Claude cowork tips I wish I knew at start
2026-10-04T19:38:18Z openrouter_free google/gemma-4-31b-it
The author explains the difference between Claude Chat, Claude Code, and Claude Cowork, highlighting Cowork as a desktop app that connects directly to local files to eliminate repetitive manual context-setting. The email also recommends using Obsidian as a markdown translator to easily read and edit Cowork's instruction files.
The author discusses the transition from using Claude Chat to Claude Cowork, emphasizing that while Claude Chat is a browser-based tool for quick tasks, Claude Cowork is a desktop application that connects directly to a user's local files. This integration eliminates the need for repetitive context-setting and manual copy-pasting, saving significant time. The author highlights the distinction between Claude Chat (general use), Claude Code (developer-focused terminal tool), and Claude Cowork (non-technical business/work management). Additionally, the author provides a practical tip for managing Cowork's Markdown (.md) files by using Obsidian as a visual renderer to make instructions and memory files easier to read and edit.