Can I use this for non-technical conventions?

While designed for code patterns, it can manage any cross-cutting convention that requires documentation, usage tracking, and formal decision records.

Does this skill automatically modify my source code?

It identifies where changes are needed and can update documentation, but complex code modifications are typically routed through an ADR-first workflow to ensure architectural integrity.

What is a 'ref' in the C3 architecture methodology?

A ref (reference) is a cross-cutting pattern or convention, such as error handling or authentication, that serves as an authoritative constraint for components system-wide.

How does c3-ref help maintain architectural consistency?

It scans your codebase for existing implementations of a pattern, documents the 'Gold Standard,' and ensures all citing components are tracked and updated when the pattern evolves.

What are the prerequisites for using the c3-ref skill?

The skill requires an existing .c3/ directory structure within your repository to store and manage architecture artifacts and references.

C3 Ref Architecture Pattern Manager

Name: C3 Ref Architecture Pattern Manager
Author: lagz0ne

bylagz0ne

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Developer Tools

Manages cross-cutting architectural patterns and conventions as authoritative constraints within the C3 design methodology.

About

c3-ref is a specialized plugin for Claude Code designed to institutionalize software patterns through the Context-Container-Component (C3) architecture. It enables developers to define, document, and enforce system-wide conventions—such as error handling, authentication flows, and data fetching—ensuring consistency across all components. By treating architectural "refs" as authoritative constraints, the skill automates the discovery of existing pattern usage, manages impact analysis during updates, and maintains a clear audit trail via automatically generated Architecture Decision Records (ADRs). This ensures that every design evolution is documented, compliant, and traceable throughout the codebase.

Key Features

Impact analysis for modifying existing system-wide architectural rules
Bidirectional linking between pattern documentation and citing components
Automated pattern discovery and usage tracking via codebase scanning
Automated Architecture Decision Record (ADR) generation for pattern adoption
Enforcement of authoritative architectural constraints across project layers
7 GitHub stars

Use Cases

Performing impact analysis when evolving a core architectural convention
Standardizing error handling or retry logic across multiple services
Documenting and enforcing a new system-wide authentication pattern

About

Key Features

Impact analysis for modifying existing system-wide architectural rules
Bidirectional linking between pattern documentation and citing components
Automated pattern discovery and usage tracking via codebase scanning
Automated Architecture Decision Record (ADR) generation for pattern adoption
Enforcement of authoritative architectural constraints across project layers
7 GitHub stars

Use Cases

Performing impact analysis when evolving a core architectural convention
Standardizing error handling or retry logic across multiple services
Documenting and enforcing a new system-wide authentication pattern