cc-self-refer

Claude Code Self-Reference Helper - The missing backend for intelligent development workflows with AI assistance.

What is cc-self-refer?

cc-self-refer is a high-performance Node.js CLI that powers Claude Code's self-referential development capabilities. It enables projects to maintain their own context, specification repository, and development patterns that Claude can reference and build upon across sessions.

Why do you need this?

The Problem

• Context Loss: AI conversations lose context between sessions
• Repeated Explanations: You constantly re-explain project architecture, decisions, and patterns
• Specifications Scattered: Technical specifications, code patterns, and planning documents are spread across different tools
• Inefficient Workflows: No systematic way to build and reference project-specific specifications

The Solution

cc-self-refer creates a persistent, searchable specification layer for your projects that Claude Code can intelligently reference:

• 📋 Strategic Plans: Document and iterate on high-level project planning
• 📄 Session History: Preserve development context across Claude sessions
• 🧩 Code Patterns: Build a library of reusable, project-specific code templates
• 📋 Project Specifications: Maintain comprehensive project planning including business requirements, user experience, technical architecture, and operational procedures
• 📝 Coding Guidelines: Project-specific coding standards and best practices
• 🔍 Intelligent Search: Find relevant information instantly with semantic search

Quick Setup

0. Install Package (Recommended)

pnpm add -D cc-self-refer # or other package manager installation command

1. Run Initialization Commands

# Download commands & other stuffs for self refer structure
npx cc-self-refer get-commands

2. Run your claude-code in your project root and pass this prompt.

The following commands will print the prompt out for setting up claude code self referring context management system.

Run `npx cc-self-refer init-get-prompt` and follow instructions step by step.

- You shouldn\'t fill [PATTERN LIST] at now.
- Copy exactly same content from the CLAUDE.md content of the prompt.

That's it! Your project now has intelligent self-reference capabilities.

Restart claude-code and start create spec file with /spec command.

What Gets Created

After running /init-claude, your project will have:

your-project/
├── CLAUDE.md              # 📜 Project Overview for Claude and command usages (merged if exists)
├── .claude/
│   ├── commands/           # 🎯 Claude Code Commands
│   │   ├── plan-create.md # Create strategic plans
│   │   ├── plan-edit.md   # Edit existing plans
│   │   ├── plan-resolve.md# View and load plans
│   │   ├── page-save.md   # Session management
│   │   ├── page-refer.md  # Load session context
│   │   ├── spec-refer.md # Access technical specifications
│   │   ├── spec.md # Interactive specification planning
│   │   ├── pattern-use.md # Apply code patterns
│   │   ├── pattern-create.md     # Save new patterns
│   │   └── guide-create.md       # Create coding guidelines
│   │
│   ├── plans/             # 📋 Strategic Plans & Architecture
│   │   └── [numbered plans like: 001-user-authentication.md]
│   │
│   ├── pages/             # 📄 Session History & Context
│   │   └── [numbered sessions like: 001-login-implementation.md]
│   │
│   ├── patterns/     # 🧩 Reusable Code Templates
│   │   └── [numbered patterns like: 001-react-hook.md]
│   │
│   └── specs/         # 📋 Project Specification Repository
│       └── [numbered entries like: 001-api-limits.md]
└── [your project files]

How Each Directory Works

📋 .claude/plans/ - Strategic Planning

• Purpose: High-level project planning and architecture decisions
• Usage:
  • /plan-create creates comprehensive planning documents interactively
  • /plan-resolve "id|keyword" views and loads plans for reference
• Content: Implementation phases, success criteria, technical decisions, risk assessment
• AI Benefit: Claude references these plans to understand project direction and constraints

📄 .claude/pages/ - Session Context

• Purpose: Preserve development context between Claude sessions
• Usage: Automatically captures session state; /page-refer to load previous context
• Content: Code changes, decisions made, problems solved, next steps
• AI Benefit: Eliminates need to re-explain project status each session

🧩 .claude/patterns/ - Reusable Templates

• Purpose: Project-specific code patterns and templates
• Usage: /pattern-create to save patterns; /pattern-use to apply them
• Content: Component templates, utility functions, configuration patterns
• AI Benefit: Claude can apply your established patterns instead of generic solutions

📋 .claude/specs/ - Project Specifications

• Purpose: Comprehensive project planning including business requirements, user experience design, technical architecture, and operational procedures
• Usage: /spec-refer to access; /spec for interactive project planning; manually curated project specifications
• Content: Business logic, user flows, feature requirements, technical design, operational workflows, project constraints
• AI Benefit: Claude makes informed decisions aligned with your complete project vision and requirements

📝 CLAUDE.md - Coding Guidelines

• Purpose: Project-specific coding standards and best practices stored directly in CLAUDE.md
• Usage: /guide-create to add new guidelines; automatically referenced by Claude
• Content: Code style rules, library preferences, architectural conventions, error handling patterns
• AI Benefit: Claude follows your established coding standards and project conventions automatically

Why This Works

Each directory serves a specific purpose in building persistent AI context:

1. Plans provide strategic direction
2. Pages maintain session continuity
3. Patterns ensure consistency
4. Specifications provide comprehensive project guidance
5. Guidelines enforce coding standards

The result: Claude becomes increasingly intelligent about your specific project over time.

Todo

• Page search with date
• Spec shouldn't include any code.(make it manage more higher blueprint)
• Test
• Docs
  • how to use for good
  • what are each component
  • guide & tip
• Guide files on init

Contributing

See CONTRIBUTING.md for development setup and contribution guidelines.

License

MIT © 2025 MJ Studio