CLAUDE.md Improver
Audit, evaluate, and improve CLAUDE.md files across a codebase to ensure Claude Code has optimal project context.
This skill can write to CLAUDE.md files. After presenting a quality report and getting user approval, it updates CLAUDE.md files with targeted improvements.
Workflow
Phase 1: Discovery
Find all CLAUDE.md files in the repository:
find . -name "CLAUDE.md" -o -name ".claude.md" -o -name ".claude.local.md" 2>/dev/null | head -50File Types & Locations:
| Type | Location | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Project root | ./CLAUDE.md | Primary project context (checked into git, shared with team) |
| Local overrides | ./.claude.local.md | Personal/local settings (gitignored, not shared) |
| Global defaults | ~/.claude/CLAUDE.md | User-wide defaults across all projects |
| Package-specific | ./packages/*/CLAUDE.md | Module-level context in monorepos |
| Subdirectory | Any nested location | Feature/domain-specific context |
Note: Claude auto-discovers CLAUDE.md files in parent directories, making monorepo setups work automatically.
Phase 2: Quality Assessment
For each CLAUDE.md file, evaluate against quality criteria. See references/quality-criteria.md for detailed rubrics.
Quick Assessment Checklist:
| Criterion | Weight | Check |
|---|---|---|
| Commands/workflows documented | High | Are build/test/deploy commands present? |
| Architecture clarity | High | Can Claude understand the codebase structure? |
| Non-obvious patterns | Medium | Are gotchas and quirks documented? |
| Conciseness | Medium | No verbose explanations or obvious info? |
| Currency | High | Does it reflect current codebase state? |
| Actionability | High | Are instructions executable, not vague? |
Quality Scores:
- A (90-100): Comprehensive, current, actionable
- B (70-89): Good coverage, minor gaps
- C (50-69): Basic info, missing key sections
- D (30-49): Sparse or outdated
- F (0-29): Missing or severely outdated
Phase 3: Quality Report Output
ALWAYS output the quality report BEFORE making any updates.
Format:
## CLAUDE.md Quality Report
### Summary
- Files found: X
- Average score: X/100
- Files needing update: X
### File-by-File Assessment
#### 1. ./CLAUDE.md (Project Root)
**Score: XX/100 (Grade: X)**
| Criterion | Score | Notes |
|-----------|-------|-------|
| Commands/workflows | X/20 | ... |
| Architecture clarity | X/20 | ... |
| Non-obvious patterns | X/15 | ... |
| Conciseness | X/15 | ... |
| Currency | X/15 | ... |
| Actionability | X/15 | ... |
**Issues:**
- [List specific problems]
**Recommended additions:**
- [List what should be added]
#### 2. ./packages/api/CLAUDE.md (Package-specific)
...Phase 4: Targeted Updates
After outputting the quality report, ask user for confirmation before updating.
Update Guidelines (Critical):
- Propose targeted additions only - Focus on genuinely useful info:
- Commands or workflows discovered during analysis
- Gotchas or non-obvious patterns found in code
- Package relationships that weren't clear
- Testing approaches that work
- Configuration quirks
- Keep it minimal - Avoid:
- Restating what's obvious from the code
- Generic best practices already covered
- One-off fixes unlikely to recur
- Verbose explanations when a one-liner suffices
- Show diffs - For each change, show:
- Which CLAUDE.md file to update
- The specific addition (as a diff or quoted block)
- Brief explanation of why this helps future sessions
Diff Format:
### Update: ./CLAUDE.md
**Why:** Build command was missing, causing confusion about how to run the project.
+ ## Quick Start + + ``bash + npm install + npm run dev # Start development server on port 3000 + ``
Phase 5: Apply Updates
After user approval, apply changes using the Edit tool. Preserve existing content structure.
Templates
See references/templates.md for CLAUDE.md templates by project type.
Common Issues to Flag
- Stale commands: Build commands that no longer work
- Missing dependencies: Required tools not mentioned
- Outdated architecture: File structure that's changed
- Missing environment setup: Required env vars or config
- Broken test commands: Test scripts that have changed
- Undocumented gotchas: Non-obvious patterns not captured
User Tips to Share
When presenting recommendations, remind users:
#key shortcut: During a Claude session, press#to have Claude auto-incorporate learnings into CLAUDE.md- Keep it concise: CLAUDE.md should be human-readable; dense is better than verbose
- Actionable commands: All documented commands should be copy-paste ready
- Use
.claude.local.md: For personal preferences not shared with team (add to.gitignore) - Global defaults: Put user-wide preferences in
~/.claude/CLAUDE.md
What Makes a Great CLAUDE.md
Key principles:
- Concise and human-readable
- Actionable commands that can be copy-pasted
- Project-specific patterns, not generic advice
- Non-obvious gotchas and warnings
Recommended sections (use only what's relevant):
- Commands (build, test, dev, lint)
- Architecture (directory structure)
- Key Files (entry points, config)
- Code Style (project conventions)
- Environment (required vars, setup)
- Testing (commands, patterns)
- Gotchas (quirks, common mistakes)
- Workflow (when to do what)