dino-spec

Automatic context engineering for Claude Code

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dino-spec brings structured, context-aware development to Claude Code. It automatically maintains session state, provides 23 MCP tools, and enables intelligent context retrieval.

Features

• MCP Integration - 23 tools + 19 resources auto-configured during init
• Session State - Automatic tracking of focus, test/build/lint status, blockers
• Persistent Memory - Decisions, patterns, learnings survive across sessions
• Workflow Skills - Phases from discovery to completion (/dino.*)
• Task Delegation - Specialized agents with context handoffs
• Recursive Retrieval - RLM-style query decomposition with quality feedback
• Dynamic Partitioning - Intelligent codebase segmentation (directory, feature, dependency, time)
• Context REPL - Declarative DSL for model-driven exploration

Installation

npm install -g dino-spec

Quick Start

cd your-project
dino init          # Analyze codebase, install hooks, configure MCP

# MCP server is auto-configured for Claude Code
# Use /mcp in Claude Code to verify

CLI Commands

| Command | Description | |---------|-------------| | dino init | Initialize project (hooks + MCP) | | dino init --minimal | Minimal CLAUDE.md with MCP resources | | dino init --bootstrap | Include project analysis summary | | dino status | Show session state and health | | dino refresh | Re-analyze codebase | | dino update | Update managed files | | dino update --scope mcp | Fix MCP configuration | | dino memory list | Show persistent memories | | dino memory search <query> | Search memories | | dino retrieve <query> | Hybrid file retrieval | | dino mcp-serve | Start MCP server (auto-managed) |

Workflow Skills

Use in Claude Code with /dino.<phase>:

| Phase | Skill | Purpose | |-------|-------|---------| | Discover | /dino.discover | Capture requirements | | Scout | /dino.scout | Research codebase | | Sniff | /dino.sniff | Clarify ambiguities | | Nest | /dino.nest | Plan implementation | | Hatch | /dino.hatch | Break into tasks | | Hunt | /dino.hunt | Execute implementation | | Aging | /dino.aging | Verify with tests | | Fossil | /dino.fossil | Archive and commit |

Utilities: /dino.status, /dino.focus, /dino.next

MCP Resources

Access via @dino:// in Claude Code:

| Resource | Description | |----------|-------------| | @dino://session | Focus, blockers, test status | | @dino://structure | Project architecture | | @dino://patterns | Coding conventions | | @dino://commands | Build/test/lint commands | | @dino://tasks | Task registry and progress | | @dino://handoff | Agent handoff context | | @dino://memories/summary | All memories overview | | @dino://retrieval/ranked | Session-relevant files |

MCP Tools

Key tools available via Claude Code:

| Tool | Purpose | |------|---------| | dino_status | Get session state | | dino_focus_set | Set focus area | | dino_memory_recall | Semantic memory search | | dino_context_repl | Declarative context queries | | dino_recursive_query | RLM-style retrieval | | dino_partition | Intelligent codebase partitioning | | dino_task_create | Create task in registry | | dino_plan_create | Create implementation plan |

Specialized Agents

| Agent | Role | Purpose | |-------|------|---------| | @dino-analyst | Explorer | Read-only codebase research | | @dino-architect | Planner | Design and planning | | @dino-implementer | Implementer | Full implementation | | @dino-tester | Tester | Test writing/execution | | @dino-reviewer | Reviewer | Code review and QA |

Memory System

Persistent memories in .dino/memories/:

| Type | Half-Life | Purpose | |------|-----------|---------| | Decisions | 30 days | Architectural choices | | Patterns | 14 days | Coding preferences | | Learnings | 7 days | Session discoveries |

dino memory list              # View all memories
dino memory search "auth"     # Search memories
dino memory decay             # Clean stale memories

Project Structure

your-project/
├── CLAUDE.md                 # Project context
├── .claude/
│   ├── skills/dino/          # Workflow skills
│   ├── rules/dino/           # Workflow rules
│   └── agents/               # Specialized agents
└── .dino/
    ├── session.md            # Session state
    ├── structure.json        # Codebase analysis
    ├── tasks/                # Task registry
    ├── checkpoints/          # Agent checkpoints
    └── memories/             # Persistent memory

Requirements

• Node.js >= 20.0.0
• Claude Code CLI

Troubleshooting

MCP not showing in /mcp

# Windows
claude mcp add-json --scope user dino '{"command":"cmd","args":["/c","npx","dino-spec","mcp-serve"]}'

# macOS/Linux
claude mcp add --scope user dino -- npx dino-spec mcp-serve

Then restart Claude Code.

License

MIT

Built for developers who believe AI coding should be structured, reproducible, and context-aware.