Day 08 of 21
The CLAUDE.md file — give Claude Code a permanent memory
Goal: Every new Claude Code session starts with zero memory. Today you create one file that helps it remember your project, your style, and your rules without you repeating them.
What to do
Open Claude Code in your project
Open your terminal, navigate to your project folder, and start Claude Code:
claudeAsk Claude Code to create your CLAUDE.md file
Type this prompt exactly:
Create a CLAUDE.md file in my project root. Include these four sections with placeholder text I can edit: 1) Project Overview, 2) Design Rules, 3) What Not To Change, 4) My Preferences. Format it cleanly so it is easy to read.Fill in Project Overview
CLAUDE.md is a plain text file — just like a Word document but simpler. You open it and type in it like any text file. To open it: on Windows, open File Explorer, navigate to your project folder, right-click CLAUDE.md, and choose "Open with > Notepad". On Mac, right-click CLAUDE.md in Finder and choose "Open With > TextEdit". Important on Mac: when TextEdit opens, go to Format > Make Plain Text before you type anything. Now in the Project Overview section, replace the placeholder text with one sentence about what your site is and who it is for. Example: "This is a portfolio site for a freelance photographer in London."
Fill in Design Rules
In the Design Rules section, describe your visual style in plain English. Include: your background color, your text color, your accent color, and your overall style. Example: "Warm cream background. Dark charcoal text. Orange-brown accent color. Clean and minimal. No heavy shadows."
Fill in What Not To Change
In the "What Not To Change" section, list the parts of your site that are finished and must never be modified without you asking. Be specific. Example: "Never change the navigation bar. Never change the footer. Never introduce new fonts."
Fill in My Preferences
In the My Preferences section, write how you want Claude Code to work with you. Example: "Always create a plan before changing more than one file. Always tell me which files you changed. Always make one change at a time."
Test the file — start a fresh session
Save and close CLAUDE.md. Close your current Claude Code session (press Ctrl+C or close the terminal). Open a new terminal and start Claude Code fresh. Then type:
Read my CLAUDE.md file and confirm you loaded it by telling me: my project overview in one sentence, my top design rule, and my top workflow preference.Expected result
Claude Code has a CLAUDE.md file in your project. A fresh session reads it automatically and knows your project, design rules, and preferences without you repeating them.
Key takeaway
- CLAUDE.md is a file in your project folder that Claude Code reads automatically at the start of every session. Write your rules, style, and preferences in it once — and Claude Code follows them forever.