Claude Code - Looking for guidance on where to start with coding and tools

I would recommend using AI not as a solution to everything in your programs but instead as a glorified search engine. As an experienced programmer that knows how it works, it's sometimes alright to write larger amounts of code with an LLM, but if you are learning, just use AI to answer small question (e.g. "How can I declare an array in C++"). Speaking of programming languages do what ever calls but i would recommend using something easy to learn first(e.g. Python, JS), and progress to harder languages (e.g. C++, Java, etc). As for what kind of things to start with try something really simple first like printing "Hello, world!" learn about the basics of the syntax of your given language get used to stuff like variables, arrays, objects, loops (e.g. for loops, while loops, foreach loops, do while loops) and try doing some easy leetcode questions(as not only knowing your syntax is import knowing how to use it in more so), than do what ever you think would be cool. It can all be a bit overwhelming but it's easy enough once you get the idea. good luck!

Anthropic provides several courses (with different levels of complexity) on their products: https://anthropic.skilljar.com/.

For instance: https://anthropic.skilljar.com/claude-code-101 is a good starting point for Claude code starting from the basics and explaining how to customize and use Claude code.

Once you get more familiar with Claude code features, you can check: https://support.claude.com/en/articles/9529781-examples-of-projects-you-can-create to get some ideas on a project you can create for your needs to put what you have learned in practice. Even if you said you have already a project in mind, so you might skip this.

This way you can learn in a focused way Claude code without too many extra tools distractions.

Bonus tip: once you get familiar with Agent Skills, I strongly suggest to use Superpowers skills, especially the brainstorming skill is amazing to plan an initial project idea and identify edge cases.

My advice: take deep breaths, think of your AI as an assistant, not a solution, you should probably start with an AI chat, (e.g., google gemini, chatGPT, claud, etc.) and discuss this very issue; LLM's are exceptional at explaining well documented topics, such as where to best begin. Some tips that carry over form IT to coding: Best-practices (just different domains), tools (yup, both have a lot of these, and you have to learn about the existence of the best ones at-least), jargon (e.g., IT has the OSI, coding has SOLID)

I'm sure claude can explain how to get started with a "hello world" (jargon for proof-of-concept code) using the claude code product. Hope that helps.

Thank you Francesco really appreciate it. Yes, I've heard a lot of chatter about Superpowers skills. Are there any other must haves that should also be added on or used? Is there a list somewhere of the TOP addons to use?

Thank you sir for taking the time to respond. Really appreciate it.

Thank you PenguineDavid. I really appreciate the response. I don't mind taking the time to read and learn, my hesitation comes from choosing a proper reliable source and learning from. I'd rather learn properly initially than to learn from someone's (i.e. on YouTube) bad habits and having to unlearn and re-learn properly again. I'll do some more digging around. Thanks again.