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Overview

Every AI coding tool reads project-specific instructions from config files. This reference covers all major tools so you can configure your project once and support multiple workflows.

Quick Reference

Detailed Configuration

Project file: CLAUDE.md in project rootGlobal file: ~/.claude/CLAUDE.mdNested support: Yes - place CLAUDE.md in subdirectories for module-specific context
Example content:

Universal Template

Use this template that works across most tools:

Multi-Tool Setup

Support multiple AI tools in one project:
DRY approach: Create one source file and symlink others:

Best Practices

  • Keep instructions under 2000 words (fits in context)
  • Update when tech stack changes
  • Include “why” not just “what”
  • List common commands developers need
  • Note non-obvious project quirks
Avoid:
  • Duplicating documentation that’s elsewhere
  • Including secrets or credentials
  • Over-specifying obvious conventions
  • Contradicting tool defaults without reason

Context Optimization

Effective context feeding strategies

Slop Constraints

Control output quality