Heidelberg AICurriculum

Claude Routines Just Dropped, And It's Perfect

Nick Saraev ·2026-04-14 ·1 min read

Summary written by us from the video's transcript. The video, and everything in it, is Nick Saraev's work.

Learn how to create and run Claude Routines for automated workflows using natural‑language prompts, scheduling, webhooks, and API triggers.

Takeaways

  • Claude Routines run fully in the cloud and can be triggered by schedule, webhook, or API call.
  • Connectors (e.g., Gmail, Slack) are added via OAuth and referenced with generated tokens inside routines.
  • Write the routine prompt as a clear SOP; the more precise the instructions, the fewer hands‑off errors.
  • You can convert existing n8n or Make.com workflows to Claude routines by feeding their JSON into the routine generator.
  • Routines replace multi‑step no‑code flows, enabling quick automation of email triage, proposal drafting, transcript processing, and other business tasks.

What Claude Routines Are

Claude Routines let the Claude model execute automation tasks on a cloud container. They can be started by a schedule, an incoming webhook, or an explicit API call, turning Claude into a no‑code automation platform comparable to tools like n8n.

Running a Simple Routine

In the demo, a “daily mailbox summary plus draft” routine is run instantly with the “Run now” button, showing inputs and outputs live. The routine reads Gmail via a connector, drafts replies, and sends a Slack update—all without local execution.

Scheduling and Triggers

The UI lets you add multiple triggers: hourly, daily, or custom times. After saving, the calendar view shows upcoming runs (e.g., 5:10 am). You can also switch a trigger to “API call” to fire the routine from external code.

Connecting Services

Connectors are added in Claude Code settings. The demo links Gmail for email access and Slack for notifications, each requiring OAuth authentication. Tokens are generated for use within the routine.

Building Routine Prompts

When creating a new routine you give it a name and write a detailed prompt—essentially an SOP. Example: “Pull all unread emails via Gmail connector, check prior conversations, draft replies, then send a Slack update.” Clear, precise language reduces errors because the routine runs hands‑off.

Porting Existing n8n Workflows

You can paste an n8n JSON workflow into Claude Code and ask the “routine generator” to convert it. The example transforms a Hacker News scraper into a routine that fetches stories, formats markdown, and can be extended to post to Slack with just a few edits—no node dragging required.

Practical Use Cases

The speaker uses routines for proposal generation, post‑call email drafting from transcript webhooks, onboarding notifications, and monitoring sign‑ups. Essentially any repeatable business step that previously needed manual setup in a no‑code tool can be handled by a Claude routine.