Claude Code Repository Guide

This skill helps you work effectively with code repositories that contain CLAUDE.md instruction files, converting them into structured, actionable development guidance.

What This Skill Does

When working with a repository containing a CLAUDE.md file, this skill:

1. Extracts essential commands and development workflows

2. Identifies architectural patterns and conventions

3. Highlights current development focus areas

4. Surfaces important context like recent changes and known issues

5. Provides security and testing best practices specific to the project

Instructions

Step 1: Locate Repository Instructions

First, look for a CLAUDE.md file in the repository root:

Step 2: Parse Essential Information

Extract and organize these key sections:

**Commands**: Group by purpose (development, testing, deployment, release)

**Architecture**: Identify structure

**Environment Setup**: List required variables

Step 3: Identify Development Context

Pay special attention to:

**Current Focus**: What's actively being worked on

**Code Conventions**: Standards to follow

**Recent Changes**: Historical context

Step 4: Surface Critical Issues

Highlight blockers and gotchas:

Step 5: Provide Quick Start Path

Create a concise onboarding sequence:

```bash

1. Prerequisites check

2. Installation steps

3. Configuration setup

4. Verification commands

5. First useful task

```

Example Usage

**User Request**: "Help me understand this MCP server codebase"

**Agent Response**:

1. Read CLAUDE.md file

2. Extract that this is an MCP documentation server

3. Identify Node.js 22+ requirement

4. Show quick start: `nvm use 22 → npm install → npm run dev`

5. Explain architecture: MCP server → Services (Notion, Guru) → Tools

6. Note current focus: Notion property type detection improvements

7. Highlight testing: `npm run inspect:cli` for quick validation

Constraints

Notes