Free Resources
AI Guides for Fractional Leaders
Practical, hands-on guides to help you deploy AI faster inside your client work. No theory. No hype.
Prompt Engineering
23 guidesWrite better prompts for any AI model. Covers structured output, summarization, simplification, and the anatomy of effective prompts.
Intermediate
AI Improvement Prompting for Operators
Take rough drafts, vague tickets, and messy notes and refine them into polished, client-ready deliverables with structured improvement prompts.
Intermediate
Building an Improvement Prompt Step by Step
Walk through every piece of an improvement prompt: role, task, requirements, tone, output format, and real examples from your backlog.
Intermediate
Improvement Prompt Templates for Client Work
Three ready-to-use improvement prompts for client reports, proposals, and meeting notes. Plus the backlog trick and chaining pattern.
Beginner
Markdown Prompting: Structure Your AI Inputs
Why formatting your prompts as Markdown improves AI output quality, and how to structure prompts with headers, lists, and code blocks.
Beginner
Markdown Prompt Templates for Operators
Copy-paste Markdown prompt templates for client reports, content editing, and meeting prep. Plus common formatting mistakes to avoid.
Intermediate
XML Prompting: Structured Output for Complex Tasks
When and why to deploy XML as an AI output format. Covers tag structure, CDATA wrapping, and the code changes prompt pattern.
Intermediate
XML Prompt Templates and Patterns
Ready-to-use XML prompt templates for project tracking, change logs, and process documentation. Plus parsing and validation guidance.
Intermediate
JSON Output Prompting for Operators
How to get AI models to produce valid, parseable JSON. Covers schema definition, the array wrapper pattern, and preventing parser-breaking output.
Intermediate
JSON Prompt Templates for Client Work
Three JSON prompt templates for meeting extraction, competitive analysis, and engagement tracking. Plus validation and workflow chaining.
Beginner
Prompt Engineering: The Absolute Basics
What prompting is, how tokens work, context windows, temperature, and pricing. The foundation every operator needs before writing a single prompt.
Beginner
AI Chat Apps for Prompt Engineering
How ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini work under the hood. Why hidden system prompts affect your results and when to use chat apps vs playgrounds.
Beginner
AI Playgrounds for Prompt Engineering
OpenAI Playground, Anthropic Workbench, and Google AI Studio. Direct model access, temperature control, and proper A/B testing for your prompts.
Beginner
AI Prompt Generators for Operators
How prompt generators turn a rough description into a structured prompt. When to use them vs writing prompts yourself.
Beginner
AI Prompt Improvers: Refine What You Already Wrote
How prompt improvers take an existing prompt and make it better. The difference between generators and improvers, and when to use each.
Beginner
The Door Rule: A Mental Model for Prompting
Imagine sliding instructions under a door. If the person on the other side can not complete the task, your prompt needs more context.
Beginner
Common Prompting Tips That Actually Work
Battle-tested prompting patterns for operators. Be direct, front-load instructions, provide context, and build feedback loops.
Intermediate
The Anatomy of a Good Prompt
The seven components of an effective prompt: role, task, context, details, format, examples, and tone. With annotated examples for every piece.
Beginner
Using Different AI Models Effectively
Three tiers of models (fast, flagship, reasoning) across three labs. Which model to pick for which deliverable and how to switch mid-workflow.
Intermediate
Reasoning Models: When Thinking Time Pays Off
How reasoning models differ from regular models, why they need less instruction, and when the extra cost and latency are worth it.
Beginner
Case Studies: Start Here
How to use the prompt engineering case studies. Maps each case study to the operator tasks it solves.
Intermediate
Summarization Prompting for Operators
How to build AI prompts that summarize reports, meetings, and long documents into structured, client-ready outputs.
Intermediate
Simplification Prompting: Translate Complexity for Any Audience
How to prompt AI to simplify technical content for boards, end users, and new hires without losing accuracy.
Beginner
Prompt Engineering Resources Worth Reading Before You Start
Four resources from OpenAI and Anthropic that give operators grounding before the hands-on work begins. What each covers and when to read it.
Claude Code
18 guidesMaster the AI coding assistant from sessions and context to custom commands, sub-agents, and advanced multi-session workflows.
Beginner
Your First 10 Minutes with Claude Code
A visual, step-by-step tutorial for operators who have never used the terminal. Install Claude Code, give it a task, and set up your personal AI assistant in 4 simple steps.
Beginner
Claude Code Sessions: The Complete Operator Guide
Every command, shortcut, and mode inside a Claude Code session. Covers /clear, /compact, /resume, interrupt, plan mode, and the daily workflow.
Beginner
Managing Context in Claude Code
How Claude Code finds its own context, when to add files manually, how to use images as input, and keeping your context window clean.
Intermediate
The Claude Code Rules System
How CLAUDE.md files work, why the hierarchy matters for large projects, and how to let Claude write its own rules.
Beginner
Memory in Claude Code
How Claude Code memory works, how to add memories with the # shortcut, and how to structure a CLAUDE.md that saves you context every session.
Intermediate
Planning with Claude Code
How to use plan mode, feed Claude a task list, and connect external project management tools to run structured multi-step work.
Intermediate
Deep Thinking in Claude Code
When to use extended thinking, how ultrathink works, and which tasks actually benefit from longer reasoning time.
Intermediate
Custom Commands in Claude Code
How to build slash commands that automate your recurring workflows, accept arguments, and run consistent processes across client engagements.
Intermediate
The Claude Code Permission System
How settings.json and settings.local.json control what Claude can do autonomously, and how to build a permission setup that works for your team.
Intermediate
Running Scripts with Claude Code
How Claude Code executes terminal commands, how permission tiers control what runs automatically, and workflows for operators managing multiple client projects.
Advanced
Sub-Agents in Claude Code
How Claude Code spins up multiple AI instances to run tasks in parallel, and how to combine sub-agents with custom commands for repeatable research workflows.
Intermediate
Command Generation with Claude Code
How to generate shell commands, scripts, and CLI operations from plain English descriptions -- and build a reusable command library for your practice.
Advanced
The Explore, Plan, Code Workflow
How to run complex multi-file tasks without hallucination by separating exploration, planning, and execution into distinct phases.
Advanced
Running Multiple Claude Code Sessions
How to run parallel Claude Code sessions on independent tasks, coordinate outputs, and scale from one to many without losing control.
Advanced
The Work, Review Workflow
How to use a second Claude Code session as a dedicated reviewer to catch errors, improve output quality, and eliminate confirmation bias.
Advanced
Git Worktrees with Claude Code
How to use git worktrees to run multiple Claude Code sessions on separate branches simultaneously without file conflicts.
Intermediate
Connecting Claude Code with MCP
How Model Context Protocol works, how to install MCP servers, and how to connect Claude Code to external tools like Linear, Slack, and databases.
Intermediate
The Claude Code GitHub App
How to install the GitHub App, set up automated PR reviews, use @claude mentions in pull requests, and verify the integration is working.
MCP (Model Context Protocol)
13 guidesBuild and connect MCP servers to give AI tools access to your data, APIs, and external services.
Beginner
What Is MCP (Model Context Protocol) and Why It Matters
MCP is the universal connector between AI tools and external services. The USB-C of AI integrations -- one protocol, every tool.
Beginner
MCP Tools, Resources, and Prompts Explained
The three building blocks of every MCP server. Tools are LLM-controlled, resources are user-controlled, and prompts are reusable templates.
Beginner
MCP Documentation and SDK Reference Guide
Where to find the MCP docs, the llms-full.txt trick for learning with AI, and official SDKs for TypeScript, Python, and more.
Intermediate
How to Set Up Your MCP Development Environment
Install Node.js, the MCP SDK, TypeScript, and Zod. Configure tsconfig.json and build scripts. Everything you need before writing server code.
Intermediate
Build Your First MCP Server: Weather API Tutorial
Follow the official MCP quickstart to build a weather server with two tools, then connect it to Claude Desktop and Cursor.
Beginner
How to Connect MCP Servers to Claude Desktop and Cursor
Step-by-step setup for both MCP clients. Covers claude_desktop_config.json, Cursor MCP settings, and what each client supports.
Intermediate
How to Build a Custom MCP Server in TypeScript
Initialize a project, set up the MCP server instance, connect the transport layer, and pass API keys. The core skeleton every server needs.
Intermediate
How to Add Tools to Your MCP Server
Register tools with server.tool(), define parameters with Zod, implement callbacks, and test in Cursor Agent and Claude Desktop.
Advanced
Adding Resources and Prompts to Your MCP Server
Use server.resource() for user-controlled context and server.prompt() for reusable templates. Plus a combined workflow with all three.
Beginner
How to Install and Use Community MCP Servers
Find, install, and configure third-party MCP servers. Walkthrough with the Filesystem server for Claude Desktop.
Beginner
How to Install the Filesystem MCP Server
The filesystem MCP server gives your AI apps read and write access to any folder on your machine. Install it in minutes using NPX with a simple allow-list config.
Beginner
MCP Big Picture: How Servers, Clients, and Host Apps Fit Together
How MCP clients, servers, and host applications connect. Covers the feature matrix across Claude Desktop and Cursor, and why tools get the broadest compatibility today.
Intermediate
Building the Core of a Custom MCP Server
Set up the server skeleton, initialize the transport layer, and handle API key injection. Every MCP server you build starts from this TypeScript foundation.
Agentic AI
1 guideDeploy autonomous AI agents to ship internal tools and automations without writing code yourself.
AI Workflows
1 guideBuild repeatable AI-powered workflows that handle client work across your entire practice.
AI Skills
1 guideDevelop reusable AI skills and systems that deliver consistent results across every client engagement.
Claude Agent SDK
28 guidesBuild and deploy autonomous AI agents using the same engine that powers Claude Code. Covers tools, hooks, sub-agents, and production deployment.
Beginner
What Is the Claude Agent SDK
The same engine that powers Claude Code, accessible from code. Build personal assistant agents, business automations, and client-facing tools using the query function at the core of every Claude agent.
Intermediate
Sub-Agents in the Claude Agent SDK
How to delegate tasks to independent AI workers that run in parallel with their own context windows. Build planner-writer agent chains and multi-client research workflows that finish in a fraction of the time.
Intermediate
Tool Hooks in the Claude Agent SDK
Intercept tool calls before and after they execute. Block sensitive file edits, build audit logs, and add guardrails that hold up in production without limiting what the agent can do for legitimate work.
Beginner
Built-in Tools in the Claude Agent SDK
The complete built-in tool set: file operations, bash, web search, sub-agents, task management, and plan mode. How to allow-list, block, and control which tools your agent can access.
Intermediate
Lifecycle Hooks in the Claude Agent SDK
Hook into session start, user prompt submit, and sub-agent stop events. Build a memory injection system that loads context automatically at the start of every session.
Beginner
Setting Up and Installing the Claude Agent SDK
Initialize a Bun project, install the SDK, and write your first working agent in under 10 minutes. Covers streaming input mode, the query loop, and what each option actually does.
Intermediate
Building Custom Tools for the Claude Agent SDK
Create tools that call external APIs, define their input schemas with Zod, package them into in-process MCP servers, and give your agent capabilities no built-in tool provides.
Beginner
Permission Modes in the Claude Agent SDK
Five modes that control how the agent handles tool calls: default, acceptEdits, bypassPermissions, plan, and dontAsk. When to use each and how tool lists interact with permission modes.
Advanced
Deploying a Claude Agent SDK Agent to Railway
Package your Slack agent in Docker, configure persistent volumes so sessions survive redeploys, push to GitHub, and get your agent running 24/7 in the cloud with Railway.
Beginner
Project Setup and the Agent Chat Function
Build the foundational agentChat function that every interface layer — Slack, terminal, API — calls the same way. Covers project structure, streaming input mode, and session ID handling.
Beginner
The Query Function: Two Modes Explained
Single message mode vs streaming input mode. Why the async generator unlocks hooks, session resumption, and multi-turn conversations that plain string prompts cannot.
Beginner
System Prompts in the Claude Agent SDK
Three ways to write system prompts: plain string, the Claude Code preset, and the preset with a custom append. How the invisible base prompt works and what your prompt actually controls.
Beginner
What Are Hooks in the Claude Agent SDK
Hooks run functions at specific points in agent execution. Understand tool hooks vs lifecycle hooks, how matchers work, and where hooks fit in the tool evaluation order.
Intermediate
Multi-turn Conversations and the Interactive Agent
Build an interactive terminal agent with a conversation loop, session memory across turns, and a thinking indicator. The session ID pattern that makes follow-up questions work.
Beginner
Model Selection in the Claude Agent SDK
Haiku for development, Sonnet for production, Opus for maximum capability. How to set a fallback model and why switching models mid-session via hooks is possible.
Intermediate
Session Management in the Claude Agent SDK
Resume sessions, fork conversations from specific messages, and list session history. The session ID patterns that power multi-turn agents and persistent conversation tools.
Intermediate
Settings Sources in the Claude Agent SDK
How to load project CLAUDE.md files, skills, and settings.json hooks into your agent. The three source layers and why most SDK agents only need the project source.
Intermediate
The canUseTool Callback
Programmatic control over every tool call. Allow, deny, modify inputs, and log tool usage with fine-grained precision that permission modes alone cannot provide.
Intermediate
Structured Outputs in the Claude Agent SDK
Get typed, schema-validated objects back instead of text. Define a Zod schema, configure outputFormat, and build data extraction pipelines that feed directly into your workflows.
Intermediate
Connecting the Claude Agent SDK to Slack
Create a Slack app, configure bot scopes and socket mode, install Slack Bolt, and wire up channel mentions and DMs. The full integration from app creation to first response.
Intermediate
Connecting External MCP Servers to the Agent SDK
Give your agent a browser, a Notion workspace, or a GitHub integration by connecting external MCP servers. Faster than building custom tools for integrations that already exist.
Intermediate
Polishing the Slack Experience
Strip mention tags, convert standard markdown to Slack formatting, and add a thinking indicator. Three improvements that turn a working integration into one people actually want to use.
Beginner
Safety Limits: maxTurns and maxBudgetUsd
Cap how many turns an agent can run and how much it can spend per session. Two options that prevent infinite loops and runaway costs in any deployed agent.
Intermediate
Message Types in the Claude Agent SDK
The system, assistant, and result message types that every agent run produces. What each contains, when it fires, and how to use them for session tracking, cost logging, and error detection.
Intermediate
Session Persistence with SQLite and Bun
Map Slack threads to Agent SDK session IDs using Bun's native SQLite. Build a session store with get, set, and delete methods that gives your Slack agent conversation memory.
Intermediate
Skills in the Claude Agent SDK
Give your agent reusable prompt modules it loads on demand. Build a meeting notes skill, enable it with the skill tool and settingSources, and create a library that scales across every agent you deploy.
Advanced
Production Hardening Your Slack Agent
Add thread context injection, thread locking for concurrent messages, and spending caps. The three steps that separate a demo deployment from one your team can rely on.
Advanced
Session Transcripts for Debugging Agent Workflows
Find, read, and analyze the JSONL transcript files the SDK writes for every session. How to use a coding agent to parse transcripts and diagnose unexpected behavior in production agents.