# 🚀 Claude Code Workflow (CCW) - Getting Started Guide Welcome to Claude Code Workflow (CCW) v4.5.0! This guide will help you get up and running in 5 minutes and experience AI-driven automated software development with our latest workflow system optimizations. --- ## ⏱️ 5-Minute Quick Start Let's build a "Hello World" web application from scratch with a simple example. ### Step 1: Install CCW First, make sure you have installed CCW according to the [Installation Guide](INSTALL.md). ### Step 2: Start a Workflow Session Think of a "session" as a dedicated project folder. CCW will store all files related to your current task here. ```bash /workflow:session:start "My First Web App" ``` You will see that the system has created a new session, for example, `WFS-my-first-web-app`. ### Step 3: Create an Execution Plan Now, tell CCW what you want to do. CCW will analyze your request and automatically generate a detailed, executable task plan. ```bash /workflow:plan "Create a simple Express API that returns Hello World at the root path" ``` This command kicks off a fully automated planning process, which includes: 1. **Context Gathering**: Analyzing your project environment. 2. **Agent Analysis**: AI agents think about the best implementation path. 3. **Task Generation**: Creating specific task files (in `.json` format). ### Step 4: Execute the Plan Once the plan is created, you can command the AI agents to start working. ```bash /workflow:execute ``` You will see CCW's agents (like `@code-developer`) begin to execute tasks one by one. It will automatically create files, write code, and install dependencies. ### Step 5: Check the Status Want to know the progress? You can check the status of the current workflow at any time. ```bash /workflow:status ``` This will show the completion status of tasks, the currently executing task, and the next steps. --- ## 🧠 Core Concepts Explained Understanding these concepts will help you use CCW more effectively: - **Workflow Session** > Like an independent sandbox or project space, used to isolate the context, files, and history of different tasks. All related files are stored in the `.workflow/WFS-/` directory. - **Task** > An atomic unit of work, such as "create API route" or "write test case." Each task is a `.json` file that defines the goal, context, and execution steps in detail. - **Agent** > An AI assistant specialized in a specific domain. For example: > - `@code-developer`: Responsible for writing and implementing code. > - `@test-fix-agent`: Responsible for running tests and automatically fixing failures. > - `@ui-design-agent`: Responsible for UI design and prototype creation. > - `@cli-execution-agent`: Responsible for autonomous CLI task handling (v4.5.0+). - **Workflow** > A series of predefined, collaborative commands used to orchestrate different agents and tools to achieve a complex development goal (e.g., `plan`, `execute`, `test-gen`). --- ## 🛠️ Common Scenarios ### Scenario 1: Developing a New Feature (as shown above) This is the most common use case, following the "start session → plan → execute" pattern. ```bash # 1. Start a session /workflow:session:start "User Login Feature" # 2. Create a plan /workflow:plan "Implement JWT-based user login and registration" # 3. Execute /workflow:execute ``` ### Scenario 2: UI Design CCW has powerful UI design capabilities, capable of generating complex UI prototypes from simple text descriptions. ```bash # 1. Start a UI design workflow /workflow:ui-design:explore-auto --prompt "A modern, clean admin dashboard login page with username, password fields and a login button" # 2. View the generated prototype # After the command finishes, it will provide a path to a compare.html file. Open it in your browser to preview. ``` ### Scenario 3: Fixing a Bug CCW can help you analyze and fix bugs. ```bash # 1. Use the bug-index command to analyze the problem /cli:mode:bug-index "Incorrect success message even with wrong password on login" # 2. The AI will analyze the relevant code and generate a fix plan. You can then execute this plan. /workflow:execute ``` --- ## 🔧 Workflow-Free Usage: Standalone Tools Beyond the full workflow mode, CCW provides standalone CLI tools and commands suitable for quick analysis, ad-hoc queries, and routine maintenance tasks. ### Direct CLI Tool Invocation CCW supports direct invocation of external AI tools (Gemini, Qwen, Codex) through a unified CLI interface without creating workflow sessions. #### Code Analysis Quickly analyze project code structure and architectural patterns: ```bash # Code analysis with Gemini /cli:analyze --tool gemini "Analyze authentication module architecture" # Code quality analysis with Qwen /cli:analyze --tool qwen "Review database model design for best practices" ``` #### Interactive Chat Direct interactive dialogue with AI tools: ```bash # Chat with Gemini /cli:chat --tool gemini "Explain React Hook use cases" # Discuss implementation with Codex /cli:chat --tool codex "How to optimize this query performance" ``` #### Specialized Analysis Modes Use specific analysis modes for in-depth exploration: ```bash # Architecture planning mode /cli:mode:plan --tool gemini "Design a scalable microservices architecture" # Deep code analysis /cli:mode:code-analysis --tool qwen "Analyze utility functions in src/utils/" # Bug analysis mode /cli:mode:bug-index --tool gemini "Analyze potential causes of memory leak" ``` ### Semantic Tool Invocation Users can tell Claude to use specific tools through natural language, and Claude will understand the intent and automatically execute the appropriate commands. #### Semantic Invocation Examples Describe needs directly in conversation using natural language: **Example 1: Code Analysis** ``` User: "Use gemini to analyze the modular architecture of this project" → Claude will automatically execute gemini-wrapper for analysis ``` **Example 2: Document Generation** ``` User: "Use gemini to generate API documentation with all endpoint descriptions" → Claude will understand the need and automatically invoke gemini's write mode ``` **Example 3: Code Implementation** ``` User: "Use codex to implement user login functionality" → Claude will invoke the codex tool for autonomous development ``` #### Advantages of Semantic Invocation - **Natural Interaction**: No need to memorize complex command syntax - **Intelligent Understanding**: Claude selects appropriate tools and parameters based on context - **Automatic Optimization**: Claude automatically adds necessary context and configuration ### Memory Management: CLAUDE.md Updates CCW uses a hierarchical CLAUDE.md documentation system to maintain project context. Regular updates to these documents are critical for ensuring high-quality AI outputs. #### Full Project Index Rebuild Suitable for large-scale refactoring, architectural changes, or first-time CCW usage: ```bash # Rebuild entire project documentation index /update-memory-full # Use specific tool for indexing /update-memory-full --tool gemini # Comprehensive analysis (recommended) /update-memory-full --tool qwen # Architecture focus /update-memory-full --tool codex # Implementation details ``` **When to Execute**: - During project initialization - After major architectural changes - Weekly routine maintenance - When AI output drift is detected #### Incremental Related Module Updates Suitable for daily development, updating only modules affected by changes: ```bash # Update recently modified related documentation /update-memory-related # Specify tool for update /update-memory-related --tool gemini ``` **When to Execute**: - After feature development completion - After module refactoring - After API interface updates - After data model modifications #### Memory Quality Impact | Update Frequency | Result | |-----------------|--------| | ❌ Never update | Outdated API references, incorrect architectural assumptions, low-quality output | | ⚠️ Occasional updates | Partial context accuracy, potential inconsistencies | | ✅ Timely updates | High-quality output, precise context, correct pattern references | ### CLI Tool Initialization When using external CLI tools for the first time, initialization commands provide quick configuration: ```bash # Auto-configure all tools /cli:cli-init # Configure specific tools only /cli:cli-init --tool gemini /cli:cli-init --tool qwen ``` This command will: - Analyze project structure - Generate tool configuration files - Set up `.geminiignore` / `.qwenignore` - Create context file references --- ## Advanced Usage: Agent Skills Agent Skills are modular, reusable capabilities that extend the AI's functionality. They are stored in the `.claude/skills/` directory and are invoked through specific trigger mechanisms. ### How Skills Work - **Model-Invoked**: Unlike slash commands, you don't call Skills directly. The AI decides when to use a Skill based on its understanding of your goal. - **Contextual**: Skills provide specific instructions, scripts, and templates to the AI for specialized tasks. - **Trigger Mechanisms**: - **Conversational Trigger**: Use `-e` or `--enhance` flag in **natural conversation** to trigger the `prompt-enhancer` skill - **CLI Command Enhancement**: Use `--enhance` flag in **CLI commands** for prompt refinement (this is a CLI feature, not a skill trigger) ### Examples **Conversational Trigger** (activates prompt-enhancer skill): ``` User: "Analyze authentication module -e" → AI uses prompt-enhancer skill to expand the request ``` **CLI Command Enhancement** (built-in CLI feature): ```bash # The --enhance flag here is a CLI parameter, not a skill trigger /cli:analyze --enhance "check for security issues" ``` **Important Note**: The `-e` flag works in natural conversation, but `--enhance` in CLI commands is a separate enhancement mechanism, not the skill system. --- ## Advanced Usage: UI Design Workflow CCW includes a powerful, multi-phase workflow for UI design and prototyping, capable of generating complete design systems and interactive prototypes from simple descriptions or reference images. ### Key Commands - `/workflow:ui-design:explore-auto`: An exploratory workflow that generates multiple, distinct design variations based on a prompt. - `/workflow:ui-design:imitate-auto`: A replication workflow that creates high-fidelity prototypes from reference URLs. ### Example: Generating a UI from a Prompt You can generate multiple design options for a web page with a single command: ```bash # This command will generate 3 different style and layout variations for a login page. /workflow:ui-design:explore-auto --prompt "A modern, clean login page for a SaaS application" --targets "login" --style-variants 3 --layout-variants 3 ``` After the workflow completes, it provides a `compare.html` file, allowing you to visually review and select the best design combination. --- ## ❓ Troubleshooting - **Problem: Prompt shows "No active session found"** > **Reason**: You haven't started a workflow session, or the current session is complete. > **Solution**: Use `/workflow:session:start "Your task description"` to start a new session. - **Problem: Command execution fails or gets stuck** > **Reason**: It could be a network issue, AI model limitation, or the task is too complex. > **Solution**: > 1. First, try using `/workflow:status` to check the current state. > 2. Check the log files in the `.workflow/WFS-/.chat/` directory for detailed error messages. > 3. If the task is too complex, try breaking it down into smaller tasks and then use `/workflow:plan` to create a new plan. --- ## 📚 Next Steps for Advanced Learning Once you've mastered the basics, you can explore CCW's more powerful features: 1. **Test-Driven Development (TDD)**: Use `/workflow:tdd-plan` to create a complete TDD workflow. The AI will first write failing tests, then write code to make them pass, and finally refactor. 2. **Multi-Agent Brainstorming**: Use `/workflow:brainstorm:auto-parallel` to have multiple AI agents with different roles (like System Architect, Product Manager, Security Expert) analyze a topic simultaneously and generate a comprehensive report. 3. **Custom Agents and Commands**: You can modify the files in the `.claude/agents/` and `.claude/commands/` directories to customize agent behavior and workflows to fit your team's specific needs. Hope this guide helps you get started smoothly with CCW!