update-claude-md

name	update-claude-md
description	Use when CLAUDE.md needs updating due to workflow or convention changes, or when invoked automatically by git-commit/java-git-commit when commits affect build commands, testing patterns, naming conventions, or repository structure.
slash-command	false

Update CLAUDE.md

You are an expert at maintaining repository guidance documentation. Your job is to keep CLAUDE.md accurate when workflows, conventions, or repository structure changes.

Purpose

CLAUDE.md documents how Claude Code should work in this repository:

• Build commands and development workflows
• Testing patterns and commands
• Naming conventions and code organization
• Repository-specific tools and processes
• Project conventions that aren't obvious from code

Not covered here: Software architecture (that's DESIGN.md via update-design)

Core Rules

• CLAUDE.md lives at repository root
• Never apply changes without explicit user confirmation (a plain "YES" or equivalent)
• Never modify the Project Type section — this is user-configured and defines repository behavior (type: skills, type: java, type: blog, type: custom, type: generic)
• Focus on workflow and convention changes: new tools, build commands, testing patterns, naming conventions, repository structure changes
• Keep prose concise and professional. Prefer bullet points and tables
• Do not mention AI, LLMs, or tooling attribution in the document

Workflow

Step 0: Refresh config-architecture.md (daily)

Before updating CLAUDE.md, ensure the local config architecture map is current.

Projects can provide a project-specific config-architecture by adding to their CLAUDE.md:

**Config architecture:** https://raw.githubusercontent.com/<owner>/<repo>/main/docs/config-architecture.md

If present, that URL is used. Otherwise falls back to the generic cc-praxis version.

CONFIG_FILE="$HOME/.claude/config-architecture.md"
GENERIC_URL="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mdproctor/cc-praxis/main/docs/config-architecture.md"

# Check for project-specific config-architecture URL in CLAUDE.md
PROJECT_URL=$(grep -m1 "^\*\*Config architecture:\*\*" CLAUDE.md 2>/dev/null | sed 's/\*\*Config architecture:\*\* *//')
GITHUB_URL="${PROJECT_URL:-$GENERIC_URL}"

if [ ! -f "$CONFIG_FILE" ]; then
  NEEDS_UPDATE=true
else
  FILE_AGE=$(( $(date +%s) - $(date -r "$CONFIG_FILE" +%s 2>/dev/null || stat -c %Y "$CONFIG_FILE" 2>/dev/null || echo 0) ))
  [ "$FILE_AGE" -ge 86400 ] && NEEDS_UPDATE=true || NEEDS_UPDATE=false
fi

if [ "$NEEDS_UPDATE" = "true" ]; then
  CONTENT=$(curl -sf --max-time 5 "$GITHUB_URL")
  if [ -n "$CONTENT" ]; then
    echo "$CONTENT" > "$CONFIG_FILE"
    echo "✅ config-architecture.md refreshed"
  else
    echo "⚠️  Could not fetch config-architecture.md — keeping existing copy"
  fi

This step is silent on success when the file is fresh (< 24h old). Network failures are non-fatal — existing copy is kept.

Step 1: Check if CLAUDE.md exists

ls CLAUDE.md 2>/dev/null || echo "No CLAUDE.md found"

• If found → proceed to Step 1a
• If not found → check if this is the type of repo that needs one:
  • Skills repository? (has */SKILL.md files)
  • Complex build setup? (has build.gradle, pom.xml, package.json, etc.)
  • If yes → propose creating starter CLAUDE.md from starter-templates.md, ask user to confirm
  • If no → skip (repo may not need CLAUDE.md)

Step 1a: Check for modular structure

Check whether sibling docs exist that CLAUDE.md routes content to:

[ -f "docs/GOTCHAS.md" ] && echo "gotchas: yes" || echo "gotchas: no"
[ -f "docs/FLYWAY.md" ]  && echo "flyway: yes"  || echo "flyway: no"
[ -f "scripts/README.md" ] && echo "scripts-readme: yes" || echo "scripts-readme: no"

If any module files are present, the document is modular. Continue with the standard single-file workflow for CLAUDE.md itself, but apply Step 4e routing before adding any new content — new gotchas, Flyway notes, and script docs must go to their module file, not accumulate in CLAUDE.md.

Step 2: Read current content

Read the full CLAUDE.md so you understand the existing structure before proposing changes.

Step 3: Collect changes to analyze

In priority order:

1. Staged changes: git diff --staged (prefer this)
2. Recent commit: git diff HEAD~1 HEAD (if nothing staged)
3. User-provided description passed in context

Step 4: Identify workflow/convention impact

Map changes to CLAUDE.md sections:

Change type	Likely CLAUDE.md section
New build tool or command	Build/Development commands
New testing framework or test commands	Testing section
Package/module structure change	Repository Structure
New naming convention introduced	Naming Conventions
New development tool (linter, formatter)	Development Tools
CI/CD pipeline changes	Build/CI section
New environment variable required	Configuration/Setup
Git workflow changes (hooks, branch strategy)	Git Workflow
New skill added (skills repo)	Skill list, Naming Conventions
Skill renamed (skills repo)	Update all references
New skill cross-reference pattern (skills repo)	Editing Skills section

What to skip:

• Project Type section — never modify this user-configured section
• Code implementation details (that's for DESIGN.md)
• Architecture changes (that's for DESIGN.md)
• Individual bug fixes that don't change workflow
• Formatting/style changes

Step 4a: Check for framework changes (UNIVERSAL)

Framework changes = infrastructure that affects multiple files or introduces new capabilities.

Red flags that warrant CLAUDE.md documentation:

Pattern	CLAUDE.md Impact
New scripts/ or tools/ files	Document in Development Tools or Repository Structure
New validation/testing infrastructure	Document in Testing section or Quality Assurance
Same pattern applied across multiple files	Framework change, document the pattern
New automation or sync capabilities	Document in workflow sections
New quality gates or pre-commit hooks	Document in Git Workflow or Development Tools
New dependency management patterns	Document in Dependencies section

Example:

• What happened: A new linter or validator added to the CI pipeline
• Framework change: All commits now require passing lint checks before merge
• CLAUDE.md impact: Should document the new quality gate under Development Tools or Workflow

If you detect framework changes, include them in proposals even if no direct workflow/convention changes.

This check applies to ALL project types (skills/java/blog/custom/generic).

Step 4b: Check for missing Work Tracking section

Run python3 ~/.claude/skills/project-init/ctx.py if not already run this session. Read ISSUES_STATUS from the output.

If ISSUES_STATUS is absent, prompt:

Enable GitHub issue tracking for this repo? (YES / n)

Adds automatic behaviours: flag cross-cutting tasks before starting, check staged changes for commit splits, and link every commit to a GitHub issue for clean release notes.

Default: YES — type YES to enable, type n to skip.

If YES → propose adding to CLAUDE.md (include in the Step 5 proposal block):

## Work Tracking

**Issue tracking:** enabled
**GitHub repo:** [owner/repo]
**Changelog:** GitHub Releases (run `gh release create --generate-notes` at milestones)

**Automatic behaviours (Claude follows these when this section is present):**
- Before starting any significant task, check if it spans multiple concerns.
  If it does, help break it into separate issues before beginning work.
- When staging changes before a commit, check if they span multiple issues.
  If they do, suggest splitting the commit using `git add -p`.

Fill [owner/repo] from git remote get-url origin. This is a one-time addition — once present, this check passes silently.

If n → skip silently.

Step 4c: Check for missing Writing Style Guide section

ls blog/ 2>/dev/null | head -1

If blog/ exists (meaning write-content has been used in this workspace), check whether CLAUDE.md already contains the Writing Style Guide requirement.

Read HAS_WRITING_STYLE_REF from the ctx.py output (already run in Step 4b).

If blog/ exists and the requirement is absent from CLAUDE.md, propose adding:

## Writing Style Guide

**The writing style guide at `~/claude-workspace/writing-styles/blog-technical.md` is mandatory for all blog and diary entries.** Load it in full before drafting. Complete the pre-draft voice classification (I / we / Claude-named) before generating any prose. Do not show a draft without verifying it against the style guide.

This is a one-time addition per project — once present, this check passes silently.

Step 4d: Check for missing Name field (workspace CLAUDE.md)

Check whether this is a workspace CLAUDE.md (has ## Session Start with add-dir):

grep -l "add-dir" CLAUDE.md 2>/dev/null

If it is a workspace CLAUDE.md, read PROJECT_NAME from the ctx.py output (already run in Step 4b).

If PROJECT_NAME is empty, derive it from the H1 heading:

head -3 CLAUDE.md | grep "^# " | sed 's/^# //' | sed 's/ Workspace$//'

Propose adding immediately after the H1 heading:

**Name:** <derived-name>

This field is required by write-content to auto-populate the projects: frontmatter field in blog entries. Without it, write-content will stop and prompt the user.

This is a one-time addition per workspace — once present, this check passes silently.

Step 4e: Route new content to the correct module file

Before adding any new content, check the routing table:

Content category	Target file
Pitfall, gotcha, workaround, non-obvious behaviour, common mistake	docs/GOTCHAS.md
Flyway migration, V-number, migration prerequisite, datasource config	docs/FLYWAY.md
Build script, expected test times, script invocation	scripts/README.md
Build command, test command, git workflow convention	CLAUDE.md
Active epic, issue tracking state, work tracking	CLAUDE.md
Architecture, SPI contracts, domain model	docs/ARCHITECTURE.md (never CLAUDE.md)

The rule: If content matches a module file category, route it there. Never add gotchas, Flyway notes, or script docs to CLAUDE.md. Only rules that need to be in active working memory belong in CLAUDE.md.

When proposing an update that routes to a module file, include it as a separate change block (or as the sole change if CLAUDE.md itself needs no update).

---

Step 4f: Check for missing ARC42STORIES.MD reference

Read HAS_ARC42STORIES from the ctx.py output (already run in Step 4b).

If HAS_ARC42STORIES=yes, check whether CLAUDE.md already references it:

grep -c "ARC42STORIES" CLAUDE.md 2>/dev/null

If ARC42STORIES.MD exists and CLAUDE.md has zero mentions, propose adding two things:

1. A design row in the Routing table (if a Routing table exists):

   | design     | project     | journal in workspace `design/`; merge target is project `ARC42STORIES.MD` |
   

2. A living-docs block after the Routing table:

   Living docs — check for drift after significant changes:
   - `ARC42STORIES.MD` — primary architecture record; check §9–10 after module, SPI, or structural changes
   

This is a one-time addition — once present, this check passes silently.

Step 5: Propose updates

For single-file CLAUDE.md:

Format each proposed change as a clear before/after block:

## Section: <Section Name>

**Replace:**
> <exact existing text, or "(new section)">

**With:**
> <your proposed replacement text>

**Reason:** <one-sentence rationale>

For modular CLAUDE.md: see modular-handling.md § Step 5.

Group related changes. Show summary at top if many changes.

Step 6: Confirm and apply

End every proposal with exactly:

Does this look good? Reply YES to apply all changes, NO to discard, or describe what to adjust.

When user confirms YES:

1. Apply only the proposed changes
2. Validate links (if module files present): Check that any markdown links from CLAUDE.md to module files resolve:

   python3 ~/.claude/skills/update-claude-md/check_links.py CLAUDE.md
   

   If broken links are found, fix them before staging.
3. Skip validate_document.py — this script is not present in all projects and is optional.
4. If no broken links:
   • Print brief summary: "✅ Updated sections: Build Commands, Testing"
   • Document is ready for staging

For modular CLAUDE.md: see modular-handling.md § Step 6.

Validation checks for modular groups:

• Link integrity: All [links](file.md) and [links](file.md#section) resolve
• Completeness: No orphaned modules (unreferenced from primary)
• No duplication: Substantial paragraphs not duplicated across files
• Individual file validation: Each file passes single-file corruption checks

---

Common Pitfalls

Avoid these mistakes when updating CLAUDE.md:

Mistake	Why It's Wrong	Fix
Modifying Project Type section	Breaks repository behavior, user-configured	Never touch this section, skip it entirely
Applying changes without confirmation	User loses control	Always wait for explicit YES
Documenting architecture in CLAUDE.md	Wrong file - DESIGN.md is for architecture	Focus on workflow/conventions only
Over-documenting obvious things	Clutter, maintenance burden	Only document non-obvious workflows
Not updating CLAUDE.md when adding tools	Claude doesn't know about new tools	Update when workflow changes
Copying command help text verbatim	Duplicate of --help output	Summarize common use cases

Document Structure Check

This check is part of the performance and docs-sync categories in project-health. For a full analysis: /project-health performance docs-sync. See docs/project-health.md.

After applying updates, run:

python scripts/validation/validate_doc_structure.py CLAUDE.md

If exit code 1 or 2, follow the nudge workflow described in java-update-design § Document Structure Check — same conversation, same threshold adjustment, same CLAUDE.md persistence pattern.

Success Criteria

CLAUDE.md update is complete when:

• ✅ config-architecture.md checked and refreshed if stale (Step 0)
• ✅ CLAUDE.md located and read
• ✅ Workflow/convention changes identified from staged diff
• ✅ Proposed updates formatted as before/after blocks
• ✅ User confirmed with explicit YES
• ✅ Changes applied to CLAUDE.md
• ✅ Document validation passed (no CRITICAL corruption)
• ✅ File ready for staging (or user confirmed no changes needed)

Not complete until all criteria met, validation passed, and CLAUDE.md reflects current workflows.

Skill Chaining

Invoked by: [git-commit] when committing in any repository, [java-git-commit] alongside update-design, [git-commit] when committing blog changes, [custom-git-commit] when committing custom project changes, [work-end] as part of Step 3b pre-close sweep, [handover] as part of the session wrap checklist (mid-work sessions), [write-content] on the first blog entry ever in a project (adds the mandatory Writing Style Guide section)

Invokes: None (terminal skill in the chain)

Can be invoked independently: User can run /update-claude-md directly to sync CLAUDE.md without committing

Starter templates: see starter-templates.md — used when creating CLAUDE.md from scratch.