Repo Sync Before Edits (mandatory)

Before creating/updating/deleting files in an existing repository, sync the current branch with remote:

branch="$(git rev-parse --abbrev-ref HEAD)"
git fetch origin
git pull --rebase origin "$branch"

If the working tree is not clean, stash first, sync, then restore:

git stash push -u -m "pre-sync"
branch="$(git rev-parse --abbrev-ref HEAD)"
git fetch origin && git pull --rebase origin "$branch"
git stash pop

If origin is missing, pull is unavailable, or rebase/stash conflicts occur, stop and ask the user before continuing.

User Input

$ARGUMENTS

Consider user input for:

• create - Create new file from scratch
• update - Improve existing file
• audit - Analyze and report on current file quality
• A specific path (e.g., src/api/CLAUDE.md for directory-specific instructions)

Step 1: Determine Target File

If not specified in user input, ask the user which file type to work with:

CLAUDE.md - Project context file loaded at the start of every conversation. Contains:

• Bash commands Claude cannot guess
• Code style rules that differ from defaults
• Testing instructions and preferred test runners
• Repository etiquette (branch naming, PR conventions)
• Architectural decisions specific to the project
• Developer environment quirks (required env vars)
• Common gotchas or non-obvious behaviors

AGENTS.md - Custom subagent definitions file. Contains:

• Specialized assistant definitions
• Tool permissions for each agent
• Model preferences (opus, sonnet, haiku)
• Focused instructions for isolated tasks

CLAUDE.md Guidelines

Based on official Claude Code documentation.

Core Principle

CLAUDE.md is a special file Claude reads at the start of every conversation. Include Bash commands, code style, and workflow rules. This gives Claude persistent context it cannot infer from code alone.

What to Include

Quality Test

For each line, ask: "Would removing this cause Claude to make mistakes?" If not, cut it.

If Claude keeps ignoring a rule, the file is probably too long and the rule is getting lost. If Claude asks questions answered in CLAUDE.md, the phrasing might be ambiguous.

Example Format

# Code style
- Use ES modules (import/export) syntax, not CommonJS (require)
- Destructure imports when possible (eg. import { foo } from 'bar')

# Workflow
- Be sure to typecheck when you're done making a series of code changes
- Prefer running single tests, and not the whole test suite, for performance

File Locations

• Home folder (~/.claude/CLAUDE.md): Applies to all Claude sessions
• Project root (./CLAUDE.md): Check into git to share with your team
• Local only (CLAUDE.local.md): Add to .gitignore for personal overrides
• Parent directories: Useful for monorepos where both root/CLAUDE.md and root/foo/CLAUDE.md are pulled in automatically
• Child directories: Claude pulls in child CLAUDE.md files on demand

Import Syntax

CLAUDE.md files can import additional files using @path/to/import syntax:

See @README.md for project overview and @package.json for available npm commands.

# Additional Instructions
- Git workflow: @docs/git-instructions.md
- Personal overrides: @~/.claude/my-project-instructions.md

Emphasis for Critical Rules

Add emphasis (e.g., "IMPORTANT" or "YOU MUST") to improve adherence for critical rules.

AGENTS.md Guidelines

Custom subagents run in their own context with their own set of allowed tools. Useful for tasks that read many files or need specialized focus.

Agent Definition Format

---
name: security-reviewer
description: Reviews code for security vulnerabilities
tools: Read, Grep, Glob, Bash
model: opus
---
You are a senior security engineer. Review code for:
- Injection vulnerabilities (SQL, XSS, command injection)
- Authentication and authorization flaws
- Secrets or credentials in code
- Insecure data handling

Provide specific line references and suggested fixes.

Required Fields

• name: Identifier to invoke the agent
• description: What the agent does (helps Claude decide when to use it)
• tools: Comma-separated list of allowed tools (Read, Grep, Glob, Bash, Edit, Write, etc.)

Optional Fields

• model: Preferred model (opus, sonnet, haiku)

Best Practices for Agents

1. Keep agent instructions focused on a single domain
2. Be specific about what the agent should look for
3. Request concrete output formats (line references, specific fixes)
4. Limit tool access to what's actually needed

Execution Flow

For create or default:

1. Ask which file type (CLAUDE.md or AGENTS.md) if not specified
2. Analyze the project:
   • Check for existing files at standard locations
   • Identify technology stack, project type, development tools
   • Review README.md, CONTRIBUTING.md, package.json, etc.
3. Draft the file following guidelines above
4. If the user explicitly asked to apply now, write directly; otherwise present draft for review
5. Finalize at the appropriate location

For update:

1. Read existing file
2. Audit against best practices
3. Identify:
   • Content to remove (redundant, obvious, style rules)
   • Content to condense
   • Missing essential information
4. If the user explicitly asked to apply now, implement directly; otherwise present changes for review
5. Finalize updates in place

For audit:

1. Read existing file
2. Generate a report with:
   • Assessment of content quality
   • List of anti-patterns found
   • Percentage of truly useful vs redundant content
   • Specific recommendations for improvement
3. Do NOT modify the file, only report

Token Efficiency

IMPORTANT: Always include the following section in generated CLAUDE.md and AGENTS.md files to ensure efficient token usage:

## Token Efficiency
- Never re-read files you just wrote or edited. You know the contents.
- Never re-run commands to "verify" unless the outcome was uncertain.
- Don't echo back large blocks of code or file contents unless asked.
- Batch related edits into single operations. Don't make 5 edits when 1 handles it.
- Skip confirmations like "I'll continue..." Just do it.
- If a task needs 1 tool call, don't use 3. Plan before acting.
- Do not summarize what you just did unless the result is ambiguous or you need additional input.

Workflow Orchestration (optional, when requested)

When users ask for stronger execution discipline, include a concise orchestration block in generated CLAUDE.md/AGENTS.md.

Use this pattern (keep it short and enforceable):

## Workflow Orchestration (Balanced)
- For non-trivial tasks (3+ steps, architecture choices, or unclear dependencies), write a short plan first.
- If assumptions break, stop and re-plan before continuing.
- Use subagents strategically for parallel exploration; keep one focused goal per subagent.
- Do not mark tasks done without evidence (tests, logs, diffs, or output proof).
- Prefer elegant solutions for non-trivial work; keep simple fixes minimal.
- If logs/tests clearly show root cause, fix directly; ask only when risk or ambiguity is high.
- Capture lessons after corrections in durable docs to reduce repeat mistakes.

Core bias:
- Simplicity first
- Root-cause over patchwork
- Minimal-impact changes

Do not inject this section blindly—add it when the user asks for orchestration/process rigor.

Mandatory Coding Discipline Block (when requested)

When users ask for stricter coding workflow rules, include this exact numbered block in generated config files:

1. Before writing any code, describe your approach and wait for approval.
2. If the requirements I give you are ambiguous, ask clarifying questions before writing any code.
3. After you finish writing any code, list the edge cases and suggest test cases to cover them.
4. If a task requires changes to more than 3 files, stop and break it into smaller tasks first.
5. When there’s a bug, start by writing a test that reproduces it, then fix it until the test passes.
6. Every time I correct you, reflect on what you did wrong and come up with a plan to never make the same mistake again.

Anti-Patterns to Avoid

DO NOT include:

• Code style guidelines (use linters/formatters)
• Generic best practices Claude already knows
• Long explanations of obvious patterns
• Copy-pasted code examples
• Information that changes frequently
• Instructions for specific one-time tasks
• File-by-file codebase descriptions

Notes

• Run /init to generate a starter CLAUDE.md based on current project structure
• Treat CLAUDE.md like code: review it when things go wrong, prune it regularly
• Check CLAUDE.md into git so your team can contribute
• The file compounds in value over time as you refine it