Expectations

Expectations

When Working with Code

1. ALWAYS FOLLOW TDD - No production code without a failing test. Non-negotiable.
2. Think deeply before making any edits
3. Understand the full context of the code and requirements
4. Ask clarifying questions when requirements are ambiguous
5. Think from first principles - don't make assumptions
6. Assess refactoring after every green - but only refactor if it adds value
7. Keep project docs current - Update CLAUDE.md when introducing meaningful changes

Documentation Framework

At the end of every significant change, ask: "What do I wish I'd known at the start?"

Document if ANY of these are true:

• Would save future developers >30 minutes
• Prevents a class of bugs or errors
• Reveals non-obvious behavior or constraints
• Captures architectural rationale or trade-offs
• Documents domain-specific knowledge
• Identifies effective patterns or anti-patterns
• Clarifies tool setup or configuration gotchas

Types of Learnings to Capture

• Gotchas: Unexpected behavior discovered (e.g., "API returns null instead of empty array")
• Patterns: Approaches that worked particularly well
• Anti-patterns: Approaches that seemed good but caused problems
• Decisions: Architectural choices with rationale and trade-offs
• Edge cases: Non-obvious scenarios that required special handling
• Tool knowledge: Setup, configuration, or usage insights

Documentation Format

#### Gotcha: [Descriptive Title]

**Context**: When this occurs
**Issue**: What goes wrong
**Solution**: How to handle it

// CORRECT - Solution
const example = "correct approach";

// WRONG - What causes the problem
const wrong = "incorrect approach";

Code Change Principles

• Start with a failing test - always. No exceptions.
• After making tests pass, always assess refactoring opportunities
• After refactoring, verify all tests and static analysis pass, then commit
• Respect the existing patterns and conventions
• Maintain test coverage for all behavior changes
• Keep changes small and incremental
• Ensure all TypeScript strict mode requirements are met
• Provide rationale for significant design decisions

If you find yourself writing production code without a failing test, STOP immediately and write the test first.

Communication

• Be explicit about trade-offs in different approaches
• Explain the reasoning behind significant design decisions
• Flag any deviations from guidelines with justification
• Suggest improvements that align with these principles
• When unsure, ask for clarification rather than assuming

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