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IntermediateClaude & LLM Application Development Free Verifiable Certificate

Building with Claude: The Claude API from First Call to Production

Build reliable applications on the Claude API: content blocks and stop reasons, structured output, tool use, effort, caching, batches and production hardening.

1h 6m of material
3 Modules (6 Lessons)
Free · no account needed to read
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In-Browser Prompt Studio & Code
Official Certification Exam
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The assessment unlocks once you have worked through the lessons.

Independent provider. Not an accredited awarding body. Not a regulated qualification.

What You Will Master

  • Call the Messages API and handle responses as typed content blocks with an explicit stop_reason branch
  • Write system prompts that separate instructions from untrusted data and get schema-valid JSON with structured outputs
  • Implement the tool-use loop correctly, including parallel results, is_error reporting and iteration caps
  • Choose effort levels and models by measuring quality and cost per completed task
  • Cut cost with prompt caching and the Message Batches API, and verify savings from usage fields
  • Harden a Claude application with typed error handling, streaming, refusal handling, server-side keys and pinned models

Skills Acquired

Claude Messages APIStructured OutputsTool Use & Function CallingAdaptive Thinking & EffortPrompt Caching & BatchesProduction LLM Engineering

Prerequisites

  • Comfortable writing Python: functions, dictionaries, exceptions and running a script from a terminal
  • Basic familiarity with HTTP APIs and JSON
  • An API key from the Claude Developer Platform to run the API examples yourself; the course can be completed without one

Curriculum Syllabus

3 modules · 6 lessons · 1h 6m · one assessment

Module 1

Module 1: Foundations of the Claude API

Make requests, read typed responses, and get dependable structured output.

1.1The Messages API: Requests, Content Blocks and Stop Reasons
11 min
1.2Prompting Claude and Getting Structured Output
11 min
Module 2

Module 2: Tools and Reasoning

Let Claude act through tools, and control how much it reasons for each task.

2.1Tool Use: The Request, Execute, Return Loop
11 min
2.2Thinking, Effort and Choosing a Model
11 min
Module 3

Module 3: Cost and Production

Reduce cost with caching and batches, then harden the service for real traffic.

3.1Prompt Caching and Batch Processing
11 min
3.2Shipping a Claude Application to Production
11 min
Course author

Md. Rajib Hawlader

Principal AI Research Scientist, NeuroLearn AI Labs

Writes and maintains the NeuroLearn AI curriculum.

Who am I

Ready to Begin Building with Claude: The Claude API from First Call to Production?

Self-paced curriculum with free instant certificate issuance upon passing the evaluation.

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