Claude Settings Split

Claude Settings Split

Base claude/.claude/settings.json must remain profile-neutral. Machine-specific configs belong in claude-profiles/claude_personal.json, claude-profiles/claude_work.json, or claude-profiles/claude_homelab.json. Mergeable keys (hooks, enabledPlugins, permissions) combine automatically across base and profile settings.

This skill assumes the preset-based file-naming convention (claude_personal.json, claude_work.json, claude_homelab.json) and will not apply as-is to a repository that uses a different naming scheme for profile settings.

Procedure

1. Target: Ask user if target is personal, work, or homelab (don't guess).
2. Diff: Check git diff and git diff --staged for claude/.claude/settings.json. Identify what moves vs. what stays.
3. Merge: Edit claude-profiles/claude_<target>.json (treat {} as valid base). Copy fragments verbatim:
   • hooks.<Event>: Append new blocks to the array. Do not overwrite existing entries.
   • enabledPlugins: Add new keys. Leave existing alone.
   • permissions / scalars: Set key. If conflict exists, ask user.
   • Changed existing keys: Ask user (not a pure additive move).
4. Clean Base:
   • Entire diff moving: git checkout -- claude/.claude/settings.json
   • Partial move: Manually remove the moved fragment (reference git show HEAD:claude/.claude/settings.json).
5. Validate:

   python3 -m json.tool claude/.claude/settings.json >/dev/null
   python3 -m json.tool claude-profiles/claude_<target>.json >/dev/null
   

6. Show Results: Run git diff on both files.

Gotchas

• Paths: Rewrite hardcoded /home/<user>/... to "$HOME/..." (requires double quotes for expansion).
• Git: Leave results unstaged. Never commit unless explicitly asked.
• Stow: No need to re-run stow (files are stowed folded).