Day 04 of 07
Build your first real thing
Goal: Use Claude Code to build one small but real project from your brief and learn how to review it without panicking or nitpicking everything.
What to do
Choose the smallest useful version
Pick a landing page, simple tool, intake form, calculator, FAQ page, or similar first build. Smaller wins today.
Ask Claude Code to build from the brief
Give Claude Code the brief and ask it to confirm, ask final questions, build step by step, and explain how to view the result.
I want to build my first project using Claude Code. Here is my project brief: [PASTE YOUR BRIEF HERE]. Please: 1. Confirm you understand what I am building, 2. Ask me any clarifying questions before starting, 3. Build it step by step explaining what you are doing in plain English, 4. When done, tell me how to view what you built, 5. Tell me the 3 most common things I might want to change.Open and inspect what it built
View the result in your browser or local preview. Pretend you are the client seeing it for the first time.
Write down the top 3 changes you want
Do not nitpick everything. Pick the three changes that would make the build feel more useful or more credible.
Expected result
You have a working first version of a real project and a short list of the three most useful improvements to make next.
Key takeaway
- The first build is a draft, not a verdict.
- Shipping one small real thing beats planning ten imaginary things.
- Review like a client, not a dazzled spectator.