claude code for product managers

by Ray Svitla

claude code is marketed as a coding tool. most of the content about it is for developers. but the underlying thing — an AI agent that can read files, run commands, search, and write — doesn’t care whether you’re writing TypeScript or a product requirements document.

if you’re a PM who works with technical teams, claude code might be more useful to you than any purpose-built “AI for PMs” tool. here’s why and how.

why a terminal tool for non-terminal people

the terminal feels hostile if you’ve never used it. but claude code mostly hides the terminal from you — you type in natural language, it does the technical stuff. you describe what you want, it figures out the commands.

what you get that PM-specific AI tools don’t offer:

→ direct access to the codebase. the agent reads the same code your engineers write. when you ask “what does the checkout flow do?” it reads the actual implementation, not a stale wiki page.

→ file creation. “write a PRD for the notification system and save it to docs/prds/notifications.md” — done. formatted, saved, version-controlled.

→ data analysis. point it at a CSV export or a database and ask questions. no need for a separate analytics tool for quick investigations.

→ codebase awareness. “how many API endpoints do we have? list them with their HTTP methods” — the agent greps the code and gives you a real answer.

the setup (5 minutes)

1. install claude code: npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code
2. authenticate with your anthropic account
3. cd into your team’s repo
4. type claude

that’s it. you’re in. type questions in english.

if cd and npm feel alien, ask a developer to set it up for you. once it’s running, the interaction is natural language.

real PM workflows

PRD writing

"I need a PRD for adding a favorites feature to our product. 
read the current product code in src/features/ to understand 
our existing feature structure. the PRD should cover: user stories, 
acceptance criteria, technical considerations, and rollout plan. 
save it to docs/prds/favorites.md"

the agent reads your codebase to understand the current architecture, then writes a PRD that’s grounded in technical reality. your “technical considerations” section will actually reference real components, not generic platitudes.

spec validation

"read docs/prds/search-v2.md and compare it against the actual 
implementation in src/features/search/. what's specified but 
not built? what's built but not specified?"

spec drift is the PM’s nemesis. the agent checks your spec against the code and reports the gaps. no meetings required.

competitive analysis

"I have competitor screenshots in docs/competitive/. 
analyze each image and create a feature comparison matrix 
in docs/competitive/analysis.md. focus on: pricing display, 
checkout flow, and onboarding steps."

claude code can analyze images. drop competitor screenshots in a folder and let the agent build the comparison.

data questions

"read data/monthly-signups.csv and tell me: 
which month had the highest growth rate? 
which acquisition channel is declining? 
create a summary in docs/reports/signups-analysis.md"

for quick data questions, this beats waiting for the analytics team to prioritize your request.

release notes

"look at the git log for the last 2 weeks. 
summarize the user-facing changes into release notes. 
group by feature area. write it in a tone suitable for 
our customer newsletter. save to docs/releases/2026-02-15.md"

the agent reads actual commits, actual code changes, and produces release notes grounded in what was actually built.

meeting prep

"read the open issues in docs/backlog/ and the current sprint 
in docs/sprints/current.md. give me a summary of: 
what's blocked, what's at risk, and what shipped this week. 
format it as bullet points I can use in standup."

what PMs should NOT use it for

→ making technical decisions. the agent can inform you, but don’t let it decide your architecture. that’s your engineering team’s job.

→ replacing developer conversations. “claude code says this would take 2 days” is not how you scope work. use it to understand what’s involved, then talk to your team.

→ generating strategy. it can research, analyze, and write. it can’t tell you what to build. that’s still your job, and it should stay your job.

→ stakeholder management. no AI will navigate your organization’s politics. sorry.

the real value

the real value isn’t that claude code can write PRDs faster. it’s that a PM with codebase access makes better decisions.

when you can ask “how is this actually implemented?” and get an answer in 30 seconds, you stop making assumptions about the technical side. when you can validate your spec against the code, you catch misunderstandings before they become bugs. when you can analyze data without filing a ticket, you ask more questions.

the terminal is just the interface. the value is closing the gap between what PMs know about the product (business logic, user needs) and what the codebase actually does (technical reality).

that gap is where most product mistakes live.

→ claude code for solopreneurs — wearing all the hats → context optimization — keep sessions focused → plan mode mastery — think before executing

Ray Svitla stay evolving