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#3362 Docs: Claude Code page says swamp always writes CLAUDE.md (changed by swamp-club#3346)

Opened by stack72 · 10/13/2026

Since swamp-club#3346 (PR swamp-club/swamp#3057), the claude tool does not always write CLAUDE.md. Which file it writes depends on what the repo already has, first match wins:

  1. .claude/rules/swamp.md exists, or CLAUDE.md is a symlink: swamp writes .claude/rules/swamp.md and never writes through the link.
  2. CLAUDE.md already holds swamp's managed section: swamp keeps writing there. If CLAUDE.md holds nothing else and AGENTS.md has the repo's own content, swamp adds an @AGENTS.md import inside the managed section.
  3. The repo's own AGENTS.md exists and there is no CLAUDE.md: swamp writes .claude/rules/swamp.md, which Claude Code loads alongside AGENTS.md.
  4. Otherwise: swamp writes CLAUDE.md, as before.

Pages to update in content/manual:

  • how-to/ai-agents/claude-code.md, lines 29-38 and 74. It says swamp adds its rules and skill list to CLAUDE.md and that the managed section in CLAUDE.md is replaced on upgrade. It should explain the rules-file case and the @AGENTS.md import, and that a repo whose .gitignore covers .claude/ keeps the rules file out of version control.
  • explanation/ai-agent-integration.md, line 47. It says the Claude Code instructions file is CLAUDE.md. It should say CLAUDE.md or .claude/rules/swamp.md.

Background for readers: Claude Code reads AGENTS.md only when no CLAUDE.md exists (https://[HOST-1]/docs/en/memory#agents-md). That is why swamp no longer creates a CLAUDE.md next to a repo's own AGENTS.md. In-repo source of truth: design/surfaces/repo.md.

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10/14/2026, 12:48:33 AM

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system commented 10/13/2026, 3:19:46 PM

Classified automatically when this issue was filed.

  • Type: Bug

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stack72 commented 10/14/2026, 12:48:32 AM

Fixed in swamp-club#1339: how-to/ai-agents/claude-code has the four-case rule for CLAUDE.md vs .claude/rules/swamp.md, the @AGENTS.md import and the .gitignore note; explanation/ai-agent-integration updated to match.

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