Claude Code Setup

Claude Code Setup is a powerful, extensible plugin system for Claude Code that helps you configure AI-powered development tools, workflows, and expertise. Built with a flexible architecture inspired by shadcn/ui, it enables you to add specialized capabilities to Claude Code through a curated collection of feature plugins.

Purpose and Key Functionality

Claude Code Setup transforms Claude Code into a comprehensive development platform by providing:

• Plugin-Based Architecture: Modular system for adding specialized expertise (AWS, Security, Testing, etc.)
• Smart Project Detection: Automatically recommends relevant plugins based on your project type
• Enhanced Interactive Wizard: Multi-step setup with navigation, bulk operations, and presets
• Feature Management: Add, update, remove, and list plugins with dependency resolution
• Hooks System: Guardrails and automation for security, testing, and deployment safety
• Expert Templates: Curated command templates from domain experts
• Flexible Installation: Support for both local project and global configurations

The tool creates a .claude directory containing plugins, hooks, templates, and settings that enhance your Claude Code experience with specialized expertise.

Technologies Used

Claude Code Setup is built with:

• TypeScript for type-safe development
• Commander.js for CLI command structure
• Inquirer.js for interactive prompts
• fs-extra for enhanced file operations
• Zod for settings validation
• chalk, ora, and cli-table3 for terminal UI improvements
• tsup for bundling

Basic Usage

Getting started with Claude Code Setup:

# Install the package
npm install -g @schuettc/claude-code-setup

# Initialize Claude Code in your project (interactive)
claude-setup init

# Or initialize with defaults
claude-setup init --quick

# List installed plugins and their contents
claude-setup list

# Add plugins interactively
claude-setup add

# Add specific plugins
claude-setup add aws-ecs-expert aws-rds-expert
claude-setup add security-essentials testing-toolkit

# Add all plugins from a category
claude-setup add --category aws

# Update plugins to latest versions
claude-setup update --all
claude-setup update aws-ecs-expert

# Remove plugins
claude-setup remove frontend-expert

# Use installed templates in Claude Code
# After installation, use templates with: /template-name

Available Plugins

Claude Code Setup includes a growing collection of expert plugins:

AWS Expertise

• aws-core: Core AWS utilities and helpers
• aws-cdk: CDK development with dependency analysis
• aws-ecs-expert: ECS deployment, health checks, and troubleshooting
• aws-rds-expert: RDS optimization, Aurora migration, and backup strategies

Development Tools

• code-quality: Code review and improvement templates
• testing-toolkit: TDD workflows and test generation
• security-essentials: File protection and validation hooks
• project-management: Task planning and documentation

Language-Specific

• node-developer: Node.js optimization and best practices
• python-developer: Python development tools
• frontend-expert: React, Vue, Angular, and performance optimization

Quick Bundles

• Essential Bundle: Code quality + Project management + Security
• AWS Developer Bundle: AWS Core + CDK + ECS Expert
• Full Stack Bundle: Frontend + Node + Testing Toolkit

Plugin Features

Each plugin can provide multiple types of enhancements:

Templates

Command templates for specific tasks:

# Use any installed template in Claude Code
/ecs-troubleshooting  # From aws-ecs-expert plugin
/react-optimization   # From frontend-expert plugin
/tdd-workflow        # From testing-toolkit plugin

Hooks

Automated guardrails and validations:

• Security: File change limits, permission validation
• Testing: Pre-write test requirements, coverage checks
• AWS Safety: ECS health validation, deployment verification
• Code Quality: Automated review before changes

Agents

Specialized AI agents for complex tasks:

• Container Configuration Expert
• Frontend Performance Architect
• Database Migration Specialist

Workflows

Multi-step guided processes for complex operations

Documentation

• SETUP.md - Installation and initial configuration
• USAGE.md - Detailed usage guide and examples
• HOOKS.md - Hooks system for guardrails and automation
• TEMPLATES-GUIDE.md - How templates work and why they don't overload Claude Code
• ARCHITECTURE.md - Technical architecture and design decisions