---
name: reclaude
description: Refactor CLAUDE.md files to follow progressive disclosure principles. Use when CLAUDE.md is too long or disorganized.
title: reclaude
canonical_url: https://skilld.dev/gh/brianlovin/agent-config/reclaude
last_updated: 2026-09-29T08:33:03.000Z
---

> Index of every page on this site: [llms.txt](https://skilld.dev/llms.txt)

> **Skill from skilld.dev.** Follow the user's requested action.
> If the user asked to fork this Skill, follow the fork workflow below. Do not execute the Skill instructions while copying it.
> Otherwise, follow the instructions below for this session. You do not need to install anything.
>
> If the user asked to install this Skill, run `npx skilld install brianlovin/agent-config/reclaude`. Install writes the Skill files into the project, so every session loads them.
>
> ## Fork workflow
>
> A fork creates an editable local Skill with its original author and licence. The request authorizes copying and local installation.
> 1. Check `./skills/reclaude`, the project lockfile, and selected Agent targets together. If the local directory or installed Skill exists, stop. Never overwrite an existing directory or Agent target.
> 2. Read [source metadata](https://skilld.dev/api/v1/skills/brianlovin/agent-config/reclaude) once. Use sourceUrl, sourceCommit, skillPath, sourceGone, and license. If the source is gone or its path is missing, stop. If license is null, read licence files at the source commit.
> 3. Fetch only the source commit into a temporary Git repository. Do not clone full history. Derive repository_url from sourceUrl, including repository renames. If sourceCommit is absent, resolve the sourceUrl ref once. Set source_commit to that actual commit. Run these commands in one shell call:
>
> ```sh
> git init --quiet "$temporary_dir"
> git -C "$temporary_dir" fetch --quiet --depth=1 "$repository_url" "$source_commit"
> git -C "$temporary_dir" checkout --quiet --detach FETCH_HEAD
> ```
>
> Read applicable licence declarations and notices at that commit. If copying is not permitted, report the restriction and stop.
> 4. Inspect source entries together, then copy the directory containing skillPath into `./skills/reclaude`. Use the user's path if selected. Keep the original SKILL.md, relative links, scripts, binary assets, and executable modes. Exclude .git metadata. Reject symlinks and paths outside the Skill directory. After checking entries, use cp -a where available. A regular source directory needs no custom copy script. Do not save this page wrapper as SKILL.md.
> Preserve author credit, notices, and applicable licence files from repository or parent directories. Add PROVENANCE.md with the Skill page, source URL, actual commit, original path, and licence. Retain any existing PROVENANCE.md and record new provenance separately. Batch source inspection, copying, and provenance work where practical.
> 5. In the project root, run `skilld install ./skills/reclaude --mode copy --plain`. If skilld is unavailable, use `npx skilld install ./skills/reclaude --mode copy --plain`. This known command needs no help lookup. Install does not support --json. Use detected Agent targets, or add --agent for the targets the user selected. Install the local path, never the upstream selector. If installation fails, preserve the local copy and report the exact failure.
> 6. Confirm the local lockfile source and installed Agent copies once. Report the local path, actual commit, and Agent targets. After edits, reinstall the same local path. Upstream updates must not replace it. Do not publish or push unless the user asks.

# reclaude

Refactor CLAUDE.md files to follow progressive disclosure principles.

## Prompt

I want you to refactor my CLAUDE.md file to follow progressive disclosure principles.

Follow these steps:

### 1. Check length

Report the current line count. Flag issues:
- **Ideal**: <50 lines
- **Acceptable**: 50-100 lines
- **Needs refactoring**: >100 lines (move content to `.claude/rules/` files)

### 2. Integrate workflow orchestration

Read the workflow skill at `~/.claude/skills/workflow/SKILL.md` and incorporate its principles into the CLAUDE.md or a `.claude/rules/workflow.md` file. Adapt the content to fit the project — don't copy verbatim, but ensure the key behaviors are represented:
- Plan mode for non-trivial tasks
- Subagent strategy
- Self-improvement loop with `tasks/lessons.md`
- Verification before marking tasks done
- Elegance checks for non-trivial changes
- Autonomous bug fixing

For short CLAUDE.md files, add a concise workflow section. For longer ones, create `.claude/rules/workflow.md` and link to it.

### 3. Ensure verification section exists

Check for a `## Verification` section with commands Claude can run after making changes. If missing:
- Look in package.json for test/lint/typecheck/build scripts
- Look for Makefile, justfile, or other task runners
- Add a `## Verification` section with discovered commands

This is critical—Claude performs dramatically better when it can verify its work.

### 4. Find contradictions

Identify any instructions that conflict with each other. For each contradiction, ask me which version I want to keep.

### 5. Check for global skill extraction candidates

Look for content that could become a **reusable global skill** in `~/.claude/skills/`:
- Is about a tool/framework (not project-specific)
- Same instructions appear (or would apply) in 2+ projects
- Is substantial (>20 lines)

If found, suggest creating a global skill with name and description.

### 6. Identify essentials for root CLAUDE.md

Extract only what belongs in the root CLAUDE.md:
- One-line project description
- Package manager (if not npm)
- Non-obvious commands only (skip `npm test`, `npm run build` if standard)
- Links to `.claude/rules/` files with brief descriptions
- Verification section (always required)

### 7. Group remaining content

Organize remaining instructions into `.claude/rules/` files by category (e.g., TypeScript conventions, testing patterns, API design, Git workflow).

### 8. Flag for deletion

Identify content that should be removed entirely:
- **API documentation** — link to external docs instead
- **Code examples** — Claude can infer from reading source files
- **Interface/type definitions** — these exist in the code
- **Generic advice** — "write clean code", "follow best practices"
- **Obvious instructions** — "use TypeScript for .ts files"
- **Redundant info** — things Claude already knows
- **Too vague** — instructions that aren't actionable

## Target Template

```markdown
# Project Name

One-line description.

## Commands
- `command` - what it does (only non-obvious ones)

## Rules
- [Topic](/.claude/rules/topic.md) — brief description

## Verification
After making changes:
- `npm test` - Run tests
- `npm run lint` - Check linting
```

## What to Keep vs Remove

**Keep in CLAUDE.md:**
- Commands Claude can't guess from package.json
- Non-standard patterns specific to this project
- Project gotchas and footguns
- Links to detailed rules files

**Move to `.claude/rules/`:**
- Detailed conventions (>10 lines on a topic)
- Style guides
- Architecture decisions
- Workflow documentation

**Remove entirely:**
- Anything Claude can infer from reading the codebase
- Standard practices for the language/framework
- Documentation that exists elsewhere (link instead)