📝 Generate Claude Files - Multi-Language Documentation

Generate CLAUDE.md, CODEMAP.md, and MEMORY.md for your backend project using prompts and analysis (not automated code generation).

Supported Languages: Node.js/JavaScript • Python • Go • Java • C# • Ruby • PHP • And more!

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🎯 What This Skill Does

This skill helps you create three essential AI collaboration files for ANY backend project:

1. CLAUDE.md - Project Constitution

   • Project rules, conventions, tech stack
   • Critical coding standards
   • How to add features
   • Language-specific best practices

2. CODEMAP.md - Codebase Architecture Map

   • Directory structure with purposes
   • Request/response flow diagrams
   • Navigation guides
   • Framework-specific patterns

3. MEMORY.md - Project Context & Knowledge Base

   • Quick facts and architecture overview
   • Code patterns and conventions
   • Known gotchas and solutions
   • Performance and security notes
   • Language-specific tips

Approach: Interactive prompts + manual analysis → personalized, accurate documentation for YOUR tech stack

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⚡ Quick Start (15 minutes)

Step 1: Get the Quick Start Prompts

Open: references/QUICK_START_PROMPTS.md

Step 2: Answer Phase 1 Questions

Copy the Phase 1 prompt → Paste into Claude
Answer questions about your project
Get structured analysis

Step 3: Generate Documentation

Use Phase 2 prompt → Get CLAUDE.md
Use Phase 3 prompt → Get CODEMAP.md
Use Phase 4 prompt → Get MEMORY.md

Step 4: Use Your Documentation

Review and customize the generated files, then use them in your Claude requests.

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⚡ Optimization: Faster Generation with External Tools

Save time and tokens by using these CLI tools if available:

Option A: Use Existing Codemap

If you already have a CODEMAP.md:

• Skip Phase 3 (CODEMAP generation)
• Use existing codemap in Phase 2 analysis
• Saves: 10-15 minutes + 20% tokens

Option B: Generate Codemap with CLI (CLI Tool)

Generate project structure map with codemap CLI:

codemap --output project-structure.md

Then use output in Phase 1 to inform CODEMAP generation

• Saves: 10-15 minutes + simplifies Phase 3 (CODEMAP)
• Best for: Understanding complex project layouts

Option C: Use repomix (CLI Tool)

Generate token-lean context with repomix CLI:

repomix --output context.md

Then paste the output into Phase 1 for comprehensive analysis

• Saves: 15-20 minutes + 30% tokens

Option D: Use mgrep (CLI Tool)

Before Phase 1, run mgrep to extract code patterns:

mgrep "error handling" src/
mgrep "validation" src/
mgrep "interface\|type" src/

Collect key patterns and feed into Phase 1

• Saves: 10 minutes + gives Phase 1 better answers

Option E: Combined Optimization (Recommended) ⚡

1. Generate codemap structure: codemap --output project-structure.md
2. Generate repomix context: repomix --output context.md
3. Run mgrep for patterns: mgrep "pattern" src/
4. Feed all outputs into Phase 1 for comprehensive analysis
5. Result: 20-25 min instead of 45-60 min + 50% token savings

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📚 How to Use This Skill

Option 1: Super Quick (15 min) 🏃

Use QUICK_START_PROMPTS.md

• Copy Phase 1 prompt → analyze your repo
• Copy Phase 2-4 prompts → generate files
• Done!

Option 2: Thorough (45-60 min) 📖

Use PROMPT_BASED_WORKFLOW.md

• 4 detailed phases with templates
• Complete section-by-section
• Professional quality output

Option 3: AI-Assisted (30 min) 🤖

Hybrid approach

• Do Phase 1 analysis manually (15 min)
• Use prompts with Claude (10 min)
• Review & customize (5 min)

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📖 Documentation Files

Main Guides

File	Purpose	When to Use
HOW_TO_USE_THIS_SKILL.md	Overview & quick start	Start here first
PROMPT_BASED_WORKFLOW.md	Detailed 4-phase guide	Want detailed guidance
QUICK_START_PROMPTS.md	Ready-to-use prompts	Want fastest approach

Templates & References

File	Purpose
CLAUDE.md.template	Template for project constitution
CODEMAP.md.template	Template for architecture map
MEMORY.md.template	Template for context knowledge

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🚀 The 4 Phases

Phase 1: Repository Analysis (15-20 min)

You do: Explore your project, answer questions about:

• Project identity (name, purpose, type)
• Technology stack
• Directory structure
• Code patterns
• Known pain points

Output: Structured analysis answers

Phase 2: Generate CLAUDE.md (5-10 min)

Claude generates: Project constitution containing:

• Tech stack overview
• Critical coding rules
• Code quality standards
• How to add features
• Pre-commit checklist

Phase 3: Generate CODEMAP.md (10-15 min)

Claude generates: Architecture map showing:

• Directory structure & purposes
• Request flow diagram
• File quick reference
• Navigation guides

Phase 4: Generate MEMORY.md (10-15 min)

Claude generates: Context knowledge including:

• Quick facts table
• Code patterns & conventions
• Known gotchas & solutions
• Performance notes
• Security checklist

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📋 What You Get

CLAUDE.md - Project Constitution

✅ Tech stack details specific to your project
✅ Critical coding rules (validation, error handling, testing, language-specific standards)
✅ Project structure documentation
✅ Step-by-step feature addition guide
✅ Pre-commit verification checklist
✅ Decision matrix (when to ask vs. when to decide)

CODEMAP.md - Architecture Map

✅ Directory structure with clear purposes
✅ Service layer and pattern documentation
✅ Middleware and utility overview
✅ Request flow diagrams
✅ File location quick reference
✅ How to navigate and find code

MEMORY.md - Context Knowledge

✅ Quick facts table (tech, deployment, auth)
✅ Architecture diagrams
✅ Code conventions with real examples
✅ Known gotchas and their solutions
✅ Performance issues and fixes
✅ Security measures checklist
✅ Testing patterns

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💡 Why This Approach?

Advantages of Prompts vs. Code Generation

✨ Accurate - Based on YOUR actual code, not generic templates
✨ Personalized - Reflects your project's specific patterns & gotchas
✨ Conversational - Interactive with Claude to clarify details
✨ Understandable - Claude asks for clarification when needed
✨ Flexible - Easy to customize generated output

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🎯 When to Use This Skill

✅ Perfect for:

• Starting a new backend project (any language)
• Onboarding to an existing codebase
• Creating AI-collaboration documentation
• Documenting microservices, APIs, or services
• Documenting team projects consistently
• Multi-language/polyglot teams

✅ Supported Languages & Frameworks:

Node.js/JavaScript

• Frameworks: Express, Fastify, NestJS, Koa
• Testing: Jest, Vitest, Mocha
• Databases: PostgreSQL, MongoDB, MySQL, SQLite

Python

• Frameworks: Django, FastAPI, Flask, Starlette
• Testing: pytest, unittest
• ORMs: SQLAlchemy, Django ORM, Tortoise-ORM
• Databases: PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite

Go

• Frameworks: Gin, Echo, Chi, Fiber
• Testing: testing package, Testify, GoConvey
• Databases: PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite

Other Languages (with adaptation):

• Java (Spring Boot, Quarkus)
• C# (.NET, ASP.NET Core)
• Ruby (Rails, Sinatra)
• PHP (Laravel, Symfony)

✅ Supported Infrastructure:

• REST APIs
• GraphQL Services
• Microservices
• Event-driven systems
• Message queues (RabbitMQ, Kafka, Redis)
• Background jobs
• Monoliths & distributed systems

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📁 Skill Structure

w3-generate-claude-files/
├── SKILL.md                              ← You are here
└── references/
    ├── HOW_TO_USE_THIS_SKILL.md         ← Start here
    ├── PROMPT_BASED_WORKFLOW.md         ← Detailed guide
    ├── QUICK_START_PROMPTS.md           ← Copy-paste prompts
    ├── CLAUDE.md.template               ← Template reference
    ├── CODEMAP.md.template              ← Template reference
    └── MEMORY.md.template               ← Template reference

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🔍 Before You Start

You'll need:

✅ A backend project (Node.js, Python, Go, Java, C#, etc.)
✅ Basic knowledge of your project structure
✅ ~15-60 minutes depending on project size
✅ Claude AI access for prompt-based generation
✅ Know your tech stack (framework, database, testing tools)

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📝 Example: What Gets Generated

For a Simple Express API (15 min)

CLAUDE.md      ~500 lines (rules + patterns)
CODEMAP.md     ~400 lines (structure + flow)
MEMORY.md      ~300 lines (context + gotchas)

For a Medium NestJS Service (45 min)

CLAUDE.md      ~800 lines (detailed rules)
CODEMAP.md     ~600 lines (complex architecture)
MEMORY.md      ~500 lines (comprehensive context)

For a Large Microservices Platform (60 min)

CLAUDE.md      ~1000+ lines (extensive standards)
CODEMAP.md     ~800+ lines (detailed maps)
MEMORY.md      ~700+ lines (complete knowledge)

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🚀 Getting Started Right Now

Step 1: Choose Your Approach

• Quick? → Use QUICK_START_PROMPTS.md
• Thorough? → Use PROMPT_BASED_WORKFLOW.md
• Hybrid? → Do Phase 1, then use prompts

Step 2: Open the Guide

references/HOW_TO_USE_THIS_SKILL.md

Step 3: Follow the Workflow

• Answer analysis questions
• Use copy-paste prompts
• Review generated files
• Customize as needed

Step 4: Use Your Documentation

In future Claude requests, reference your generated files:

"See CLAUDE.md, CODEMAP.md, MEMORY.md for context"

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💬 Using Generated Files in Claude Requests

Before: Generic Explanations Needed

"Add user authentication"
→ Claude: "What framework? JWT or session? Where's your auth middleware?"
→ Back and forth for 20+ minutes

After: Instant Understanding

"Add user authentication

See CLAUDE.md, CODEMAP.md, MEMORY.md"
→ Claude: Already knows your tech stack, patterns, and conventions
→ Generates code in 5 minutes matching YOUR project style

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❓ Quick FAQ

Q: How long does it take?
A: 15 min (quick) to 60 min (thorough) depending on project size

Q: Do I need to write code?
A: No! This is purely prompts and analysis

Q: Works with all languages?
A: Yes! Node.js, Python, Go, Java, C#, Ruby, PHP - any backend stack

Q: Will files stay updated?
A: You update manually as project evolves

Q: Multi-language teams?
A: Perfect! Creates shared documentation for any tech stack

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🎓 Next Steps

1. Open HOW_TO_USE_THIS_SKILL.md
2. Choose your approach (Quick/Thorough/Hybrid)
3. Follow the workflow
4. Generate your documentation files
5. Use in all future Claude requests

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📚 Related Tools & Resources

Complementary CLI Tools (for optimization):

• codemap - Generate project structure visualization and architecture maps
• repomix - Generate token-lean repository context
• mgrep - Extract code patterns and conventions

Using Generated Files:

• Paste CLAUDE.md, CODEMAP.md, MEMORY.md into future Claude requests
• Reference them with: "See CLAUDE.md, CODEMAP.md, MEMORY.md for context"

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Last Updated: February 2026
Approach: Prompt-based (not code generation)
Status: Ready to use ✅