We removed ~80% of the Claude Code system prompt — what we learned about writing system prompts, skills, and CLAUDE.mds
Source
trq212
Author
trq212
Date
Why it matters
Explains how to write leaner system prompts, skills, and CLAUDE.md files for newer, more capable coding models — showing that stripping ~80% of prompt scaffolding can improve rather than degrade agent behavior.
A write-up from the Claude Code team on stripping roughly 80% of the system prompt for newer models, and what that exercise taught them about writing system prompts, skills, and CLAUDE.md files for more capable coding models.
