Claude Prompt + Bridge

Claude supports two workflows:

• Bridge mode: Call Claude CLI non-interactively and return Claude's response to the user.
• Package mode: Generate a deterministic Claude-ready prompt package.

When to Use Claude

Use this skill when:

• The user explicitly invokes /claude or $claude.
• The user asks to convert/rewrite/port a request for Claude.
• The user asks Codex to ask Claude and return Claude's answer.
• The user asks for a Claude second opinion or structured Claude output.

Do NOT use this skill for:

• General conversation with no Claude conversion/bridge intent.
• Tasks better handled directly in Codex with no value from Claude.

Exception:

• If $claude or /claude appears explicitly, route through this skill.

Quick Reference

# Bridge mode (default)
$claude <request>
/claude <request>
$claude run <request>
$claude ask <request>
$claude json <request>
$claude continue <session_id> <follow_up>

# Package mode (explicit)
$claude package <request>
$claude prompt <request>
$claude convert <request>

# Claude CLI commands used by bridge mode
claude -p --output-format json "<prompt>"
claude -p --output-format json --json-schema '<schema>' "<prompt>"
claude -p --output-format json --resume <session_id> "<follow_up>"

Mode Selection

Select mode deterministically:

• Bridge mode when the user invokes $claude//claude without a packaging subcommand.
• Bridge mode when request includes execution subcommands: run, ask, bridge, exec, json, continue, resume.
• Package mode when request explicitly asks for prompt conversion/porting, or uses: package, prompt, convert.
• Meta mode for skill maintenance commands: help, review-skill, debug-skill, literal.

Routing precedence for explicit $claude//claude:

1. Meta subcommands
2. Continue/resume subcommands
3. Package subcommands or explicit conversion intent
4. Bridge mode (default)

Meta mode escape hatch:

• $claude help -> explain skill usage only.
• $claude review-skill -> evaluate/improve this skill (no forced prompt package output).
• $claude literal <text> -> treat <text> as literal content, not a command.

Core Concepts

Package Mode Contract

Output is deterministic and copy/paste-ready with sections in this order:

1. SYSTEM:
2. USER:
3. INPUTS:
4. CHECKLIST:
5. EDGE CASES: (optional)

Never add text before SYSTEM: or after final section.

Bridge Mode Contract

Bridge mode runs Claude CLI and returns Claude output plus minimal execution metadata.

Required parse order for CLI JSON output:

1. structured_output (when --json-schema is used)
2. result
3. Error state (is_error == true or non-zero exit)

Always capture these fields when available:

• session_id
• is_error
• stop_reason
• total_cost_usd

Default bridge response formatting:

• Return Claude's substantive answer only.
• Omit execution metadata unless one of these applies:
  • User explicitly asks for metadata/cost/session details.
  • The command is continue/resume and session continuity is needed.
  • An error occurred and diagnostics are needed.

When metadata is included, keep it minimal by default:

• session_id and is_error
• Add stop_reason and total_cost_usd only on request or error analysis.

Structured Response Schema

When bridge mode needs machine-readable output, use this JSON schema:

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "answer": { "type": "string" },
    "assumptions": {
      "type": "array",
      "items": { "type": "string" }
    },
    "risks": {
      "type": "array",
      "items": { "type": "string" }
    },
    "next_actions": {
      "type": "array",
      "items": { "type": "string" }
    },
    "needs_input": { "type": "boolean" },
    "questions": {
      "type": "array",
      "items": { "type": "string" }
    }
  },
  "required": [
    "answer",
    "assumptions",
    "risks",
    "next_actions",
    "needs_input",
    "questions"
  ],
  "additionalProperties": false
}

Clarification and Follow-up Loop

Default behavior:

• Ask zero clarifying questions unless critical ambiguity exists.
• Ask at most 2 questions.
• Still provide best-effort output with explicit assumptions.

In bridge mode:

1. If Claude returns needs_input: true or non-empty questions, ask the user those questions.
2. Resume same Claude session with --resume <session_id> after user reply.
3. Continue until needs_input: false and no blocking questions remain.

Package Format Rules

SYSTEM:

• Short, stable instruction set.
• Include role, priorities, hard constraints.

USER:

• Restate task, deliverables, constraints, success criteria.
• Include relevant provided context.
• Include clarifying questions only when critical ambiguity exists.

INPUTS:

• List artifacts (files/snippets/links) and intended use.
• If none, write exactly: - None.

CHECKLIST:

• 6 to 12 bullets.
• Must include: Correctness, Completeness, Constraints adherence, Formatting compliance, Scope control, Assumption transparency.
• Include Edge-case handling bullet only if EDGE CASES: exists.

EDGE CASES:

• Include only for high-risk/failure-prone conditions.
• Omit entirely if not needed.

Context and Token Policy

For large inputs, avoid dumping full artifacts into a single prompt.

Use this order:

1. Include user goal and hard constraints verbatim.
2. Include only directly relevant excerpts from files/logs.
3. If context is large, chunk and summarize first, then ask Claude on the summaries.
4. Record assumptions about omitted context in output.

Error Handling

Common bridge-mode failures and handling:

• CLI unavailable/auth issue: report failure. Do not silently switch to package mode unless user asked for conversion/package output.
• Schema validation failure: retry once with clearer output instruction; if still failing, return raw result and flag schema miss.
• Permission/tool denial: narrow ask, disable tools, or request user-approved alternative.
• Conflicting constraints: preserve user constraints, surface conflict explicitly, propose minimal resolution options.

Build Procedure

1. Parse intent, deliverables, constraints, success criteria.
2. Select mode (package, bridge, or meta) deterministically.
3. Gather minimal relevant context and inputs.
4. Detect critical ambiguity and embed up to 2 questions only if needed.
5. For package mode: emit deterministic package.
6. For bridge mode: run Claude CLI, parse output contract, and continue follow-up loop if needed.
7. Validate formatting, scope, assumptions, and constraint fidelity before returning.

Quality Rules

• Preserve user intent; do not broaden scope.
• Keep wording concrete and concise.
• Keep bullets atomic and testable.
• Reflect hard constraints exactly (stack, banned tools, deadlines, file boundaries, schema requirements).
• Avoid unsupported tool claims.
• Keep SYSTEM: compact (typically 4 to 8 bullets).
• Keep CHECKLIST: within 6 to 12 bullets.
• Keep bridge responses parseable and session-aware.
• Do not add extra headings in package output.

Practical Examples

• $claude any thoughts on this script?
• $claude run Give me a second opinion on this migration approach
• $claude json Analyze these test failures and return structured risks + next actions
• $claude run --meta any thoughts on this script?
• $claude continue 31feb98d-6f2a-451e-977b-0df8945a62b5 user chose React + TypeScript
• $claude package convert this bug ticket into a Claude prompt package for root-cause + fix plan
• $claude review-skill evaluate gaps in this skill file and propose improvements

Final Check

• Mode selection is explicit and justified.
• Package output headings are exact and in required order.
• INPUTS: contains - None. when no artifacts are present.
• CHECKLIST: has 6 to 12 bullets with required quality gates.
• EDGE CASES: appears only when warranted.
• Bridge output is concise by default; metadata is included only when needed or requested.
• Follow-up loop behavior is defined for open questions.

Feedback & Issues

• Report a bug
• Request a feature