Claude Code Template

A GitHub template repository with CLAUDE.md best practices for projects using Claude Code AI assistant.

What is this?

This template provides a starting point for projects that will use Claude Code as an AI coding assistant. It includes a well-structured CLAUDE.md file that helps Claude understand your project's architecture, conventions, and common workflows.

Why use CLAUDE.md?

When Claude Code works on your project, it automatically reads the CLAUDE.md file to understand:

• Your project's structure and architecture
• Common commands and workflows
• Coding conventions and standards
• Known issues and their solutions
• Project-specific patterns and requirements

This leads to more accurate and helpful assistance from Claude.

Getting Started

1. Use this template: Click the "Use this template" button on GitHub to create a new repository based on this template.

2. Clone your new repository:

   git clone https://github.com/YOUR_USERNAME/YOUR_REPO_NAME.git
   cd YOUR_REPO_NAME
   

3. Customize CLAUDE.md: Edit the CLAUDE.md file to match your project:

   • Update the project name and description
   • Modify the architecture section for your tech stack
   • Replace example commands with your actual commands
   • Add project-specific patterns and conventions
   • Document any known issues and solutions

4. Keep it updated: As your project evolves, update CLAUDE.md to reflect:

   • New commands or workflows
   • Solutions to problems you've encountered
   • Changes in architecture or conventions
   • New dependencies or tools

What's Included

CLAUDE.md Structure

The template CLAUDE.md includes these sections:

• Repository Overview: Project description and purpose
• Architecture & Key Components: Tech stack and project structure
• Common Commands: Setup, development, testing, and deployment commands
• Development Guidelines: Code style, Git workflow, testing strategy
• Common Issues and Solutions: Documented problems and fixes
• Project-Specific Patterns: API structures, database patterns, error handling
• Environment Variables: Required configuration
• Debugging Tips: Helpful debugging commands and techniques
• Performance Considerations: Guidelines for optimization
• Security Guidelines: Best practices for secure code

Best Practices for CLAUDE.md

1. Be Specific: Include exact commands and code examples
2. Stay Current: Update regularly as the project evolves
3. Focus on Development: Include information Claude needs for coding tasks
4. Document Solutions: When you solve a problem, add it to the file
5. Use Examples: Show patterns with actual code snippets

Example Customization

Here's how you might customize the CLAUDE.md for a React project:

## Architecture & Key Components

### Project Structure

my-react-app/ ├── src/ │ ├── components/ # Reusable UI components │ ├── pages/ # Page components │ ├── hooks/ # Custom React hooks │ ├── utils/ # Helper functions │ └── api/ # API client code ├── public/ # Static assets └── tests/ # Test files

### Core Technologies
- **Language**: TypeScript 5.0+
- **Framework**: React 18 with Vite
- **State Management**: Zustand
- **Styling**: Tailwind CSS
- **Testing**: Vitest + React Testing Library

Contributing

If you have suggestions for improving this template, please:

1. Fork the repository
2. Create a feature branch
3. Submit a pull request with your improvements

Resources

• Claude Code Documentation
• Claude Code Best Practices
• GitHub Templates Documentation

License

This template is provided under the MIT License. See LICENSE file for details.