diff --git a/.claude/claude.json b/.claude/claude.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1bb0d43
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.claude/claude.json
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+{
+  "name": "GradesCentral API",
+  "description": "Rails API for UW Madison course data and grade distributions",
+  "version": "1.0.0",
+  "config": {
+    "sessionStartHook": ".claude/hooks/session_start.sh"
+  }
+}
diff --git a/.claude/commands/migrate.md b/.claude/commands/migrate.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4722cf1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.claude/commands/migrate.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+description: Run database migrations
+---
+
+Run pending database migrations using `rake db:migrate`.
diff --git a/.claude/commands/reindex.md b/.claude/commands/reindex.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0920797
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.claude/commands/reindex.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+description: Reindex Elasticsearch data
+---
+
+Reindex all searchable models in Elasticsearch using `rake reindex`.
diff --git a/.claude/commands/routes.md b/.claude/commands/routes.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..819fb10
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.claude/commands/routes.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+description: Display all API routes
+---
+
+Display all available API routes using `rake routes`.
diff --git a/.claude/commands/server.md b/.claude/commands/server.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e745f6c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.claude/commands/server.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+description: Start the Rails development server
+---
+
+Start the Rails development server using `rails s` on port 3000.
diff --git a/.claude/commands/test.md b/.claude/commands/test.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..62b48de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.claude/commands/test.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+description: Run the test suite
+---
+
+Run the Rails test suite using `bundle exec rails test` or appropriate test command.
diff --git a/.claude/hooks/session_start.sh b/.claude/hooks/session_start.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..dc3436b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.claude/hooks/session_start.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# Session start hook for GradesCentral API
+# This script runs when a new Claude Code session starts
+
+echo "🚀 Starting GradesCentral API session..."
+
+# Check Ruby version
+if command -v ruby &> /dev/null; then
+    RUBY_VERSION=$(ruby -v)
+    echo "✓ Ruby: $RUBY_VERSION"
+else
+    echo "⚠ Ruby not found"
+fi
+
+# Check if bundler is installed
+if command -v bundle &> /dev/null; then
+    echo "✓ Bundler installed"
+else
+    echo "⚠ Bundler not found - run: gem install bundler"
+fi
+
+# Check if dependencies are installed
+if [ -f "Gemfile.lock" ]; then
+    if bundle check &> /dev/null; then
+        echo "✓ Bundle dependencies installed"
+    else
+        echo "⚠ Bundle dependencies missing - run: bundle install"
+    fi
+fi
+
+# Check for database configuration
+if [ -f "config/database.yml" ]; then
+    echo "✓ Database configuration found"
+else
+    echo "⚠ Database configuration missing - create config/database.yml"
+fi
+
+# Check for environment file
+if [ -f ".env" ]; then
+    echo "✓ Environment configuration found"
+else
+    echo "⚠ Environment file missing - copy .env.example to .env"
+fi
+
+# Check Elasticsearch connection
+if command -v curl &> /dev/null; then
+    if curl -s http://localhost:9200 &> /dev/null; then
+        echo "✓ Elasticsearch running at localhost:9200"
+    else
+        echo "⚠ Elasticsearch not accessible at localhost:9200"
+    fi
+fi
+
+echo ""
+echo "📝 Available commands:"
+echo "  /test     - Run the test suite"
+echo "  /server   - Start Rails development server"
+echo "  /migrate  - Run database migrations"
+echo "  /routes   - Display all API routes"
+echo "  /reindex  - Reindex Elasticsearch data"
+echo ""
+echo "Ready to code! 🎉"