3.1 Claude Code Operation
- Rules with paths load for matching files. Unscoped rules and CLAUDE.md load with the session.
- A skill is SKILL.md in a directory. It becomes a slash command and loads on demand. .claude/commands/*.md still works.
- A subagent starts fresh unless it is a fork. Brief it, or fork.
- Auto memory is local notes. The MEMORY.md index loads, within 200 lines or 25KB. It is not the team standard.
- /clear drops the transcript and keeps project memory. /compact summarizes. --resume and --continue reopen a session.
- CLAUDE.md files are concatenated. Later in the load order is not a winner.
- /init drafts project CLAUDE.md and does not overwrite an existing file.
- Settings precedence, highest first: managed, session flags, local, shared project, user. Allow-lists merge.
- Print mode is claude -p. stream-json plus --include-partial-messages is streaming output.
- Auto mode classifies actions. bypassPermissions skips checks. defaultMode auto in a project file does not apply.
| If the question says... | The answer is likely... |
|---|---|
| "only while editing tests" | A .claude/rules file with a paths glob |
| "the runbook is huge and rarely used" | A skill, not another page of CLAUDE.md |
| "the subagent ignored the discussion" | Fresh context. Put the facts in the prompt, or fork |
| "remember this, but do not commit it" | Auto memory or CLAUDE.local.md, not project CLAUDE.md |
| "start over but keep the project rules" | /clear. It does not delete CLAUDE.md |
| "the inner CLAUDE.md should replace the root" | They are concatenated |
| "must never force-push" | permissions.deny or a PreToolUse hook |
| "CI cannot click approve" | claude -p with a permission mode that does not prompt |
| "show tokens as they arrive" | --output-format stream-json --include-partial-messages |
| "project settings set defaultMode to auto and nothing changes" | That value is ignored in project and local files |
| Trap | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| More specific CLAUDE.md wins. | Files are combined. A contradiction has no guaranteed winner. |
| A flat file in .claude/skills/ is a skill. | The skill is a directory containing SKILL.md. |
| Auto memory is shared through git. | It lives under the user projects directory on that machine. |
| A subagent already knows the parent chat. | Only a fork inherits that transcript. |
| Auto mode is the same as skipping permissions. | bypassPermissions skips checks. Auto still escalates. |
| --bare loads the project CLAUDE.md faster. | --bare skips CLAUDE.md, skills, hooks, MCP, and auto memory. |