BMAD-METHOD/docs/api/claude-code-integration.md

11 KiB

Claude Code Integration

Complete guide to setting up and optimizing the BMAD-Spec Orchestrator system with Claude Code.

Overview

The BMAD-Spec Orchestrator is specifically designed for Claude Code, leveraging Claude's unique capabilities for maximum performance in enterprise software development.

System Architecture

graph TB
    Claude[Claude Code] --> Detector[".claude Folder Detection"]
    Detector --> Loader["Agent System Loader"]
    Loader --> Context["Context Builder"]
    
    Context --> Agents["10 Specialized Agents"]
    Agents --> Rules["Enterprise Rules Engine"]
    Rules --> Thinking["Claude Thinking Optimizer"]
    
    Thinking --> Output["Optimized AI Responses"]
    Output --> Validation["Quality Gates"]
    Validation --> Delivery["Production-Ready Code"]

Installation Integration

Automatic Detection

Claude Code automatically detects and loads the orchestrator when it finds:

your-project/
├── .claude/
│   ├── CLAUDE.md              # Main configuration
│   ├── agents/                # 10 specialized agents
│   │   ├── analyst/
│   │   ├── pm/
│   │   ├── architect/
│   │   ├── developer/
│   │   ├── qa/
│   │   ├── ux-expert/
│   │   ├── bmad-master/
│   │   ├── bmad-orchestrator/
│   │   ├── product-owner/
│   │   └── scrum-master/
│   ├── rules/                 # Enterprise standards
│   ├── data/                  # Knowledge bases
│   ├── templates/             # Document templates
│   ├── tasks/                 # Procedural tasks
│   └── checklists/            # Quality assurance

Configuration File

The main CLAUDE.md file configures the entire system:

# BMAD-Spec Orchestrator System

## Agent Activation Triggers
- Development requests
- Architecture planning
- Quality assurance needs
- User experience design

## Enterprise Rules Integration
All agents follow comprehensive standards from:
- Writing excellence rules
- Code quality standards
- Security requirements
- Design principles

Agent Integration

Agent Loading Process

  1. Detection Phase

    • Claude Code scans .claude/agents/ directory
    • Loads each agent's prompt.md file
    • Parses agent capabilities and specializations
  2. Context Building

    • Integrates enterprise rules from .claude/rules/
    • Loads knowledge bases from .claude/data/
    • Prepares templates and tasks
  3. Optimization Phase

    • Applies Claude thinking triggers
    • Configures quality gates
    • Establishes agent communication protocols

Agent Activation Patterns

Automatic Activation

User: "I need to create a web application for inventory management"

Claude Response:
🎯 BMAD-Spec Orchestrator Activated
📊 Complexity Assessment: Level 6/10 - Medium Enterprise Application
🔄 Recommended Workflow: greenfield-fullstack

Activating Analyst Agent for market research and competitive analysis...

Specific Agent Requests

User: "Activate the Architect agent to design a microservices system"

Claude Response:
🏗️ Architect Agent Activated

*ultrathink* about comprehensive microservices architecture...

Based on enterprise rules and security-first principles, I'll design 
a robust microservices system with:
- API Gateway pattern
- Service mesh architecture  
- Zero-trust security model
- Comprehensive monitoring

Claude Thinking Optimization

Thinking Trigger Hierarchy

The system uses Claude-specific thinking triggers for optimal decision quality:

ultrathink - Critical Decisions

  • Architecture design - System design and technology selection
  • Security analysis - Threat modeling and protection strategies
  • Performance optimization - Scalability and efficiency planning

think harder - Complex Analysis

  • Risk assessment - Technical and business risk evaluation
  • Trade-off analysis - Technology and design decision evaluation
  • Integration planning - System interconnection strategies

think hard - Important Tasks

  • Market research - Competitive analysis and opportunity assessment
  • UX design - User experience and interface planning
  • Quality planning - Testing and validation strategies

think - Standard Reasoning

  • Validation tasks - Verification and consistency checks
  • Documentation - Technical writing and specification creation
  • Implementation - Code generation and development tasks

Performance Optimization

Context Management

  • Structured data passing - Agents share structured context
  • Memory optimization - Efficient information retention
  • Context preservation - No information loss between agents

Parallel Execution

  • UX Expert + Architect - Simultaneous design and architecture work
  • Developer + QA - Concurrent implementation and testing
  • Multiple validation - Parallel quality assurance processes

Enterprise Rules Integration

Rule Categories

The system enforces comprehensive enterprise standards:

Writing Excellence (/rules/writing-excellence.md)

  • Professional, human-like communication
  • No corporate jargon or AI patterns
  • Clear, actionable documentation
  • Consistent terminology across agents

Code Quality (/rules/code-quality.md)

  • 80%+ test coverage requirement
  • Security-first development practices
  • Performance optimization standards
  • Clean code principles

Security Standards (/rules/security.md)

  • Zero-trust architecture principles
  • Comprehensive validation requirements
  • Audit trail maintenance
  • No dangerous permission bypasses

Design Standards (/rules/design-standards.md)

  • WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility compliance
  • Mobile-first responsive design
  • Performance-optimized interfaces
  • User-centered design principles

Rule Application

Each agent automatically integrates rules:

# Example: Developer Agent Integration

## Core Instructions
You are an enterprise Full-Stack Developer focused on production-ready code.

**Enterprise Rules Applied:**
- Code Quality: 80%+ test coverage, security-first practices
- Writing: Professional communication without AI jargon
- Security: Zero-trust principles, comprehensive validation
- Design: Accessibility compliance, performance optimization

**Thinking Optimization:**
- Use `think harder` for complex technical decisions
- Use `think` for implementation and validation tasks

Quality Gates

Validation Layers

Agent-Level Validation

  • Each agent validates its own output against enterprise rules
  • Consistency checks with previous agent work
  • Quality threshold verification

Cross-Agent Validation

  • Agents verify each other's work for consistency
  • Context preservation validation
  • Integration point verification

System-Level Gates

  • Enterprise rule compliance validation
  • Security requirement verification
  • Performance standard checks

Error Recovery

Automatic Retry

  • Failed outputs trigger context improvement
  • Enhanced prompts with failure analysis
  • Iterative improvement until quality gates pass

Context Enhancement

  • Additional context provided on retry
  • Specific failure points addressed
  • Learning integration for future improvements

Advanced Configuration

Custom Agent Development

Create custom agents by adding to .claude/agents/:

custom-agent/
├── prompt.md              # Agent definition and capabilities
├── expertise.md           # Domain-specific knowledge
└── guidelines.md          # Custom operation guidelines

Enterprise Rule Customization

Modify rules in .claude/rules/:

# custom-industry-standards.md

## Industry-Specific Requirements
- Compliance with HIPAA/SOX/GDPR
- Industry-specific security frameworks
- Custom documentation standards
- Domain expertise requirements

Template System Integration

The system uses templates from .claude/templates/:

# custom-template.yaml
template:
  id: "custom-document"
  name: "Custom Enterprise Document"
  version: "1.0.0"
  
workflow:
  interaction_mode: "incremental"
  
sections:
  - id: "executive-summary"
    title: "Executive Summary"
    instruction: "Create comprehensive executive summary following enterprise writing standards"

Troubleshooting Integration

Common Issues

Agents Not Loading

# Check folder structure
ls -la .claude/agents/*/
# Should show prompt.md in each agent directory

Missing Enterprise Rules

# Verify rules directory
ls -la .claude/rules/
# Should show: writing-excellence.md, code-quality.md, security.md, etc.

Context Not Preserving

# Check CLAUDE.md configuration
cat .claude/CLAUDE.md
# Should reference context preservation and agent communication

Performance Issues

Large Context Size

  • Remove unused agents from .claude/agents/
  • Minimize data files in .claude/data/
  • Optimize templates in .claude/templates/

Slow Agent Activation

  • Check for large files in .claude/ subdirectories
  • Optimize agent prompt files
  • Remove unnecessary checklists and tasks

API Reference

Agent Activation API

Direct agent activation through Claude Code:

# Activate specific agent
"Activate the [Agent Name] agent to [specific task]"

# Multi-agent workflow
"I need the Analyst, PM, and Architect agents to collaborate on [project]"

# Complexity-based activation
"Create a [simple/medium/complex] application for [purpose]"

Context Query API

Access system information:

# System status
"Show me the BMAD-Spec Orchestrator system status"

# Agent capabilities
"What can the [Agent Name] agent do?"

# Available templates
"List all available document templates"

# Rule summary
"Summarize the enterprise rules for [category]"

Best Practices

Project Setup

  1. Start with clean project directory
  2. Copy entire .claude folder from repository
  3. Verify all subdirectories are present
  4. Test with simple agent activation

Agent Usage

  1. Use clear, project-oriented language
  2. Specify complexity level when known
  3. Request specific thinking levels for critical decisions
  4. Allow agents to complete full workflows

Maintenance

  1. Keep .claude folder in version control
  2. Update agents periodically from source repository
  3. Customize rules for organization needs
  4. Monitor agent performance and adjust accordingly

Support Resources


Optimized for Claude Code enterprise development