As teams move into 2026, the fastest way to align Claude Code with your engineering "house rules" is through a streamlined CLAUDE.md. Claude automatically loads this file at the beginning of a session, ensuring your architecture, standards, and workflows are adhered to without needing to continually explain—across terminal, IDEs, and the web.

Why this matters in 2026

Engineering speed now depends on how promptly your assistant can comprehend your repo and act securely. CLAUDE.md transforms shared knowledge into a dynamic, versioned agreement: coding standards, test/build commands, security measures, and review protocols. Pair it with your knowledge system in Glean, task management in Asana, system diagrams in Miro, and essential documents in Notion for a comprehensive "find → understand → act" cycle.

What's new / how it works

Claude treats CLAUDE.md as essential context. Place it at the root of your repo (recommended). For monorepos, add service-level files, and optionally a global file at ~/.claude/CLAUDE.md. Begin a draft with /init, then refine it so it’s brief, specific, and enforceable. Keep it evolving—any instruction you repeat twice should be included here.

Practical steps (that actually help)

1. Create and place it wisely. Start at the repo root; add specific files for services or packages that differ from global rules.

2. Record facts, not filler. Architecture, key directories, commands (build, test, lint, deploy), security practices (handling secrets), and code review expectations.

3. Outline the workflow. Clarify how work progresses: plan → implement → test → PR. If your task management is in Asana, link the board and naming conventions.

4. Integrate your knowledge. Direct Claude to system diagrams in Miro, procedural guides in Notion, and codebase searches via Glean so responses reference the correct sources.

5. Iterate continuously. When processes evolve, update the file in the same PR—CLAUDE.md should evolve at the same rate as your code.

A starter CLAUDE.md you can adapt

# Project Context
Follow our “plan → implement → test → commit” workflow. Ask clarifying questions before architectural changes. Prefer small, reviewable PRs.

## Architecture
Next.js + NestJS monorepo. Shared UI in `packages/ui`. See Miro system map: <link to Miro> and Notion runbooks: <link to Notion>

(Keep it concise—Claude reads it every session.)

CLAUDE.md is a special file that Claude Code automatically loads to understand your project. Place it in your repo (or ~/.claude/) with architecture, standards, commands, and workflows. Generate a starter with /init, then refine it so Claude consistently follows your team's guidelines across terminal, IDE, and web.

Summary

CLAUDE.md is your 2026 shortcut to consistent, compliant engineering: a single, living document that makes Claude Code act like a well-informed team member. If you’d like a tailored template for your stack—and integrated with Glean, Asana, Miro, and Notion—Generation Digital can help design and implement it across teams.

FAQs

What is a CLAUDE.md file?
A configuration-style Markdown file that gives Claude a lasting, project-specific context—structure, standards, commands, and workflow rules.

Where should I put it?
Begin with the repo root. In monorepos, add service-level files. Optionally maintain a global file at ~/.claude/CLAUDE.md for personal or organization-wide standards.

How do I get started quickly?
Open Claude Code and run /init to automatically generate a draft. Trim general text, add your actual standards, and link to Notion guides, Miro diagrams, and Asana boards.

How does this integrate with enterprise knowledge?
Point CLAUDE.md at Glean so Claude can fetch the right documents and code effectively, then reference or summarize them in context.