The Secret to Claude Code Isn't Better Prompts.
The Secret to Claude Code Isn't Better Prompts...
Summary
The secret to Claude Code is not just better prompts. It helps Claude understand your codebase first. This system took eight months to build.
Highlights
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After 8 months of daily AI coding, I built a system that makes claude code actually understand what you want to build
I’ve been pair programming with AI coding tools daily for 8 months writing literally over 100k lines of in production code. The biggest time-waster? When claude code thinks it knows enough to begin. So I built a requirements gathering system (completely free and fully open sourced) that forces claude to actually understand what you want utilizing claude /slash commands.
The Problem Everyone Has:
• You: “Add user avatars”
• AI: builds entire authentication system from scratch
• You: “No, we already have auth, just add avatars to existing users”
• AI: rewrites your database schema
• You: screams internally and breaks things
What I Built:
A /slash command requirements system where Claude code treats you as the product manager that you are. No more essays. No more mind-reading.
How It Actually Works:
- You:
/requirements-start {Argument like "add user avatar upload} - AI analyzes your codebase structure systematically (tech stack, patterns, architecture)
- AI asks the top 5 most pressing discovery questions like “Will users interact through a visual interface? (Default: YES)”
- AI autonomously searches and reads relevant files based on your answers
- AI documents what it found: exact files, patterns, similar features
- AI asks the top 5 most clarifying questions like “Should avatars appear in search results? (Default: YES - consistent with profile photos)”
- You get a requirements doc with specific file paths and implementation patterns
The Special Sauce:
• Smart defaults on every question - just say “idk” and it picks the sensible option
• AI reads your code before asking - lets be real, claude.md can only do so much
• Product managers can answer - Unless you’re deep down in the weeds of your code, claude code will intelligently use what already exists instead of trying to invent new ways of doing it.
• Links directly to implementation - requirements reference exact files so another ai can pick up where you left off with a simple /req… selection
Controversial take:
Coding has become a steering game. Not a babysitting one. Create the right systems and let claude code do the heavy lifting.
Full repo with commands and examples and how to install (no gate but would appreciate a start if it helped you):
<github.com/rizethereum/claude-code-requirements-builder>
Special shout out: This works best with https://repoprompt.com/ codemaps, search, and batch read mcp tools but can work with out them.