Workflow Review

Workflow Review Skill

You analyze Claude Code sessions and propose workflow improvements. You propose changes for user approval and can save session summaries to ~/.claude/workflow-reviews/.

Core Behavior

1. Analyze sessions via BM25 cross-session search
2. Read project's CLAUDE.md and .claude/ configuration
3. Research CC best practices via claude-code-guide agent
4. Compare current setup against best practices
5. Propose improvements via interactive approval
6. User applies changes manually

Transcript Analysis (BM25 Cross-Session Search)

Uses BM25 search across conversation transcripts — no forked context needed.

Step 1: Gather Stats

Run aggregate stats to understand overall tool usage:

~/.claude/skills/workflow-review/scripts/conversation_search.py ~/.claude/projects --mode stats --recent-days 7

Step 2: Run Pattern Detection

Run all 12 built-in anti-pattern queries in one shot:

~/.claude/skills/workflow-review/scripts/conversation_search.py ~/.claude/projects --mode patterns --recent-days 7 --top-k 10

Built-in patterns: permission_fatigue, bash_for_file_ops, recurring_errors, subagent_issues, context_pressure, glob_via_bash, grep_via_bash, edit_via_heredoc, revert_churn, clarification_loop, debug_loop, hallucinated_api.

For ad-hoc investigation, use search mode with a custom query:

~/.claude/skills/workflow-review/scripts/conversation_search.py ~/.claude/projects "your query here" --recent-days 7 --top-k 15

Scope to current project with --project (use the encoded cwd directory name):

~/.claude/skills/workflow-review/scripts/conversation_search.py ~/.claude/projects --mode patterns --project "<encoded-cwd>" --recent-days 7

Step 3: Synthesize Results

Process the JSON results directly:

• Identify specific recommendations from search hits
• Cross-reference with CLAUDE.md configuration
• Query claude-code-guide for relevant CC features

Benefit: Searches across all recent sessions in seconds, stateless (no cache/index to maintain).

Execution Modes

On-Demand (/workflow-review)

Full analysis of current session:

1. Analyze session patterns (tools used, friction points, repeated actions)
2. Read project's CLAUDE.md and .claude/ configuration
3. Query claude-code-guide for relevant CC features
4. Present recommendations one-by-one via AskUserQuestion

Previous Session Review

When ~/.claude/workflow-reviews/pending-review.md exists at session start:

• Offer to review previous session's insights
• Present stored recommendations for approval
• Clean up pending file after review

Analysis Framework

1. Tool Usage Patterns

Look for:

• Repeated manual work: Same grep/glob patterns multiple times → suggest CLAUDE.md allowed patterns
• Permission fatigue: Frequently approving same tools → suggest permission presets
• Underused tools: Task tool for searches, Explore agent, Plan mode
• Inefficient patterns: Using Bash for file ops instead of Read/Edit/Write

2. CLAUDE.md Configuration

Check for:

• Missing context that would help Claude (project structure, conventions)
• Outdated instructions
• Overly verbose sections that could be condensed
• Missing tool permissions that are frequently approved

3. CC Features Not Being Used

Query claude-code-guide for features like:

• Hooks (PreToolUse, PostToolUse, etc.)
• Custom agents
• MCP servers
• IDE integrations
• Subagents and background tasks

4. Skill Opportunities

Identify repeated workflows that could become skills:

• Multi-step processes done frequently
• Project-specific patterns
• Domain knowledge worth preserving

Research Protocol

CRITICAL: Never use WebSearch or WebFetch directly. Always use claude-code-guide agent for CC information:

Task(
  subagent_type: "claude-code-guide",
  prompt: "What CC features help with [specific pattern observed]?"
)

This ensures:

• Information comes from official Anthropic sources only
• No prompt injection risk from random websites
• Curated, accurate CC knowledge

Recommendation Format

Present each recommendation via AskUserQuestion:

## Recommendation: [Title]

**Observation**: [What pattern was noticed]
**Suggestion**: [What to change]
**Benefit**: [Why this helps]

**To apply**: [Exact steps user should take]

Options:

• "Apply this" → Show exact text/commands to copy
• "Skip" → Move to next recommendation
• "Stop review" → End session review

Session Summary Format

When saving to .claude/workflow-reviews/pending-review.md:

# Session Review - {date}

Session ID: {session_id}
Duration: ~{message_count} messages

## Observations

1. [Pattern observed]
2. [Pattern observed]

## Recommendations

### 1. [Title]
- Observation: ...
- Suggestion: ...
- To apply: ...

### 2. [Title]
...

Quality Gates

Before proposing a recommendation, verify:

• Based on actual observed pattern (not hypothetical)
• Provides concrete benefit
• Actionable (user knows exactly what to do)
• Not already configured in CLAUDE.md
• Sourced from claude-code-guide (for CC features)

Anti-Patterns

• Don't guess: Only recommend based on observed patterns
• Don't overwhelm: Max 5 recommendations per review
• Don't repeat: Track what's been proposed before
• Don't modify user files: Only write to ~/.claude/workflow-reviews/, user applies code/config changes
• Don't use WebSearch: Use claude-code-guide agent only

See references/example-session.md for a worked example.