Taming Claude Code: Taking Back Control (saeedesmaili.com)

A developer shares their experience and modifications to Claude Code, an AI coding tool, after its version 2.0 update obscured essential features like "thinking traces" that previously allowed users to understand the AI's decision-making process. While the update aimed to streamline the interface and make it more user-friendly, for power users, the lack of transparency in the AI's assumptions and reasoning proved detrimental, prompting the author to stick to version 1.x. They implemented various customizations to regain control, including disabling auto-updates, enhancing visibility into AI actions, and eliminating token-consuming tools that complicated their workflow. The significance of this story lies in highlighting the tension between AI accessibility and the need for transparency, particularly for advanced users who seek to maintain oversight over AI-generated outputs. By sharing their strategies to optimize Claude Code, the author emphasizes the importance of configuring AI tools to fit individual workflows, ensuring that transparency and understanding do not diminish as user interfaces evolve. Their custom setup not only enhances the coding experience but also serves as a best-practice guide for users keen on leveraging AI while retaining a firm grasp on code integrity and purpose.