Best Practices
Get the most out of Bootspring with these recommended practices.
Working with Agents#
Be Specific#
The more context you provide, the better the agent can help.
Instead of:
Help me with the frontend
Try:
Use the frontend-expert agent to create a responsive navigation component with:
- Mobile hamburger menu
- Dropdown submenus
- Active state indication
- Keyboard navigation support
Use the Right Agent#
Match your task to the agent's specialization:
| Task | Agent |
|---|---|
| UI components | Frontend Expert |
| API design | API Expert or Backend Expert |
| Database schema | Database Expert |
| Security review | Security Expert |
| Performance issues | Performance Expert |
| Bug hunting | Debugging Detective |
| Architecture decisions | Software Architect |
Chain Agents for Complex Tasks#
For complex features, use multiple agents:
- Software Architect - Design the approach
- Backend Expert - Implement server logic
- Database Expert - Design the schema
- Frontend Expert - Build the UI
- Testing Expert - Write tests
- Security Expert - Review for vulnerabilities
Context Management#
Keep CLAUDE.md Updated#
Regenerate your context file when:
- Adding new dependencies
- Changing project structure
- Updating coding standards
- Adding new team conventions
Regenerate the CLAUDE.md context file
Add Custom Sections#
Include team-specific information:
Quality Gates#
Start with Pre-commit#
Run pre-commit checks on every commit:
Use Auto-fix#
Let Bootspring fix what it can:
Run quality gates with auto-fix enabled
Don't Skip Gates#
Quality gates catch issues early. Skipping them leads to:
- Technical debt
- Bug accumulation
- Harder reviews
- Deployment failures
Skills#
Prefer Skills for Common Patterns#
Instead of writing from scratch, use skills:
Use the api-endpoint skill to create a POST /api/orders endpoint
Benefits:
- Consistent patterns
- Best practices included
- Faster development
- Fewer bugs
Customize for Your Team#
Override skill templates:
Project Setup#
Initialize Early#
Set up Bootspring at project start:
This creates:
- Configuration file
- MCP setup
- Initial context
Configure for Your Stack#
Update bootspring.config.js with your tech stack:
Set Quality Thresholds#
Define your standards:
Collaboration#
Share Configuration#
Commit bootspring.config.js to source control so the whole team uses the same settings.
Document Agent Decisions#
When an agent suggests something significant, document why:
Review Agent Output#
Agents provide suggestions, not commands. Always:
- Review the generated code
- Understand the reasoning
- Adapt to your specific needs
- Test thoroughly
Performance Tips#
Use Appropriate Verbosity#
For quick answers:
Use the frontend-expert agent briefly to explain useState vs useReducer
For detailed guidance:
Use the frontend-expert agent in detail to design a state management solution
Cache Context#
Keep your context file in version control to avoid regenerating on every session.
Batch Related Questions#
Instead of multiple separate requests, group related questions:
Use the backend-expert agent to help with:
1. Authentication middleware
2. Rate limiting setup
3. Error handling patterns
Git Commits#
Follow these guidelines for clean git history:
Commit Format#
Use conventional commits: feat:, fix:, docs:, refactor:, test:, chore:
Guidelines#
- Write clear, descriptive commit messages
- Keep commits atomic (one logical change per commit)
- Never add Co-Authored-By or AI attribution to commits
- Never commit secrets, API keys, or credentials
- Run quality checks before committing
Example#
Common Mistakes to Avoid#
Don't:#
- Ignore agent expertise - Use the right agent for the task
- Skip context generation - Context makes agents more effective
- Disable quality gates - They prevent issues early
- Use generic prompts - Be specific for better results
- Forget to update context - Stale context leads to stale suggestions
Do:#
- Be specific in your requests
- Chain agents for complex tasks
- Run quality gates before committing
- Keep context updated as the project evolves
- Review and adapt agent suggestions