If your CLAUDE.md is just a wall of instructions, it’s probably making things worse
Here’s the scaffolding template I use to keep Claude Code actually effective
• Critical Rules = top 5-10 hard rules that prevent real mistakes
• Self Healing Rules = meta-rules that make the file improve over time
• Mission = 1-3 sentences. What is this and who cares?
• Stack = table format so Claude picks correct APIs, not deprecated ones
• Architecture = entry points reference docs, one line per subsystem
• Source of Truth Docs = canonical files Claude MUST read before modifying anything
• Data Model = just enough schema to write correct queries
• API Contracts = route mounts what they cover, not every endpoint
• Environment Variables = names grouped by purpose, never values
• Learned Anti-Patterns = grows organically when Claude breaks something
Every line should pass the test “Would removing this cause Claude to make mistakes?”
If it doesn’t prevent a mistake, it’s noise
Reply “SCAFFOLD” for the full template (must be following)