| name | boost |
| description | Diagnose and optimize your Claude Code setup. Auto-detects your project, scores your configuration, and guides you through setting up CLAUDE.md, permissions, memory, MCP servers, plugins, hooks, and more. |
| argument-hint | [level] |
| allowed-tools | ["Read","Glob","Grep","Bash","Write","Edit"] |
Boost — Diagnose and Optimize Your Claude Code Setup
Diagnose the user's Claude Code configuration, display their Boost Score, and actively help them set up missing items.
Instructions
Phase 1: Diagnose
Run the exact same diagnostic checks as the boost-check skill. Check all 9 items across 3 levels:
Level 1 — Essentials (3 items)
- CLAUDE.md — exists in project root? Has > 5 lines? Has model routing section?
- settings.json —
~/.claude/settings.json has permissions with at least one allow entry?
- Memory system — project memory directory has MEMORY.md with entries?
Level 2 — Power Features (4 items)
4. CLAUDE.md advanced — has context management / workflow mode sections (2+ keywords)?
5. MCP servers — ~/.claude/mcp.json or .mcp.json has at least one server?
6. Plugins — installed_plugins.json has 2+ plugins (excluding boost)?
7. Git integration — current directory is a git repo?
Level 3 — Expert (2 items)
8. Hooks — settings.json has custom hooks?
9. Keybindings — ~/.claude/keybindings.json exists with custom bindings?
Phase 2: Display Score
Show the Boost Score:
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ Boost Score: X/9 ║
║ Level 1: a/3 | Level 2: b/4 | Level 3: c/2 ║
╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
Then list all items with ✓/✗ status.
Phase 3: Guide and Act
Start from the lowest level with missing items. For each missing item, offer to set it up.
If the user passed a level argument (e.g., /boost 2), skip to that level.
Setting Up: CLAUDE.md (Level 1)
When CLAUDE.md is missing or sparse:
-
Auto-detect project context:
- Read
package.json → extract name, description, dependencies, scripts
- Read
requirements.txt or pyproject.toml → extract Python dependencies
- Read
go.mod → extract Go module info
- Read
Cargo.toml → extract Rust crate info
- Read
.eslintrc*, .prettierrc*, .editorconfig → extract code style rules
- Read
jest.config*, vitest.config*, pytest.ini, tsconfig.json → extract test config
- Read
.gitignore → infer restricted files
- Read
README.md first 20 lines → extract project description
- If none of these exist, note "No project config files detected"
-
Generate CLAUDE.md with recommended template:
Present the complete file with auto-detected values filled in and sensible defaults for the rest:
# Project Instructions
## Project Description
[Auto-detected or "Describe your project here"]
## Tech Stack
[Auto-detected from dependency files]
## Model Routing
| Level | Model | Use For |
|-------|-------|---------|
| Deep reasoning | opus | Architecture planning, complex debugging, cross-system design |
| Main development | sonnet | Code writing, reviews, research, general tasks |
| Light tasks | haiku | Simple queries, formatting, quick lookups |
## Language Preference
English (change to your preferred language)
## Code Style
[Auto-detected from linter/formatter configs, or "Follow existing project conventions"]
## Testing
[Auto-detected test framework and conventions, or "Describe your test approach"]
## Restrictions
- Do not modify .env or credential files
[Additional restrictions inferred from .gitignore]
## Context Management
- Suggest /compact at phase transitions (research → planning, planning → implementation)
- Do not compact during active implementation
- Before compacting, confirm critical context will be preserved
## Common Commands
[Auto-detected from package.json scripts, Makefile targets, or "Add your common commands"]
-
Present the complete file to the user and ask them to confirm or request changes.
-
If confirmed, write the file with the Write tool.
Setting Up: settings.json (Level 1)
When permissions are not configured:
- Explain what permissions control: File read/write permissions, Bash command execution, MCP tool access
- Present recommended permission settings as a complete settings.json snippet. Recommend allowing Read/Glob/Grep/Bash by default for better workflow, with Write/Edit requiring approval.
- Ask user to confirm, then apply with Edit tool to
~/.claude/settings.json.
Setting Up: Memory System (Level 1)
When memory is not enabled:
-
Explain the 4 memory types briefly:
- user — your role, preferences, expertise
- feedback — corrections and confirmed approaches
- project — ongoing work context, decisions, deadlines
- reference — pointers to external resources
-
Offer to create initial memories by presenting recommended defaults:
- A
user_profile.md with placeholder sections (role, tech stack, preferences)
- A
MEMORY.md index file
-
Present the files for confirmation, then write them.
Setting Up: CLAUDE.md Advanced (Level 2)
When CLAUDE.md exists but lacks workflow/mode sections:
- Read the existing CLAUDE.md
- Suggest adding these sections:
- Context Management — when to compact, phase transition rules
- Workflow Modes — different behaviors for debugging vs. feature dev vs. review
- Custom Commands — project-specific shortcuts
- Present the additions as an Edit (not overwrite) to the existing file
- Apply after confirmation
Setting Up: MCP Servers (Level 2)
When no MCP servers are configured:
- Explain MCP concept in one paragraph
- List popular MCP servers with what they do:
- Filesystem server — enhanced file operations
- GitHub server — PR/issue management
- Web search — internet access
- Database servers — direct DB access
- Ask which ones interest the user
- Guide creating
.mcp.json for chosen servers
Setting Up: Plugins (Level 2)
When few plugins are installed:
- Read the current project type from CLAUDE.md or detected stack
- Recommend relevant plugins:
- superpowers — development workflows (if not installed)
- code-review — PR review automation
- Other relevant plugins based on project type
- Provide install commands:
/plugin install <name>@claude-plugins-official
- Do NOT auto-install — only recommend
Setting Up: Git Integration (Level 2)
When not a git repo:
- Explain benefits of git integration with Claude Code
- Offer to run
git init if appropriate
- If already a git repo, explain advanced features:
- Worktree workflows for parallel development
- Commit conventions Claude Code follows
- Branch strategies
Setting Up: Hooks (Level 3)
When no custom hooks exist:
- Explain the hook system: events that trigger shell commands
- Show practical examples:
- Pre-commit: run linter before committing
- Post-edit: auto-format changed files
- SessionStart: custom welcome message or context injection
- Guide creating first hook in
~/.claude/settings.json
Setting Up: Keybindings (Level 3)
When using defaults:
- Show available customizable shortcuts
- Suggest productivity bindings:
- Custom key for /compact
- Quick access to common commands
- Guide creating
~/.claude/keybindings.json
Phase 4: Update State
After each item is set up:
- Read current state from
~/.claude/plugins/data/claude-boost/global-state.json
- If file doesn't exist, create with default schema
- Add the completed item ID to
completedItems array
- Update
boostScore counts
- Update
lastCheckTimestamp
- If all items in a level are complete, update
currentLevel to next level
- Write updated state back
Item IDs: claude-md, settings-json, memory-system, claude-md-advanced, mcp-servers, plugins, git-integration, hooks, keybindings
Phase 5: Level Transition
When all items in a level are completed:
- Show congratulations message with updated score
- Preview what the next level covers
- Ask if the user wants to continue to the next level or stop here
Important
- NEVER modify existing files without showing the user the changes and getting confirmation
- NEVER auto-install plugins — only recommend with install commands
- When CLAUDE.md already exists, use Edit (not Write) to add missing sections
- Adapt response language to match the user's conversation language
- If the user passes a specific level argument, skip directly to that level's items