Context Driven Development

When to use this skill

Use Context Driven Development when an AI agent needs a reusable SKILL.md workflow for this job: Creates and maintains project context artifacts (product.md, tech-stack.md, workflow.md, tracks.md) in a conductor/ directory. Scaffolds new projects from scratch, extracts context from existing codebases, validates artifact consistency before implementation, and synchronizes documents as the project evolves. Use when setting up a project, creating or updating product docs, managing a tech stack file, defining development workflows, tracking work units, onboarding to an existing codebase, or running project scaffolding.

When not to use it

Skip Context Driven Development when the task is outside the productivity category, or when a more specific skill in this directory already covers the same workflow with clearer triggers.

How to install

1. Personal install: create ~/.claude/skills/context-driven-development/SKILL.md (and any bundled scripts) so Claude Code, Claude Desktop, and compatible agents can load it in every project.
2. Project install: commit the same folder at .claude/skills/context-driven-development/ so teammates get the skill with the repo.
3. Restart the agent session after copying files so it re-scans the skills directory, then ask for the task in words that match the skill description.

Full install guide for Claude, Cursor, and Codex

What this skill does

# Context-Driven Development

Guide for implementing and maintaining context as a managed artifact alongside code, enabling consistent AI interactions and team alignment through structured project documentation.

## When to Use This Skill

- Setting up new projects with Conductor - Understanding the relationship between context artifacts - Maintaining consistency across AI-assisted development sessions - Onboarding team members to an existing Conductor project - Deciding when to update context documents - Managing greenfield vs brownfield project contexts

## Detailed patterns and worked examples

Detailed pattern documentation lives in `references/details.md`. Read that file when the navigation tier above is insufficient.

## Best Practices

1. **Read context first**: Always read relevant artifacts before starting work 2. **Small updates**: Make incremental context changes, not massive rewrites 3. **Link decisions**: Reference context when making implementation choices 4. **Version context**: Commit context changes alongside code changes 5. **Review context**: Include context artifact reviews in code reviews 6. **Validate regularly**: Run context validation checklist before major work 7. **Communicate changes**: Notify team when context artifacts change significantly 8. **Preserve history**: Use git to track context evolution over time 9. **Question staleness**: If context feels wrong, investigate and update 10. **Keep it actionable**: Every context item should inform a decision or behavior

Intended uses

• Setting up new projects with Conductor
• Understanding the relationship between context artifacts
• Maintaining consistency across AI-assisted development sessions
• Onboarding team members to an existing Conductor project
• Deciding when to update context documents
• Managing greenfield vs brownfield project contexts