Claude Workflow Introduction
Introduction
The Claude Workflow system is an optional agent-based development approach that uses Claude Code to organize and execute development tasks through specialized AI agents. This system provides a structured workflow for feature development, from requirements definition to code review, with optional project management integration.
Key Point: This is one possible way to organize development with AI assistance. Every developer and team can adapt, simplify, or completely replace this approach based on their needs and preferences.
What is Claude Workflow?
Claude Workflow is a development methodology that uses:
- Specialized Agents - AI assistants with specific roles (PM, architect, developers, QA, reviewer)
- Session-Based Task Management - Organized folders tracking each feature's complete lifecycle
- Phased Development - Structured approach from planning through code review
- Optional ClickUp Integration - Project management tool for task tracking (can be replaced)
- Local Progress Tracking - Markdown files for development progress
When to Use This Workflow
Good Use Cases
✅ Team Development
- Multiple developers working on the same codebase
- Need clear handoffs between development phases
- Want documented decision history
✅ Complex Features
- Features spanning backend, frontend, and database
- Require detailed planning and coordination
- Need structured QA and code review processes
✅ Learning and Documentation
- Want AI assistance with technical planning
- Need detailed implementation guidance
- Building knowledge base of architectural decisions
✅ Quality-Focused Projects
- Systematic QA testing required
- Code review before merging
- Complete audit trail desired
When Traditional Development Might Be Better
❌ Simple Tasks
- Quick bug fixes or minor tweaks
- Single-file changes
- Hotfixes
❌ Solo Experimentation
- Rapid prototyping
- Exploring ideas quickly
- Personal learning projects
❌ Tight Deadlines
- No time for planning phases
- Need immediate implementation
- Minimal documentation acceptable
Key Concepts
1. Agents
Specialized AI assistants with defined roles:
- Product Manager - Defines business requirements and acceptance criteria
- Architecture Supervisor - Creates technical implementation plans
- Developers (Frontend/Backend/Plugin) - Implement features following the plan
- QA Tester - Validates functionality and creates bug reports
- Code Reviewer - Reviews code quality, security, and best practices
- Documentation Writer - Creates and updates documentation
Customization: You can create your own agents, modify existing ones, or skip agents you don't need.
2. Sessions
A session is a dedicated folder containing all artifacts for a feature:
.claude/sessions/user-profile-edit/
├── clickup_task_user_profile_edit.md # Business requirements
├── plan_user_profile_edit.md # Technical implementation plan
├── progress_user_profile_edit.md # Development progress tracking
└── context_user_profile_edit.md # Agent coordination log
Benefits:
- Complete history in one location
- Git-trackable decisions
- Clear progress visibility
- Easy handoffs between agents
3. Commands
Pre-defined workflows that orchestrate multiple agents:
/init-task- Initialize new task with PM and architect/execute-task- Execute development following session plan/document-feature- Generate feature documentation/scope-change- Handle scope changes mid-development
Customization: Create your own commands for common workflows.
4. Workflow Phases
Structured development approach:
- Requirements (PM) - Define what and why
- Planning (Architect) - Define how
- Implementation (Developers) - Build it
- QA Testing (QA) - Validate it
- Code Review (Reviewer) - Approve it
Customization: Simplify to 2-3 phases or add additional phases as needed.
Optional vs Required Components
Optional (Can Be Removed/Replaced)
- ✅ ClickUp Integration - Use GitHub Issues, Linear, Jira, or nothing
- ✅ All Agents - Use only the agents you need
- ✅ Commands - Work directly with agents or create custom commands
- ✅ Specific Phases - Simplify or restructure the workflow
Core Concepts (Recommended to Keep)
- ✅ Sessions - Organized task tracking (even without agents)
- ✅ Progress Files - Local progress tracking
- ✅ Context Files - Decision documentation
Bottom Line: Take what works for you, adapt or remove the rest.
Requirements
Required
- Claude Code - AI-powered code editor (Cursor, Windsurf, etc.)
- SaaS Boilerplate - This project as base
Optional
- ClickUp Account - For project management integration
- ClickUp MCP - Model Context Protocol for ClickUp integration
- Team Members - Workflow works for solo or team development
Benefits
With This Workflow
✅ Structured Planning - Technical plans before implementation ✅ Progress Visibility - Clear tracking of what's done ✅ Quality Gates - QA and code review phases ✅ Decision History - Complete audit trail in session files ✅ Team Coordination - Clear handoffs via context files ✅ AI Assistance - Specialized agents for each phase
Traditional Development
✅ Faster for Simple Tasks - No planning overhead ✅ More Flexible - No structure to follow ✅ Simpler Setup - No configuration needed ✅ Familiar - Standard development workflow
Choose based on your project needs.
Quick Start
1. Explore Configuration
See Configuration for setup details.
2. Understand Agents
Review Agents to learn about available agents.
3. Learn the Workflow
Read Development Workflow for the complete process.
4. Try a Session
Follow Sessions to create your first session.
5. Customize
Adapt the system using Customization guide.
Alternative Approaches
This workflow is one option among many:
Minimal Agent Workflow
- Use only architect agent for technical planning
- Skip PM, QA, and code review agents
- Manual implementation without commands
No-Agent Workflow
- Use session structure without agents
- Manual planning and progress tracking
- Sessions as organizational tool only
Tool-Specific Workflows
- GitHub Projects instead of ClickUp
- Linear or Jira integration
- Notion for documentation
Hybrid Approach
- Use agents for complex features
- Traditional development for simple tasks
- Mix based on feature complexity
Philosophy
"Use what helps, skip what doesn't"
This workflow evolved from real project needs, but your needs may differ. The system is designed to be:
- Modular - Use parts independently
- Flexible - Adapt to your workflow
- Optional - Traditional development still works
- Extensible - Add your own agents and commands
Next Steps
- Configuration - Set up the workflow system
- Agents - Learn about specialized agents
- Development Workflow - Understand the complete process
- Customization - Adapt to your needs