# 158 Claude Code Routines Clearly Explained (and why it matters)

Claude Code just dropped routines, and when I first saw the three options — routine, schedule, and loop — I had no idea when to use which. In this video, I break down all three modes in plain language and then demo building a routine from scratch using an X trend scanner I already had in my skill library. You'll see the full setup: GitHub connection, system prompt config, trigger options, and connector permissions. By the end, you'll know exactly which mode to use for any automation you want to build and how to get your first routine live.

Links Mentioned:
Claude Code Routines: https://claude.ai/code/routines
GitHub: https://github.com

Timestamps
00:00 – Intro: The confusion with Claude Code's new features
00:20 – The three modes: routine, schedule, and loop
00:50 – When to use each mode (simple breakdown)
01:10 – Using Claude Code to find a skill to demo
01:45 – Selecting the X scan routine
02:00 – GitHub requirement for routines explained
02:18 – Creating a new routine at claude.ai/code/routines
02:35 – Naming your routine and connecting your GitHub repo
02:50 – Dropping in your system prompt
03:05 – Setting the schedule trigger (10am Eastern daily)
03:20 – Configuring connectors and permission sets
03:40 – Running on demand and reviewing the output
04:10 – Full recap of all three modes

Key Points

* Claude Code has three automation modes — routine (runs on Anthropic's cloud, set it and forget it), schedule (needs local access, also available in Cowork), and loop (immediate execution in the CLI). Picking the wrong one means your automation won't work the way you expect.

* Routines require a GitHub repository. You can't create one without it, so get your repo connected before you start.

* The whole setup happens at claude.ai/code/routines — no coding required beyond having a system prompt in markdown format ready to paste in.

* Routines support three trigger types: time-based schedule, GitHub event, or API call. That gives you flexibility depending on whether you want it cron-based, push-based, or fired from another system.

* The X trend scanner ran automatically and surfaced several trending topic candidates with suggested content angles — zero manual research, just results ready to use.

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