First Project Setup
Claude Code can read your entire project structure in seconds. This prompt bootstraps a complete understanding of any codebase and creates the CLAUDE.md that makes every future session more productive. The 'do not modify source code' guardrail builds trust on your first interaction.
I just cloned this repo and need to get oriented. Do the following: 1. Read the README, package.json, and any config files to understand the project 2. Identify the tech stack, framework version, and key dependencies 3. Check for a CLAUDE.md — if none exists, create one with: - Project overview (1-2 sentences) - Tech stack table - Commands section (dev, build, test, lint) - Directory structure overview - Key conventions you observe in the existing code 4. Try running the dev server and report any issues 5. Summarize what this project does and the 3 most important files to understand first Do not modify any source code — only create the CLAUDE.md and report findings.
Why this prompt works
Claude Code can read your entire project structure in seconds. This prompt bootstraps a complete understanding of any codebase and creates the CLAUDE.md that makes every future session more productive. The 'do not modify source code' guardrail builds trust on your first interaction.
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