Platform Notes
- Optional helper plugins may help in some environments, but they must not be treated as required for this skill.
Update Claude Documentation
Use When
- Update project documentation files (README.md, PROJECT_BRIEF.md, TECH_STACK.md, ARCHITECTURE.md, docs/API.md, docs/DATABASE.md, CLAUDE.md, docs/plans/NEXT_FEATURES.md) when significant changes occur. MANDATORY at end of each work session to...
- The task needs reusable judgment, domain constraints, or a proven workflow rather than ad hoc advice.
Do Not Use When
- The task is unrelated to
update-claude-documentationor would be better handled by a more specific companion skill. - The request only needs a trivial answer and none of this skill's constraints or references materially help.
Required Inputs
- Gather relevant project context, constraints, and the concrete problem to solve; load
referencesonly as needed. - Confirm the desired deliverable: design, code, review, migration plan, audit, or documentation.
Workflow
- Read this
SKILL.mdfirst, then load only the referenced deep-dive files that are necessary for the task. - Apply the ordered guidance, checklists, and decision rules in this skill instead of cherry-picking isolated snippets.
- Produce the deliverable with assumptions, risks, and follow-up work made explicit when they matter.
Quality Standards
- Keep outputs execution-oriented, concise, and aligned with the repository's baseline engineering standards.
- Preserve compatibility with existing project conventions unless the skill explicitly requires a stronger standard.
- Prefer deterministic, reviewable steps over vague advice or tool-specific magic.
Anti-Patterns
- Treating examples as copy-paste truth without checking fit, constraints, or failure modes.
- Loading every reference file by default instead of using progressive disclosure.
Outputs
- A concrete result that fits the task: implementation guidance, review findings, architecture decisions, templates, or generated artifacts.
- Clear assumptions, tradeoffs, or unresolved gaps when the task cannot be completed from available context alone.
- References used, companion skills, or follow-up actions when they materially improve execution.
Evidence Produced
| Category | Artifact | Format | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Release evidence | Documentation update record | Markdown doc tracking changes made to README.md, PROJECT_BRIEF.md, TECH_STACK.md, ARCHITECTURE.md, docs/API.md, and docs/DATABASE.md | docs/updates/doc-update-2026-04-16.md |
References
- Use the
references/directory for deep detail after reading the core workflow below.
Update project documentation systematically after significant changes. Keep all files consistent and accurate.
Core Principle: Documentation tells one cohesive story. Each file serves a specific audience but must reflect the same reality.
Deployment Context: Project runs across Windows dev, Ubuntu staging, and Debian production (all MySQL 8.x). Documentation must reflect this 3-environment setup. When updating CLAUDE.md or TECH_STACK.md, always include the deployment environment table and cross-platform rules.
Style Rule: Be precise and concise. Do not add verbose or unnecessary text to any documentation file.
Documentation Standards (MANDATORY): ALL markdown files (.md) must follow strict formatting rules:
- 500-line hard limit - no exceptions
- Two-tier structure: High-level TOC docs + Deep dive topic docs
- Smart subdirectory grouping for related documentation
- See
doc-standards.mdfor complete requirements
Modularize Instructions (Token Economy): Avoid packing everything into a single CLAUDE.md. Prefer multiple focused docs (e.g., docs/setup.md, docs/api.md, docs/workflows.md) and reference them only when needed to reduce context bloat.
CLAUDE.md as Navigation Hub (CRITICAL): Keep CLAUDE.md under 10k characters as a quick-reference hub with links to detailed documentation. Move verbose sections (detailed workflows, extensive examples, module-specific guides) to appropriate docs/ subdirectories. CLAUDE.md should provide essential patterns and pointers, not duplicate comprehensive content that exists elsewhere. This reduces AI context window usage by 80%+ and makes information easier to maintain.
Docs Organization Rule (Required): All documentation markdown now lives under docs/ plus a semantic subdirectory (overview, architecture, pharmacy, localization, etc.). Do not add new files directly to the repo root—move existing root markdown into the appropriate docs/<module> folder before editing, then update docs/agents/AGENTS.md and always update docs/plans/AGENTS.md when plans are added or their status changes. The canonical landing doc is now docs/overview/README.md, and the root README.md should only point people into docs/.
Claude-Ready Module Headers (Required): Updating documentation now includes refreshing CLAUDE.md and the hero portion of each touched skill (*/SKILL.md). Claude relies on the YAML name/description pair and the opening markdown (hero title, quick summary, when-to-use bullets) for each skill, so keep that block aligned with the module-header template in references/module-header-template.md. The template spells out the claude-friendly structure with a checklist for ensuring the front-matter description triggers the right use cases and the leading sections stay concise yet informative.
When to Use
✅ Adding/removing features ✅ Architecture or design pattern changes ✅ Dependency or tech stack updates ✅ API endpoints or database schema changes ✅ Project directory restructuring ✅ Development workflow changes ✅ End of work session - User says "update project documentation", "update docs", or "close for the day"
❌ Typo fixes (do directly) ❌ Code comments ❌ WIP features not yet merged
End-of-Session Documentation (CRITICAL)
When user says "update project documentation", "update docs", or "close for the day":
MANDATORY Steps:
- Create completion document -
docs/plans/YYYY-MM-DD-[feature-name]-completion.md
- Detailed technical report - All features and bug fixes - Code examples and patterns - Key learnings
- Update docs/plans/INDEX.md
- Move completed work to "Completed Plans" - Add completion date - Update status
- Update docs/plans/NEXT_FEATURES.md (MANDATORY)
- Mark completed features in "Recently Completed" - Update priority levels - Adjust effort estimates - Update recommended next steps
- Update MEMORY.md
- Critical patterns discovered - Common mistakes to avoid - API response structures - Key file references
- Create end-of-day summary (Optional but recommended)
- docs/YYYY-MM-DD-END-OF-DAY-SUMMARY.md - Quick reference for accomplishments - Next session priorities
This workflow ensures:
- Continuity between sessions
- Knowledge preservation
- Clear priorities for next session
- Reduced context loss
Documentation Files
| File | Audience | Purpose | Update Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| PROJECT_BRIEF.md | Stakeholders, new devs | 30-sec overview | Major changes |
| README.md | Developers | Setup, usage guide | Feature additions |
| TECH_STACK.md | Developers, DevOps | Tech inventory | Stack changes |
| ARCHITECTURE.md | Senior devs, architects | System design | Architecture changes |
| docs/API.md | API consumers | API reference | API changes |
| docs/DATABASE.md | Backend devs, DBAs | Schema docs | Schema changes |
| CLAUDE.md | Claude Code | Dev patterns | Pattern changes |
| docs/plans/NEXT_FEATURES.md | Team, Claude Code | Priority roadmap | Every session |
| docs/plans/INDEX.md | Team, Claude Code | Plans index | Plan status changes |
| MEMORY.md | Claude Code | Session memory, learnings | End of each session |
Change → File Mapping
New Feature:
- README.md (usage)
- docs/API.md (if adds endpoints)
- docs/DATABASE.md (if adds tables)
- ARCHITECTURE.md (if adds components)
- CLAUDE.md (if changes patterns)
- PROJECT_BRIEF.md (if significant)
- docs/plans/NEXT_FEATURES.md (MANDATORY - mark as completed, update priorities)
- docs/plans/INDEX.md (update status)
- MEMORY.md (capture key learnings)
- Each affected
*/SKILL.mdfront-matter and hero section should follow the module-header template above so Claude sees the change immediately and can re-trigger the skill with the new context.
Tech Stack Change:
- TECH_STACK.md (always)
- README.md (setup instructions)
- ARCHITECTURE.md (if affects design)
- CLAUDE.md (if affects workflows)
Architecture Change:
- ARCHITECTURE.md (always)
- README.md (overview section)
- CLAUDE.md (patterns)
- PROJECT_BRIEF.md (if major)
API/Database Change:
- docs/API.md or docs/DATABASE.md (always)
- ARCHITECTURE.md (if changes contracts)
- CLAUDE.md (if affects patterns)
- README.md (if affects usage)
Update Workflow
1. Understand Change (2-5 min)
Document:
- Type: Feature/Architecture/Tech Stack/API/Database
- What: One sentence description
- Impact: Who/what affected
- Breaking: Yes/No (what breaks)
2. Map to Files (1-2 min)
Order: Specific → General
- Technical Specs (API.md, DATABASE.md)
- Architecture (ARCHITECTURE.md, TECH_STACK.md)
- AI Instructions (CLAUDE.md)
- User Guides (README.md)
- Overview (PROJECT_BRIEF.md)
- Priority Roadmap (docs/plans/NEXT_FEATURES.md) - MANDATORY every session
3. Read Current State (2-3 min)
Read all affected files in parallel.
3.a. Review Module Headers (1-2 min)
Open every impacted */SKILL.md and verify the hero name/description plus the opening sections line up with the Claude-friendly template. Capture the new feature/behavior in the quick summary and ## When to Use bullets before editing the downstream docs.
4. Update Systematically (10-20 min)
Per-file checklist:
- Update primary section
- Update related sections
- Update examples/code snippets
- Add migration notes if breaking
5. Verify Consistency (2-3 min)
Check across all files:
- Terminology consistent
- Version numbers match
- File paths consistent
- Component names consistent
- Features described consistently
6. Update NEXT_FEATURES.md (MANDATORY - 5 min)
CRITICAL: This MUST be done at the end of every work session, even if no other docs changed.
When user says "update project documentation" or "close for the day":
- Mark completed work:
- Move completed features from "Active" to "Recently Completed" - Add completion date - Add brief summary of what was delivered
- Update priorities:
- Adjust priority levels based on new information - Add newly identified features - Remove obsolete features
- Update effort estimates:
- Revise estimates based on recent work velocity - Add new estimates for newly identified work
- Update recommended next steps:
- Reflect current project state - Consider dependencies and urgency - Update "Recommended Next Session Plan"
Template structure:
## 🔴 CRITICAL PRIORITY
[Feature name] - Why critical, effort estimate, start point
## 🟠 HIGH PRIORITY
[Feature name] - Why high priority, effort estimate, start point
## 🟡 MEDIUM PRIORITY
[Feature name] - Why medium priority, effort estimate, start point
## ✅ Recently Completed
[Feature name] - Completion date, brief summaryLocation: docs/plans/NEXT_FEATURES.md
7. Final Review (1 min)
- New dev can understand from README
- CLAUDE.md has context
- Breaking changes marked
- Examples work
- No contradictions
- NEXT_FEATURES.md updated with session changes
Total: 20-35 minutes (includes NEXT_FEATURES.md update)
Common Mistakes
❌ Updating only one file
# Updated README but forgot CLAUDE.md
# Result: AI doesn't know new pattern❌ Inconsistent terminology
# README.md: "Authentication Service"
# ARCHITECTURE.md: "Auth Module"
# CLAUDE.md: "Login System"
# Pick ONE term everywhere❌ Forgetting breaking changes
# Renamed API endpoint but README examples still use old path
# Add migration notes EVERYWHERE affected❌ General → Specific order
# BAD: Update BRIEF first, then API.md
# GOOD: Update API.md first (precise), then BRIEF (summary)❌ Bloated CLAUDE.md with duplicate content
# BAD: 40k+ character CLAUDE.md with detailed implementation guides
# GOOD: 6k character CLAUDE.md hub linking to docs/coding/UI_DEVELOPMENT_GUIDE.md
# Result: 84% reduction in AI context usage, easier maintenanceQuick Reference
Update Order:
API/DB Specs → Architecture → CLAUDE → README → BRIEFConsistency Checks:
Terminology, Versions, Paths, Names, FeaturesTime Budget:
Small change: 5-10 min
Medium change: 15-30 min
Major refactor: 45-60 minSummary
Process: Understand → Map → Read → Update → Verify → Review
Key Rules:
- Update specific docs first, general last
- Read all affected files before editing
- Keep terminology consistent
- Mark breaking changes everywhere
- Test examples before committing
- One reality, multiple perspectives
Remember: Documentation debt compounds fast. Update immediately when making changes.