# Memory File Templates

Ready-to-use CLAUDE.md templates for different project types.

## Template 1: Minimal Project

For simple projects with straightforward requirements.

```markdown
# ProjectName

Brief description.

## Tech Stack
- Language/Framework
- Database
- Key libraries

## Common Commands
```bash
start-command
test-command
build-command
```

## Conventions
- Code style rule 1
- Code style rule 2
- Naming convention

## IMPORTANT
- Critical rule 1
- Critical rule 2
```

**Target Size**: ~50 lines
**Use For**: Small projects, prototypes, personal projects

---

## Template 2: Team Project

For collaborative projects with extensive documentation.

```markdown
# ProjectName

@docs/overview.md

## Quick Reference

### Tech Stack
@docs/tech-stack.md

### Common Commands
```bash
npm run dev
npm test
npm run build
```

### Coding Standards
- 2-space indentation
- ESLint + Prettier
- Full guide: @docs/style-guide.md

### Architecture
@docs/architecture.md

## IMPORTANT Team Rules

- YOU MUST create PR for all changes
- Tests must pass before merge
- Update docs with code changes

## Git Workflow
@docs/git-workflow.md

## NEVER
- Commit to main directly
- Merge without review
- Commit secrets
```

**Target Size**: ~100 lines
**Use For**: Team projects, open source, enterprise applications

---

## Template 3: Monorepo

For multi-package repositories.

```markdown
# MonorepoName

Multi-package repository.

## Structure
- `packages/frontend/` - React app → See frontend/CLAUDE.md
- `packages/backend/` - API server → See backend/CLAUDE.md
- `packages/shared/` - Common code

## Global Standards
- Node.js 20+
- pnpm workspaces
- Shared ESLint config

## Commands (from root)
```bash
pnpm install
pnpm test
pnpm run build
```

## Cross-Package
- Import from `@myapp/shared`
- See @docs/package-deps.md

## IMPORTANT
- Changes affecting multiple packages need full test suite
```

**Target Size**: ~80 lines
**Use For**: Monorepos, microservices, multi-tier applications

---

## Template 4: Personal Defaults

For ~/.claude/CLAUDE.md (applies to all your projects).

```markdown
# Personal Preferences

Applied to all my projects unless overridden.

## Communication
- Explain reasoning before acting
- Confirm before destructive ops
- Show diffs for large changes

## Code Style
- Functional programming preferred
- Descriptive variable names
- Comments for "why", not "what"

## Git
- Conventional Commits format
- Squash feature branches

## Testing
- Write tests alongside code
- Aim for 80%+ coverage
```

**Target Size**: ~50 lines
**Use For**: Personal global settings

---

## Template 5: Frontend Project

```markdown
# Frontend App

React/TypeScript application.

## Tech Stack
- React 18 + TypeScript
- Tailwind CSS
- State: Redux Toolkit
- Router: React Router v6

## Commands
```bash
npm run dev        # Dev server (localhost:3000)
npm test           # Jest + RTL
npm run build      # Production build
npm run lint       # ESLint
```

## Structure
- `src/components/` - React components
- `src/hooks/` - Custom hooks
- `src/store/` - Redux slices
- `src/utils/` - Helper functions

## Conventions
- Functional components only
- Custom hooks for logic reuse
- 2-space indentation
- Import order: external → internal → styles

## IMPORTANT
- All components need tests
- Accessibility: WCAG AA minimum
- No inline styles (use Tailwind)
```

**Target Size**: ~100 lines
**Use For**: React, Vue, Angular, or other SPA projects

---

## Template 6: Backend API

```markdown
# Backend API

Node.js/Express REST API.

## Tech Stack
- Express + TypeScript
- PostgreSQL + Sequelize
- Redis for caching
- JWT authentication

## Commands
```bash
npm run dev        # Dev server (localhost:4000)
npm test           # Jest
npm run migrate    # Run migrations
npm run seed       # Seed database
```

## Structure
- `src/routes/` - API endpoints
- `src/controllers/` - Business logic
- `src/models/` - Database models
- `src/middleware/` - Express middleware
- `src/utils/` - Helper functions

## Environment
- See `.env.example` for required vars
- Never commit `.env`

## IMPORTANT
- All endpoints need rate limiting
- Input validation required
- Error handling middleware
- Log security events
```

**Target Size**: ~110 lines
**Use For**: API servers, backend services

---

## Template 7: Python Project

```markdown
# Python Project

Python application using modern tooling.

## Tech Stack
- Python 3.11+
- uv for dependency management
- pytest for testing
- ruff for linting

## Commands
```bash
uv run python main.py    # Run application
uv run pytest            # Run tests
uv run ruff check .      # Lint
```

## Structure
- `src/` - Application code
- `tests/` - Test files
- `pyproject.toml` - Project config

## Conventions
- Type hints required
- Docstrings for public APIs
- Follow PEP 8
- Max line length: 100

## IMPORTANT
- All functions need type hints
- Test coverage > 80%
- No bare `except:` clauses
```

**Target Size**: ~90 lines
**Use For**: Python applications, CLI tools, data science projects

---

## Customization Tips

### Adding Project-Specific Rules

```markdown
## IMPORTANT Project Rules

- YOU MUST [mandatory action]
- NEVER [forbidden action]
- ALWAYS [required practice]
```

### Adding Tech Stack Details

```markdown
## Tech Stack
- Backend: Node.js + Express
  - Auth: JWT + refresh tokens
  - ORM: Sequelize
  - Validation: Zod
- Frontend: React + TypeScript
  - State: Zustand
  - Styling: Tailwind
  - Forms: React Hook Form
```

### Adding Team Workflow

```markdown
## Git Workflow
1. Branch from `develop`
2. Name: `feature/description` or `fix/description`
3. PR requires 2 approvals
4. Squash merge to develop
5. Weekly releases to main
```

### Referencing External Docs

```markdown
## Documentation
- Architecture: @docs/architecture.md
- API Reference: @docs/api.md
- Contributing: @CONTRIBUTING.md
- Deployment: @docs/deployment.md
```

---

## Anti-Patterns to Avoid

### ❌ Too Verbose

```markdown
# Bad: 500 lines
This project is a comprehensive e-commerce platform that provides
users with the ability to browse products, add them to their cart,
and complete purchases securely. The architecture follows a microservices
pattern with separate services for user management, product catalog,
shopping cart, payment processing, and order fulfillment...

[400 more lines of detailed explanation]
```

### ✓ Concise with Imports

```markdown
# Good: 100 lines
E-commerce platform with microservices architecture.

Tech Stack: @docs/tech-stack.md
Architecture: @docs/architecture.md
Conventions: @docs/conventions.md

## Quick Start
```bash
npm run dev
```
```

### ❌ Vague Instructions

```markdown
# Bad
- Write clean code
- Follow best practices
- Be secure
```

### ✓ Specific Instructions

```markdown
# Good
IMPORTANT:
- All API endpoints MUST have rate limiting (100 req/min)
- Passwords MUST be hashed with bcrypt (min 10 rounds)
- Input validation MUST use Zod schemas
- SQL queries MUST use parameterized statements
```

---

## Quick Selection Guide

| Project Type | Template | Target Size |
|-------------|----------|-------------|
| Personal/Small | Minimal | ~50 lines |
| Team Project | Team | ~100 lines |
| Monorepo | Monorepo | ~80 lines |
| Frontend SPA | Frontend | ~100 lines |
| Backend API | Backend | ~110 lines |
| Python App | Python | ~90 lines |
| Global Settings | Personal Defaults | ~50 lines |

**General Rule**: Start with the appropriate template, customize for your needs, keep under 200 lines.