Essential MCP Patterns Every Claude Code Developer Should Know

Published: May 28, 2025 | 6 min read

After months of building with Claude Code and Orchestre MCP, certain patterns emerge that dramatically improve development speed and code quality. Here are the patterns that separate good Claude Code developers from great ones.

Pattern 1: Context-First Development

The biggest mistake? Jumping straight to code. Orchestre's power comes from understanding context.

❌ The Wrong Way

/execute-task "Add user authentication"

✅ The Orchestre Way

/analyze-project
/orchestrate "Add OAuth authentication that integrates with our existing user model and respects our JWT token pattern"

Let Orchestre understand your project before it writes code.

Pattern 2: Composable Commands

Think of commands as LEGO blocks. Small, focused commands compose into powerful workflows.

Building a Feature Pipeline

# Instead of one massive command
/orchestrate "Build complete billing system"

# Use composed commands
/analyze-project --focus "payment flow"
/research "Stripe SCA requirements"
/generate-plan "subscription billing"
/execute-task "Create billing models"
/add-subscription-plan "Basic tier"
/review --security

Each command does one thing well. Together, they build exactly what you need.

Pattern 3: Multi-LLM Specialization

Different LLMs excel at different tasks. Use them accordingly:

# Gemini for deep analysis
/analyze-project --llm gemini "Complex state management requirements"

# GPT-4 for security review  
/review --llm gpt4 --security

# Claude for implementation
/execute-task "Implement the analyzed solution"

Pattern 4: Progressive Enhancement

Start simple, enhance iteratively:

# Phase 1: Core functionality
/create myapp makerkit-nextjs
/execute-task "Basic CRUD for products"

# Phase 2: Enhancement
/add-feature "Product search with filters"
/optimize-performance

# Phase 3: Scale
/add-enterprise-feature "Multi-tenant isolation"
/add-caching "Redis for product queries"

Pattern 5: Documentation as Code

Orchestre maintains context through CLAUDE.md files. Use them strategically:

/document-feature "Authentication flow"
# Creates: features/auth/CLAUDE.md

/discover-context "payment processing"
# Reads: All relevant CLAUDE.md files

/update-state "New Stripe API version"
# Updates: Project-wide context

Pattern 6: Parallel Development Workflows

For team projects, parallelize everything:

/setup-parallel

# Morning standup
/status --team

# Distribute work
/distribute-tasks @team-assignments.md

# Continuous integration
/coordinate-parallel --auto-merge

# Evening sync
/merge-work --review

Pattern 7: Smart Testing Strategy

Let Orchestre write tests that actually matter:

# Not just unit tests
/execute-task "Write tests for billing"

# Comprehensive test strategy
/analyze-project --testing-gaps
/generate-plan "Test coverage for critical paths"
/execute-task "Integration tests for payment flow"
/execute-task "E2E tests for subscription upgrade"

Pattern 8: Performance-First Mindset

Build performance in, don't bolt it on:

# During development
/performance-check --component "ProductList"
/optimize-performance --target "Core Web Vitals"

# Before deployment
/performance-check --production
/execute-task "Implement suggested optimizations"

Pattern 9: Security by Design

Security isn't an afterthought with Orchestre:

# Regular security checks
/security-audit --component "new-feature"

# Before production
/security-audit --production
/execute-task "Fix critical vulnerabilities"
/review --security --multi-llm

Real-World Example: Building a Feature

Here's how these patterns combine for a real feature:

# 1. Understand context
/discover-context "user management"

# 2. Research best practices
/research "RBAC implementation patterns"

# 3. Plan with AI assistance
/generate-plan "Role-based access control"

# 4. Implement incrementally
/execute-task "Create role models"
/execute-task "Add permission system"
/execute-task "Update UI with role checks"

# 5. Ensure quality
/review --multi-llm
/security-audit --focus "authorization"
/performance-check

# 6. Document for future
/document-feature "RBAC implementation"

Advanced Patterns

Pattern 10: Command Composition

Create custom workflows:

/compose-prompt "
  1. Analyze current authentication
  2. Research WebAuthn standards
  3. Generate implementation plan
  4. Execute with security focus
  5. Add comprehensive tests
"

Pattern 11: Context Preservation

Keep important decisions:

/extract-patterns "successful API designs"
/learn "team's coding standards"
/update-state "Architecture Decision: Use event sourcing"

Common Anti-Patterns to Avoid

1. Context Amnesia

Forgetting to maintain CLAUDE.md files

2. Single LLM Syndrome

Not leveraging multi-LLM capabilities

3. Monolithic Commands

Writing everything in one giant orchestrate

4. Review Skipping

Not using /review before production

Start Using These Patterns Today

The best Claude Code developers aren't just fast—they're systematic. These patterns help you:

• Build faster without sacrificing quality
• Scale your development process
• Maintain consistency across projects
• Leverage AI strengths effectively

Ready to level up your Claude Code development?

Explore More Patterns | Try Orchestre MCP

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Tags: Claude Code, MCP Patterns, Development Workflows, Best Practices, AI Development