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Why CLAUDE.md Exists

by MrPhil
stellar-thronedevlogai-assisted-developmentclaude-md

When beginning development of Stellar Throne, I discovered an unexpected challenge: AI coding partners didn't know what the project was about.

The Communication Gap

Human developers can explore repositories and infer project context, but AI models lack this capability without explicit guidance. Without proper context, AI assistants would generate mismatched code, reference nonexistent files, or adopt incompatible styles.

What CLAUDE.md Is

CLAUDE.md serves as a specification document providing AI tools essential context. It documents:

  • Project purpose and objectives
  • Architecture and folder organization
  • Coding style and naming conventions
  • Testing philosophy and locations
  • Technical constraints and trade-offs
  • Design decision rationale
  • Guidelines for AI collaborators

Why It Matters

With CLAUDE.md established, high-level prompts like "Add a notification system" produce architecturally consistent, well-integrated code requiring fewer corrections than junior developer contributions.

The Meta-Magic: Claude Auditing Itself

Claude was used to review and improve CLAUDE.md itself, creating a feedback loop. Claude identified undocumented conventions, overlooked edge cases, and outdated patterns. This transformed documentation from static instruction into a living contract between human and AI.

The Real Purpose

CLAUDE.md ultimately establishes trust — ensuring the AI assistant understands the project and won't compromise core systems, creating shared design language between collaborator and developer.