Claude Workflow: The Complete Guide to Structured AI-Assisted Development

Building software with Claude Code is powerful, but without structure it leads to inconsistent code patterns, undocumented decisions, repeated mistakes, and incomplete implementations. After months of refining my AI-assisted development process, I have created a comprehensive workflow framework that solves these problems.

Claude Workflow is an 8-phase development framework that Claude Code follows when assisting with frontend projects. It ensures every task is properly planned, implemented, tested, and documented.

The framework is open source and available on GitHub: github.com/mikulgohil/Claude-workflow

Table of Contents

Getting Started

• Why You Need a Structured Workflow
• Project Structure
• Critical Rules

The 8 Phases

• Phase 0: Session Initialization
• Phase 1: Project Discovery
• Phase 2: Requirements Gathering
• Phase 3: Task Planning
• Phase 4: Implementation
• Phase 5: Testing and Validation
• Phase 6: Documentation
• Phase 7: Review and Iteration

Templates

• Project Overview Template
• Component Documentation Template
• ADR Template
• Lessons Learned Template
• Testing Strategy Template
• Manual Test Checklist Template

Advanced

• MCP Tools Integration
• Anti-Patterns to Avoid
• Getting Started Guide

Why You Need a Structured Workflow

When I started using Claude Code for serious development work, I noticed recurring problems:

1. Inconsistent patterns - Claude would use different approaches for similar problems across sessions
2. Lost context - Previous decisions and learnings were forgotten between sessions
3. Incomplete testing - Only happy paths were tested, edge cases were missed
4. Poor documentation - Components were built without proper documentation
5. Repeated mistakes - The same failed approaches were tried multiple times

The Claude Workflow framework addresses each of these by providing:

Project Structure

When you add Claude Workflow to your project, here is the structure you get:

your-project/
├── .github/
│   ├── workflows/
│   │   └── validate-markdown.yml   # CI for markdown linting
│   └── mlc_config.json             # Markdown link checker config
├── templates/                       # Documentation templates
│   ├── PROJECT_OVERVIEW.template.md
│   ├── COMPONENT_DOC.template.md
│   ├── ADR.template.md
│   ├── LESSONS_LEARNED.template.md
│   ├── TESTING_STRATEGY.template.md
│   └── MANUAL_TEST_CHECKLIST.template.md
├── docs/                            # Generated documentation
│   ├── PROJECT_OVERVIEW.md
│   ├── ARCHITECTURE.md
│   ├── COMPONENTS.md
│   ├── DECISIONS.md
│   ├── LESSONS_LEARNED.md
│   ├── TESTING_STRATEGY.md
│   └── SETUP.md
├── .gitignore
├── LICENSE
├── README.md
└── WORKFLOW.md                      # Main workflow document

The WORKFLOW.md file is the core document that Claude Code reads and follows. The templates/ folder contains ready-to-use documentation templates that Claude uses to create documentation in your project's ./docs/ folder.

Critical Rules

The workflow enforces two critical rules that Claude Code must never break:

Rule 1: Never Commit Code

Claude Code will never run these commands:

If asked to commit, Claude responds: "I do not commit code. Please review the changes and commit manually when ready."

Why this matters:

• You must review all changes before they become permanent
• It prevents accidental commits of incomplete or broken code
• It maintains clean git history under your control
• It allows you to write meaningful commit messages
• It protects against committing sensitive data accidentally

Rule 2: Always Provide Detailed Task Summary

After completing every task, Claude must provide a comprehensive summary:

Phase 0: Session Initialization

When starting with a new project, Claude completes these initialization steps:

Step 0.1: Project Type Detection

Step 0.2: Initial Questions

Claude asks these mandatory questions before starting work:

Step 0.3: Create Documentation Structure

Claude creates this documentation structure in your project:

Phase 1: Project Discovery

Before any development work, Claude thoroughly analyzes the project:

Analysis Areas

1. Project Structure

• Directory organization
• Entry points
• Build configuration
• Environment variables

2. Technology Stack

• Framework version
• State management solution
• Styling approach (CSS Modules/Tailwind/Styled-components)
• API integration patterns
• Authentication method

3. Existing Patterns

• Component structure
• Naming conventions
• Import/export patterns
• Error handling approach
• Logging strategy

4. Dependencies

• Key packages and their purposes
• Outdated or vulnerable packages
• Dev vs production dependencies

Pattern Documentation Example

## Existing Patterns Found
 
### Component Pattern
- Functional components with hooks
- Props interface defined inline
- Local state with useState
 
### Styling Pattern
- Tailwind CSS for styling
- Custom theme in tailwind.config.js
- Mobile-first responsive design
 
### Data Fetching Pattern
- React Query for server state
- Axios for HTTP client
- Error boundary for failures
 
### File Naming Convention
- Component files: PascalCase (UserProfile.tsx)
- Utility files: camelCase (formatDate.ts)
- Test files: ComponentName.test.tsx

Phase 2: Requirements Gathering

For each new task or feature request, Claude follows a requirements checklist:

Requirements Checklist

Clarification Protocol

Never assume. Always ask when unclear.

When multiple approaches exist:

"I see two approaches for this:
Option A: [Description] - Pros: [list] Cons: [list]
Option B: [Description] - Pros: [list] Cons: [list]
Which approach do you prefer?"

When requirements are ambiguous:

"To clarify the requirement:
- Did you mean [interpretation A] or [interpretation B]?
- What should happen when [edge case]?"

When design decisions are needed:

"This requires a design decision:
- Should this be [option 1] or [option 2]?
- What is the priority: performance, readability, or flexibility?"

When breaking changes are possible:

"This change may affect [components/features].
Should I proceed with the breaking change or maintain backward compatibility?"

Phase 3: Task Planning

Claude breaks down every feature into atomic, trackable tasks.

Task Breakdown Rules

Task Format

- [ ] Add user avatar component | Priority: High | Complexity: M
      Dependencies: UserProfile component exists
      Acceptance: Avatar displays with fallback for missing image

Task Status Flow

When a task is BLOCKED, document the blocker. When a task FAILED, document it in LESSONS_LEARNED.md and try an alternative approach.

Phase 4: Implementation

Before writing any code, Claude completes a pre-implementation checklist.

Pre-Implementation Checklist

Implementation Rules

1. Minimal Changes

• Only modify what is necessary
• Do not refactor unrelated code
• Do not add "nice to have" features

2. Follow Existing Patterns

• Match the project's code style
• Use existing utilities/helpers
• Follow established naming conventions

3. Security First

• Sanitize user inputs
• Avoid XSS vulnerabilities
• Never hardcode secrets
• Use proper authentication/authorization

4. Performance Conscious

• Avoid unnecessary re-renders
• Use proper memoization
• Lazy load when appropriate
• Optimize bundle size

5. Accessibility (A11Y)

• Use semantic HTML
• Include proper ARIA attributes
• Ensure keyboard navigation
• Test with screen readers

Component Development Pattern

Error Handling Standard

try {
  // Operation
} catch (error) {
  // 1. Log for debugging
  console.error('[ComponentName] Operation failed:', error);
 
  // 2. User-friendly error state
  setError('A user-friendly message');
 
  // 3. Optional: Report to error tracking service
  errorTracker.capture(error);
}

Debug Logging Standard

const DEBUG = process.env.NODE_ENV === 'development';
 
function debugLog(component: string, action: string, data?: unknown) {
  if (DEBUG) {
    console.log(
      `[${component}] ${action}`,
      data ? JSON.stringify(data, null, 2) : ''
    );
  }
}
 
// Usage
debugLog('UserProfile', 'Fetching user data', { userId });
debugLog('UserProfile', 'User data received', userData);

Phase 5: Testing and Validation

The workflow includes a testing decision tree based on available tools.

Testing Decision Tree

When using Playwright:

1. Create Page Object Model
2. Write test scenarios
3. Run in CI/CD
4. Document test coverage

When using Manual Testing:

1. Add comprehensive debug logs
2. Create test checklist
3. Ask user to test manually
4. Request logs for verification
5. Document test results

Server Management Protocol

Before running tests, Claude checks for existing development servers:

Playwright Testing Protocol

Page Object Template:

import { Page, Locator, expect } from '@playwright/test';
 
export class LoginPage {
  readonly page: Page;
  readonly emailInput: Locator;
  readonly passwordInput: Locator;
  readonly submitButton: Locator;
  readonly errorMessage: Locator;
 
  constructor(page: Page) {
    this.page = page;
    this.emailInput = page.getByLabel('Email');
    this.passwordInput = page.getByLabel('Password');
    this.submitButton = page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Sign in' });
    this.errorMessage = page.getByRole('alert');
  }
 
  async goto() {
    await this.page.goto('/login');
  }
 
  async login(email: string, password: string) {
    await this.emailInput.fill(email);
    await this.passwordInput.fill(password);
    await this.submitButton.click();
  }
 
  async expectError(message: string) {
    await expect(this.errorMessage).toContainText(message);
  }
 
  async expectLoggedIn() {
    await expect(this.page).toHaveURL('/dashboard');
  }
}

E2E Test Template:

import { test, expect } from '@playwright/test';
import { LoginPage } from '../pages/LoginPage';
 
test.describe('Login Flow', () => {
  let loginPage: LoginPage;
 
  test.beforeEach(async ({ page }) => {
    loginPage = new LoginPage(page);
    await loginPage.goto();
  });
 
  test('successful login redirects to dashboard', async () => {
    await loginPage.login('test@example.com', 'password123');
    await loginPage.expectLoggedIn();
  });
 
  test('invalid credentials shows error message', async () => {
    await loginPage.login('wrong@example.com', 'wrongpassword');
    await loginPage.expectError('Invalid credentials');
  });
});

Manual Testing Protocol

Step 1: Add Debug Logs

• Entry/exit of key functions
• State changes
• API calls and responses
• User interactions

Step 2: Create Test Checklist

Step 3: Request User Testing

"Please test the following and share the console logs:
1. [Test scenario 1]
2. [Test scenario 2]
3. [Test scenario 3]"

Step 4: Verify From Logs

• Check debug log sequence
• Verify expected states
• Identify any errors

Phase 6: Documentation

Every component gets attached documentation following a standard format.

Component Documentation Standard

# ComponentName
 
## Overview
Brief description of what this component does.
 
## Props
 
| Prop | Type | Required | Default | Description |
|------|------|----------|---------|-------------|
| prop1 | string | Yes | - | Description |
| prop2 | number | No | 0 | Description |
 
## Usage
[Code example]
 
## States
- Loading state description
- Error state description
- Empty state description
 
## Events
 
| Event | Payload | Description |
|-------|---------|-------------|
| onClick | void | Triggered when clicked |
 
## Accessibility
- Keyboard navigation support
- Screen reader compatibility
- ARIA attributes used
 
## Testing
- Automated: Yes/No - test file location
- Manual: test checklist location
 
## Changelog
 
| Date | Change | Author |
|------|--------|--------|
| YYYY-MM-DD | Initial implementation | AI |

Decision Documentation (ADR)

For significant decisions, Claude creates an Architectural Decision Record:

# ADR-001: State Management Choice
 
## Status
Accepted
 
## Context
We need to manage complex client state across multiple components.
 
## Options Considered
 
### Option 1: Redux Toolkit
- Pros: Mature ecosystem, devtools, middleware support
- Cons: Boilerplate, learning curve
 
### Option 2: Zustand
- Pros: Simple API, minimal boilerplate, TypeScript friendly
- Cons: Smaller ecosystem
 
## Decision
We will use Zustand because the application does not require
middleware and simplicity is preferred.
 
## Consequences
 
### Positive
- Faster development
- Less boilerplate code
 
### Negative
- May need to migrate if complexity grows

Phase 7: Review and Iteration

Before considering any task complete, Claude runs through a self-review checklist.

Self-Review Checklist

Code Quality

Functionality

Performance

Accessibility

Security

Documentation

Task Completion Summary Template

## Task Summary: Add User Avatar Component
 
### Files Changed
 
| File | Action | Description |
|------|--------|-------------|
| src/components/Avatar.tsx | Created | New avatar component |
| src/components/UserProfile.tsx | Modified | Integrated avatar |
| src/styles/avatar.css | Created | Avatar styling |
 
### Changes Made
 
#### 1. Avatar Component
**What:** Created reusable avatar component with fallback
**Why:** Display user profile images consistently
**Code:**
[Key code snippet]
 
### Testing Status
- Tested: Component renders with image
- Tested: Fallback displays when image missing
- Needs Manual Testing: Screen reader announcement
 
### Manual Testing Required
1. Load page with valid avatar URL - Expected: Image displays
2. Load page with broken URL - Expected: Initials fallback shows
3. Tab to avatar - Expected: Focus ring visible
 
### Next Steps
- [ ] Add unit tests
- [ ] Add hover state for enlarged view

Templates Library

The workflow includes six comprehensive templates.

Project Overview Template

Used to document project understanding and architecture:

Component Documentation Template

Standardized documentation for every component:

ADR Template

For tracking architectural decisions:

Lessons Learned Template

For tracking failed approaches:

Testing Strategy Template

Comprehensive testing approach:

Coverage Requirements:

Manual Test Checklist Template

When automated testing is not available:

MCP Tools Integration

The workflow supports these MCP (Model Context Protocol) tools:

Research Protocol

For New Library/API:

1. Use Perplexity to search: "[library] best practices [year]"
2. Verify compatibility with project stack
3. Check for known issues
4. Document findings

For Error Resolution:

1. Search exact error message
2. Look for framework-specific solutions
3. Check for version-specific fixes
4. Try solutions in order of relevance

Option Presentation Format

When multiple valid approaches exist:

"I have identified 2 approaches for this task:
 
**Option 1: React Query** (Recommended)
- Description: Server state management library
- Pros: Caching, background refetch, devtools
- Cons: Additional dependency
- Effort: Low
- Risk: Low
 
**Option 2: Custom useEffect + useState**
- Description: Build data fetching from scratch
- Pros: No dependencies
- Cons: Manual cache management, more code
- Effort: Medium
- Risk: Medium
 
My recommendation is Option 1 because it provides
built-in caching and reduces boilerplate.
 
Which approach would you like to proceed with?"

Anti-Patterns to Avoid

The workflow documents common anti-patterns that Claude must avoid:

Recovery Protocol

When stuck, follow these steps:

Getting Started Guide

Option 1: Copy to Your Project (Recommended)

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/mikulgohil/Claude-workflow.git
 
# Copy to your project
cp -r Claude-workflow/ your-project/workflow/
 
# Or copy just the essential files
cp Claude-workflow/WORKFLOW.md your-project/
cp -r Claude-workflow/templates/ your-project/templates/

Option 2: Reference Globally

Point Claude Code to this workflow at the start of each session by including the WORKFLOW.md file in your project root or referencing the GitHub repository.

Session Checklists

Session Start:

Session End:

Conclusion

The Claude Workflow framework transforms AI-assisted development from ad-hoc interactions into a structured, repeatable process. By enforcing clear phases, documentation standards, and quality checks, it ensures:

The workflow is a living document that evolves as new patterns, tools, and learnings emerge. I encourage you to fork it, customize it for your needs, and contribute improvements back to the community.

GitHub Repository: github.com/mikulgohil/Claude-workflow

The future of AI-assisted development is not about replacing developers. It is about creating structured collaboration between human expertise and AI capabilities. This workflow is my contribution to making that collaboration more effective.