claude

# Claude Claude Code is an independent agent on PATH (`claude`), sharing this working tree and already authenticated. Use it as a second opinion or delegated worker, not as ground truth: verify its claims, own any changes, and keep its task contract narrow. ## Defaults Use `claude -p --model opus --effort high` unless the user or task calls for a different model or thinking level. - **Model:** accept aliases such as `opus`, `sonnet`, or `fable`, or a full model name. Default `opus`. - **Thinking level:** pass Claude Code's `--effort` flag. Valid levels are `low`, `medium`, `high`, `xhigh`, and `max`. Default `high`. - **Cost guard:** for exploratory asks, add `--max-budget-usd <amount>` when the user gives a budget or the task is likely to sprawl. Example: ```sh claude -p --model opus --effort high "<prompt>" ``` ## Prompting Claude Prompt Claude like an operator: compact, block-structured, and explicit about the artifact you need. A sharper contract beats higher effort. - **One task per run.** Split review, implementation, and docs into separate prompts. - **Name repo skills when relevant.** Claude can read repo files; say "follow write-docs for the doc" or "obey refactor-clean: no compatibility wrappers" instead of pasting those skills into the prompt. - **Blocks, added only where useful:** - `<task>` — the concrete job, context, and expected end state. - `<output_contract>` — exact response shape, highest-value first. - `<default_follow_through>`...