# CLAUDE.md Checklist

> From NerdSmith Founder Track -- Module 0, Lesson 4: CLAUDE.md Setup
> Use this to audit your CLAUDE.md file. Every check should pass.

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## The 5 Essential Sections

### Section 1: Project Context

- [ ] **States what you're building** in 1-2 sentences (not a paragraph)
- [ ] **Includes your industry/market** (B2B SaaS, e-commerce, consulting, etc.)
- [ ] **States your current stage** (pre-launch, MVP, growth, scaling)
- [ ] **Names your target customer** (who pays or who uses it)
- [ ] Does NOT include your full company history or backstory

**Test:** Can someone read this section and understand your business in 10 seconds?

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### Section 2: Your Role

- [ ] **States your title/role** (founder, PM, operator, etc.)
- [ ] **States what you focus on** (product, strategy, marketing, ops)
- [ ] **States what you DON'T do** (code, design, DevOps, etc.)
- [ ] **Indicates your experience level** if relevant (new to this, domain expert, etc.)

**Test:** Will Claude avoid suggesting things outside your skill set?

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### Section 3: How to Help Me

- [ ] **Lists 3-5 specific tasks** you'll ask Claude to do
- [ ] **Tasks use action verbs** (write, analyze, generate, compare, prioritize)
- [ ] **Tasks are specific enough** to act on ("write product specs" not "help with product")
- [ ] Does NOT list 20 tasks (keep it focused on your top needs)

**Test:** Could Claude proactively offer to do one of these tasks based on the context?

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### Section 4: File Structure

- [ ] **Lists every major folder** in your project with its purpose
- [ ] **Identifies the output folder** (where Claude should save generated files)
- [ ] **Uses actual folder names** that match your project structure
- [ ] Does NOT include folders that are in .claudeignore (those are invisible)

**Test:** If you say "Save this analysis," does Claude know exactly which folder?

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### Section 5: Style Preferences

- [ ] **Specifies length** (word count, page limit, or "keep concise")
- [ ] **Specifies tone** (professional, casual, technical, friendly, etc.)
- [ ] **Specifies format** (bullets vs. paragraphs, headings, tables)
- [ ] **Includes at least one "don't"** (no jargon, no buzzwords, no code, etc.)
- [ ] **Includes honesty directive** (tell me when ideas are bad, flag uncertainty)

**Test:** Generate a short output. Does it match your preferences without you reminding Claude?

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## Quality Checks

### Length Check

- [ ] **Total word count is 200-500 words** (not 50, not 1,000)
  - Under 200: Probably too vague, Claude doesn't have enough to work with
  - Over 500: Wasting context tokens, Claude may ignore parts

### Specificity Check

- [ ] **No vague phrases** like "help me with stuff" or "various tasks"
- [ ] **No generic language** that could apply to any project
- [ ] **Your product/business is named and described**, not just "my project"

### Freshness Check

- [ ] **Reflects your CURRENT stage** (not where you were 3 months ago)
- [ ] **File structure matches** what's actually in your project folder
- [ ] **Tasks listed are tasks you actually do** this month
- [ ] **Last reviewed within 30 days**

### Placement Check

- [ ] **File is named exactly `CLAUDE.md`** (case sensitive on some systems)
- [ ] **Located in the project root** (same level as your main folders, not inside a subfolder)
- [ ] **Not inside `_archive/` or any ignored folder**

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## Common Problems and Fixes

| Problem | Symptom | Fix |
|---------|---------|-----|
| Too vague | Claude still asks "what do you do?" | Add specific product name, stage, customer |
| Too long | Context wasted, Claude ignores parts | Cut to 500 words max, remove backstory |
| Stale info | Claude references old project details | Update stage, tasks, and file structure |
| Wrong location | Claude doesn't seem to read it | Move to project root, check filename spelling |
| Missing "don'ts" | Claude writes code / jargon / essays | Add explicit exclusions to Style section |
| No output folder | Claude asks where to save every time | Add "Save outputs to `analysis/`" in File Structure |
| No workflows | You repeat multi-step instructions | Add Common Workflows section with steps |

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## Monthly Review Reminder

Set a calendar reminder to review your CLAUDE.md on the 1st of each month. Ask:

1. Has my project stage changed?
2. Have I added new folders or changed the structure?
3. Are there new tasks I keep asking Claude for?
4. Has Claude made a recurring mistake I should add as a rule?
5. Is the word count still under 500?

Update accordingly. A 5-minute monthly review keeps your CLAUDE.md effective.

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*NerdSmith Founder Track -- Module 0: Claude Code Bootcamp*
*Download: CLAUDE.md Checklist*