Understanding Context
The CLAUDE.md file is the heart of Bootspring. It's an automatically generated context file that helps your AI assistant understand your project instantly.
What is CLAUDE.md?#
CLAUDE.md is a markdown file that contains everything your AI assistant needs to know about your project:
- Project type and purpose
- Tech stack and frameworks
- File structure and conventions
- Available commands
- Development guidelines
- Custom instructions
When your AI assistant reads this file, it can provide tailored guidance specific to your project.
How Context Generation Works#
When you run bootspring init or bootspring generate, Bootspring:
- Scans your project for configuration files
- Detects your tech stack from dependencies
- Analyzes project structure to understand organization
- Reads existing configs (tsconfig, eslint, etc.)
- Generates CLAUDE.md with comprehensive context
Bootspring reads your project files (package.json, tsconfig.json, source directories, etc.), analyzes and generates a CLAUDE.md file, which your AI assistant then reads to understand your project.
CLAUDE.md Structure#
A typical CLAUDE.md file contains these sections:
Automatic Detection#
Bootspring automatically detects many aspects of your project:
Framework Detection#
| Files Detected | Framework Identified |
|---|---|
next.config.js, app/ | Next.js (App Router) |
next.config.js, pages/ | Next.js (Pages Router) |
vite.config.ts | Vite |
gatsby-config.js | Gatsby |
remix.config.js | Remix |
nuxt.config.ts | Nuxt |
angular.json | Angular |
svelte.config.js | SvelteKit |
Database Detection#
| Files Detected | Database Identified |
|---|---|
prisma/schema.prisma | Prisma |
drizzle.config.ts | Drizzle |
typeorm.config.ts | TypeORM |
mongoose in package.json | MongoDB/Mongoose |
Testing Detection#
| Files Detected | Framework Identified |
|---|---|
vitest.config.ts | Vitest |
jest.config.js | Jest |
playwright.config.ts | Playwright |
cypress.config.ts | Cypress |
Customizing Context#
Custom Sections#
Add custom sections in bootspring.config.js:
Excluding Files#
Exclude sensitive or irrelevant files:
Including Additional Files#
Explicitly include important files:
Regenerating Context#
Context should be regenerated when your project changes significantly.
Manual Regeneration#
Or ask your AI assistant:
Regenerate the CLAUDE.md context file.
Automatic Regeneration#
Enable auto-regeneration in config:
When to Regenerate#
Regenerate your context when:
- Adding new dependencies
- Changing project structure
- Updating configuration files
- Adding new features
- Modifying coding conventions
- Onboarding new team members
Context Best Practices#
1. Keep It Current#
Outdated context leads to outdated advice. Regenerate regularly:
2. Add Team Conventions#
Include your team's specific patterns:
3. Document Key Patterns#
Help the AI understand your patterns:
4. Include Architecture Decisions#
Document important decisions:
How AI Assistants Use Context#
When you interact with your AI assistant, here's what happens:
- Context Loading: The assistant reads CLAUDE.md
- Understanding: It parses your tech stack, structure, and guidelines
- Tailored Response: Advice matches your specific setup
Without Context#
User: Create a button component
AI: Here's a React button component:
[Generic component with CSS classes]
With Context#
User: Create a button component
AI: Based on your Next.js + Tailwind setup, here's a button
component following your existing patterns:
[Component using your design system, TypeScript,
your naming conventions, exported correctly]
Viewing Current Context#
See what context is being used:
Or ask your AI:
Show me the current Bootspring context for this project.
Context and Agents#
Agents use context to provide specialized advice. The context informs:
- frontend-expert: Your UI framework and styling approach
- database-expert: Your ORM and database type
- testing-expert: Your testing framework and patterns
- security-expert: Your auth setup and security requirements
Troubleshooting#
"AI doesn't seem to understand my project"#
- Check if CLAUDE.md exists:
ls CLAUDE.md - Regenerate context:
bootspring generate - Verify it's not in .gitignore
"Context is missing my tech stack"#
Add it explicitly in config:
"Context includes sensitive information"#
Add to exclusions:
Next Steps#
- Using Agents - Get expert help
- Using Skills - Use code patterns
- Configuration - Full config reference