Claude Code reads your project structure before answering. For large codebases, you get better results by narrowing scope.
Instead of "fix the bug," try:
- "Find where user authentication is handled in
src/auth/" - "List all API endpoints that return paginated responses"
- "Show me files that import
UserServiceand modify therolefield"
Specific queries hit the right files faster. Vague queries burn tokens scanning irrelevant code.
For projects over K lines, break complex questions into - focused queries. Each gets a fresh, targeted search instead of one sprawling scan.