How many instructions should a CLAUDE.md file contain?

To maintain high reliability, target 50-80 instructions for project-level files and 30-40 for user-level files, keeping the combined total under 150.

What is the WHAT/WHY/HOW framework?

It is a structured approach for project configs: WHAT defines the purpose/stack, WHY explains architectural decisions, and HOW lists essential commands.

Why shouldn't I use Claude as a linter?

LLMs follow style rules inconsistently. Using deterministic tools like ESLint or Prettier is more reliable and preserves Claude's instruction budget for more complex tasks.

Where are user-level configurations stored?

User-level configurations, which apply to all projects, should be placed in the ~/.claude/CLAUDE.md directory.

What is the benefit of a CLAUDE.md file?

It serves as the primary context transfer point, providing Claude with the essential project purpose, tech stack, and commands it needs to work effectively.

CLAUDE.md Configuration Architect

Name: CLAUDE.md Configuration Architect
Author: dhruvbaldawa

bydhruvbaldawa

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Productivity & Workflow

Generates and audits high-leverage CLAUDE.md configuration files to optimize context transfer and model performance.

This skill empowers developers to master Claude Code's configuration by creating and reviewing CLAUDE.md files based on HumanLayer guidelines. It enforces critical best practices such as the WHAT/WHY/HOW framework, strict instruction budgeting, and progressive disclosure. By identifying anti-patterns—like using Claude as a linter for style rules—this skill ensures that the model's limited attention is focused on high-value architectural context and essential project commands rather than redundant tasks better handled by deterministic tooling.

Key Features

01Guides progressive disclosure by linking to external documentation for complex rules

023 GitHub stars

03Manages instruction budgets to prevent model distraction and improve reliability

04Identifies and eliminates the 'Claude as Linter' anti-pattern for better performance

05Implements the WHAT/WHY/HOW framework for concise project-level context

06Provides standardized templates for both user-level and project-level configurations

Use Cases

01Initializing a new project with a high-performance CLAUDE.md file

02Establishing global developer preferences through optimized user-level configs

03Auditing bloated configuration files to improve AI instruction adherence

What are Skills?·How to Install

Install with 🐟 Skill.Fish

npx skillfish add dhruvbaldawa/ccconfigs claude-md-authoring

For use in Claude.ai and ChatGPT

Download Skill