Claude Code Guide: Project Instructions, Skills, MCP and Workflows
Claude Code works inside a development environment and can inspect a codebase, edit files, run commands and use connected tools. The surrounding configuration determines how consistently it follows your project and team conventions.
Quick answer
Start with CLAUDE.md for stable project instructions, add Skills for reusable procedures, and add MCP only when Claude needs external systems or data. Introduce plugins and more advanced mechanisms when the workflow actually benefits from them.
CLAUDE.md
Store project architecture, commands, conventions and workflow rules Claude should consistently know while working in the repository.
Skills
Package repeatable procedures and specialized know-how so they can be loaded only when relevant.
MCP
Connect Claude Code to external tools and data sources such as issue trackers, monitoring systems, databases and APIs.
Official Claude documentation
Claude Code changes quickly. Use Anthropic’s documentation as the source of truth for current configuration fields and behavior.
Open Anthropic docs →Related Claude tools and guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Claude Code use CLAUDE.md?
Yes. Claude Code uses CLAUDE.md for persistent project or user instructions.
Can Claude Code connect to MCP servers?
Yes. Claude Code supports MCP servers and provides CLI commands and .mcp.json project configuration.
Should I put every rule in CLAUDE.md?
No. Keep stable project-wide context there and move reusable procedures into Skills when appropriate.