procedures

Now when a client’s site crashes, instead of panic and expensive emergency calls, there’s a systematic recovery process. That’s the power of turning one-off solutions into reusable systems.

How Claude Code Really Works (Not Linear Stages!)

Forget everything you know about “development workflows.” Claude Code is conversational, not staged. Here’s what actually happens:

The Real Claude Code Pattern

1. You Describe the Problem (30 seconds) “I need to track client payments” or “My audit system keeps timing out”

2. Claude Code Investigates (30-60 seconds)
Claude Code automatically:

• Reads your existing files to understand the context
• Examines your project structure and patterns
• Identifies relevant models, views, and templates
• Sometimes runs commands to check your environment

3. Claude Code Plans Out Loud (30 seconds) “I can see you’re using Django with PostgreSQL. I’ll create a Payment model that links to your existing Client model. I notice you prefer using UUID primary keys, so I’ll follow that pattern.”

4. Collaborative Building (Most of the Time) This is where the magic happens - it’s not linear steps, it’s dynamic conversation:

• Claude Code: “I’m creating the Payment model now. Should I include payment method fields like ‘card’, ‘bank transfer’?”
• You: “Yes, and add a status field too”
• Claude Code: “Perfect, I’ll add status with choices. I’m also creating a todo list to track our progress…”
• [Claude Code creates todo list, updates it as we work]
• Claude Code: “Model created. Now I’m building the admin interface… I notice you use custom CSS classes, so I’ll match those in the forms…”

5. Immediate Testing & Iteration Unlike browser Claude, Claude Code can:

• Run migrations to test the database changes
• Start the development server to check everything works
• Run management commands to test functionality
• Monitor background processes (like Celery tasks)
• Fix errors immediately without you copy-pasting

6. Claude Code Suggests Improvements “I’ve got the basic payment tracking working. I notice you might want to add email notifications when payments are received. Should I build that too?”

What Makes This Different from Browser Claude

Browser Claude:

• You describe what you want
• Claude gives you code to copy-paste
• You paste it into files
• You run into errors
• You paste errors back to Claude
• Repeat until it works

Claude Code:

• You describe what you want
• Claude Code examines your project automatically
• Claude Code writes directly to your files using your existing patterns
• Claude Code tests changes immediately
• Claude Code fixes errors without you doing anything
• Claude Code suggests related improvements you might want

The “Background Magic”

Claude Code can monitor things in the background:

• Development server running? Claude Code knows and can restart it if needed
• Database migrations needed? Claude Code runs them automatically
• Tests failing? Claude Code can run tests and fix issues
• CSS not loading? Claude Code checks your static file configuration

This is why development is 40x faster. No context switching, no copy-paste errors, no forgetting where you put things.

The Features I Built This Week

Monday: Emergency recovery system for crashed client sites
Tuesday: Automated audit presentation generator with custom branding
Wednesday: Multi-source SEO intelligence dashboard
Thursday: Financial P&L reporting with expense categorisation
Friday: Marketing automation with conversation tracking

Each feature is production-ready and handling real business operations right now.

Why Smart Business Owners Are Learning AI Development

The development landscape has changed dramatically. What used to require expensive agency teams can now be accomplished by business owners working with AI tools.

Smart business owners are recognizing this shift and adapting fast. Instead of waiting weeks for agencies and paying premium rates, they’re learning to work directly with AI developers like Claude Code.

The reality: Most “custom development” projects are combinations of standard patterns. Claude Code knows these patterns and can implement them consistently and quickly.

The new economics:

• Basic websites: Build with AI assistance (£5/day vs £3,000+ agency projects)
• Complex systems: AI-guided development with occasional expert consultation (£500-1500 vs £10,000+ full agency builds)
• Bug fixes: Usually solvable in 30 minutes with AI (vs £300+ emergency callouts)

This isn’t about replacing developers - it’s about smart business owners taking control of their technology needs and learning to work more efficiently.

What I Learned The Hard Way

The Copy-Paste Nightmare

In the early days with Claude.ai browser, I’d copy code and paste it into files without understanding the structure. Spent hours debugging import errors because I didn’t understand Python’s module system. Claude Code eliminates this entirely by working directly with your files and understanding your project structure automatically.

Context Is Everything

The biggest breakthrough came when I realised Claude Code remembers your entire project. In the browser, I was constantly re-explaining what I’d built. With Claude Code, I can say “update the audit system to handle timeouts” and it responds with “Let me examine your current audit_engine.py file…” then immediately knows exactly what audit system, which files, and how they connect.

Claude Code Actually Talks Like a Developer

You’ll notice Claude Code communicates differently:

• “I notice you’re using Django 4.2, so I’ll use the modern async patterns…”
• “Looking at your existing models, I’ll follow the same UUID pattern…”
• “I see you have a Celery task running in the background, let me check its status…”
• “Your database schema needs this migration - I’ll create and run it for you…”

Start Small, Then Scale (But Claude Code Helps You Scale Faster)

My best results still come from building one small feature completely, then expanding. But Claude Code accelerates the expansion phase dramatically. Instead of “build an entire CRM system,” I say “create a Contact model” and Claude Code often responds with “I’ll create the Contact model, and I can see you’ll probably want Campaign and EmailLog models too - should I plan those out?”

The Todo List Game-Changer

One feature I didn’t expect to love: Claude Code creates and manages todo lists automatically. It’ll say “I’m creating a todo list to track this work:” then update it as we progress. This keeps complex builds organized and ensures nothing gets forgotten.

The One Warning I Must Give

Claude Code amplifies your decision-making, not your knowledge. If you don’t understand the business problem you’re solving, Claude Code will build the wrong solution very efficiently.

But if you know what you need, Claude Code becomes a force multiplier unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.

This Week’s Action Step: The “Business Problem” Test

Forget “Hello World” - that’s for computer science students. Here’s the test that matters:

Step 1: Pick ONE Real Business Problem (10 minutes)

Examples from my journey:

• “I need to track which invoices are paid/unpaid”
• “I want to see which clients haven’t been contacted in 30 days”
• “I need to know which website audits found the most problems”

Step 2: Start a Claude Code Session (5 minutes)

Your First Prompt:

"I run a [your business type] and I have this problem: [your problem]. 
I want to build a simple Django app to track this. Can you help me 
understand what data I need to store and create a basic structure?"

What Claude Code Will Actually Say: “I’ll help you build this! Let me start by creating a new Django project and examining what data structure would work best for tracking [your problem]. I’ll create a todo list to track our progress and make sure we cover all the essentials.”

Step 3: Follow the Build (30 minutes)

Let Claude Code:

• Create the Django project (it’ll automatically set up the virtual environment)
• Design the models (it’ll ask clarifying questions about your specific needs)
• Build a simple admin interface (matching Django best practices)
• Run migrations and start the development server for you to test
• Show you how to add test data (often with a management command)

What Makes This Different: Claude Code will do ALL of this without you copy-pasting anything. It’ll create files, run commands, test things work, and fix any errors automatically.

Step 4: The Moment of Truth

If you can see your real business data in Django admin, you’ve just crossed the bridge from “user” to “builder.”

What This Actually Tests:

• Can you articulate a business problem? (Most people can’t)
• Can you follow technical instructions? (Easier than you think)
• Can you see the connection between code and results? (The breakthrough moment)

If you get stuck, reply with “HELP” and I’ll send you my exact starter template. But try it first - you’ll surprise yourself.

Next Week: Behind the Scenes

“The Real Cost of Building vs Buying”

Why I spent months building a custom Django platform instead of using existing tools.

I’ll share:

• The real numbers: time invested, costs avoided, capabilities gained
• The 3am debugging sessions and breakthrough moments
• How the custom platform delivers results generic tools simply can’t
• When to build vs when to buy for maximum ROI
• The client impact that made it all worthwhile

Plus: The business decision framework I use when choosing between building custom solutions or buying off-the-shelf tools.

Until next Thursday,

Tony Cooper
Founder, We Build Stores

P.S. - Building something with AI? Hit reply and tell me about it. I read every email.

Ready to get started? Download Claude Code here - it’s free to try.

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