Templates - Claude Code Templates

Templates are pre-configured bundles that install multiple components at once. They provide complete setups for specific use cases, frameworks, or workflows, saving time on initial configuration.

What Are Templates?

Templates are curated collections of components that work together:

Language-specific - Optimized for JavaScript, Python, Go, etc.
Framework-focused - React, Next.js, Django, FastAPI, etc.
Workflow-oriented - Git excellence, security-first, testing-focused
Use-case driven - API development, full-stack apps, microservices

Templates are essentially installation recipes that install multiple agents, commands, hooks, MCPs, and settings in one command.

Template Categories

Language Templates
Framework Templates
Workflow Templates
Use Case Templates

Comprehensive setups for programming languages:

JavaScript/TypeScript

Agents: frontend-developer, backend-developer, fullstack-developer
Commands: setup-testing, setup-linting, ci-pipeline
Hooks: format-javascript-files, eslint-on-save
MCPs: web-fetch, filesystem-access
Settings: allow-npm-commands, use-sonnet

npx claude-code-templates@latest --language javascript-typescript

Python

Agents: python-expert, ml-engineer, api-developer
Commands: setup-pytest, virtual-env-manager
Hooks: format-python-files (Black), run-tests-on-save
MCPs: postgresql-integration, filesystem-access
Settings: allow-pip-commands, use-sonnet

npx claude-code-templates@latest --language python

Go

Agents: go-expert, microservices-architect
Commands: setup-go-testing, module-manager
Hooks: gofmt-on-save, go-vet-on-change
MCPs: database integrations
Settings: allow-go-commands

npx claude-code-templates@latest --language go

Framework-specific configurations:

React + TypeScript

npx claude-code-templates@latest \
  --language javascript-typescript \
  --framework react

Includes:

frontend-developer agent
Component testing commands
ESLint + Prettier hooks
TypeScript configuration
React-specific linting rules

Next.js

npx claude-code-templates@latest \
  --language javascript-typescript \
  --framework nextjs

Includes:

Next.js specialist agent
Vercel deployment commands
API route development tools
Image optimization helpers
Edge function configuration

Django + PostgreSQL

npx claude-code-templates@latest \
  --language python \
  --framework django

Includes:

Django expert agent
Migration management commands
PostgreSQL MCP
Django-specific linting
Settings for database access

Specialized workflows:

Git Excellence

npx claude-code-templates@latest --workflow git-excellence

Includes:

git-expert agent
conventional-commits command
commit-msg-validator hook
branch-strategy command
changelog-generator command
Git operation permissions

Security First

npx claude-code-templates@latest --workflow security-first

Includes:

security-auditor agent
vulnerability-scan command
secret-scanner hook
dependency-audit command
Read-only mode settings
Security-focused permissions

Testing Excellence

npx claude-code-templates@latest --workflow testing-excellence

Includes:

qa-expert agent
setup-testing command
run-tests-on-change hook
coverage-reporter command
Test execution permissions

Complete setups for specific use cases:

API Development

npx claude-code-templates@latest --use-case api-development

Includes:

api-developer agent
api-security-audit agent
api-docs command
postgresql-integration MCP
API testing commands
Rate limiting configuration

Full-Stack Application

npx claude-code-templates@latest --use-case fullstack-app

Includes:

frontend-developer agent
backend-developer agent
database specialist agent
Full CI/CD pipeline
Database MCPs
Comprehensive permissions

Microservices

npx claude-code-templates@latest --use-case microservices

Includes:

microservices-architect agent
docker-deploy command
kubernetes-deploy command
Service mesh configuration
Container orchestration tools

Interactive Template Selection

Use interactive mode for guided template selection:

npx claude-code-templates@latest

Choose Language

Select your primary programming language:

Common (language-agnostic)
JavaScript/TypeScript
Python
Go
Rust
Java

Choose Framework

Select your framework (optional):

None
React
Next.js
Vue.js
Django
FastAPI

Select Agents

Choose AI specialists for your project:

frontend-developer
backend-developer
devops-engineer
security-auditor

Select Hooks

Choose automation hooks:

format-on-save
run-tests-on-change
git-commit-formatter

Select MCPs

Choose service integrations:

web-fetch
postgresql-integration
github-integration

Confirm & Install

Review selections and confirm installation.

Template Installation

Auto-Detection Mode

Claude Code automatically detects your project type:

cd my-react-app
npx claude-code-templates@latest --yes

Detection logic:

Checks package.json for React/Next.js/etc.
Looks for requirements.txt or pyproject.toml for Python
Finds go.mod for Go projects
Detects framework from dependencies

Installs appropriate template automatically.

Manual Template Selection

# Specific language
npx claude-code-templates@latest --language python

# Language + Framework
npx claude-code-templates@latest \
  --language javascript-typescript \
  --framework nextjs

# With custom agents
npx claude-code-templates@latest \
  --language python \
  --agent ml-engineer \
  --agent data-scientist

Dry Run Mode

Preview what will be installed:

npx claude-code-templates@latest \
  --language javascript-typescript \
  --framework react \
  --dry-run

Shows list of files that would be created without actually installing.

Template Components

Language: JavaScript/TypeScript

Default Installation:

Agents:
  - frontend-developer
  - backend-developer
  - fullstack-developer

Commands:
  - setup-testing
  - setup-linting
  - ci-pipeline

Hooks:
  - format-javascript-files
  - eslint-on-save

MCPs:
  - web-fetch
  - filesystem-access

Settings:
  - allow-npm-commands
  - use-sonnet

Files Created:

.claude/
├── agents/
│   ├── frontend-developer.md
│   ├── backend-developer.md
│   └── fullstack-developer.md
├── commands/
│   ├── setup-testing.md
│   ├── setup-linting.md
│   └── ci-pipeline.md
├── settings.json
└── settings.local.json
.mcp.json

Language: Python

Default Installation:

Agents:
  - python-expert
  - api-developer
  - ml-engineer

Commands:
  - setup-pytest
  - virtual-env-manager
  - requirements-updater

Hooks:
  - format-python-files (Black)
  - run-tests-on-save

MCPs:
  - postgresql-integration
  - filesystem-access

Settings:
  - allow-pip-commands
  - use-sonnet

Customizing Templates

After installation, customize components:

Add More Components

# Add additional agent
npx claude-code-templates@latest --agent security-auditor

# Add MCP integration
npx claude-code-templates@latest --mcp github-integration

# Add automation hook
npx claude-code-templates@latest --hook git/commit-validator

New components merge with existing configuration.

Modify Settings

Edit .claude/settings.json or .claude/settings.local.json:

code .claude/settings.json

Change permissions, add environment variables, or configure hooks.

Remove Components

Delete unwanted component files:

# Remove agent
rm .claude/agents/unwanted-agent.md

# Remove command
rm .claude/commands/unwanted-command.md

Template Best Practices

1. Start with Base Template

Install language/framework template first:

npx claude-code-templates@latest --language python --framework django

Then add specialized components:

npx claude-code-templates@latest --agent security-auditor

2. Separate Team vs Personal Settings

Commit to git (team settings):

.claude/agents/
.claude/commands/
.claude/settings.json
.mcp.json

Don’t commit (personal settings):

.claude/settings.local.json

3. Document Your Template

Create CLAUDE.md in your project:

# Claude Code Setup

## Installed Components

- **Agents**: frontend-developer, backend-developer
- **Commands**: ci-pipeline, setup-testing
- **Hooks**: format-on-save, run-tests
- **MCPs**: web-fetch, postgresql-integration

## Usage

Invoke agents: `@frontend-developer Build the dashboard`
Run commands: `/ci-pipeline setup`

4. Version Control Template Configuration

Commit .claude/ directory:

git add .claude/
git commit -m "Add Claude Code template configuration"

Team members get the same setup when they clone.

Template Migration

Update to newer template versions:

# Re-run installation
npx claude-code-templates@latest --language javascript-typescript

CLI merges new components with existing ones, prompting for conflicts.

Creating Custom Templates

Share your template configuration:

1. Export Current Setup

Your .claude/ directory IS your template:

# Package template
tar -czf my-template.tar.gz .claude/ .mcp.json

# Share with team
cp my-template.tar.gz /shared/drive/

2. Install from Archive

# Extract template
tar -xzf my-template.tar.gz

# Components are ready to use

3. Publish Template Workflow

Create workflow hash for easy sharing:

# Create workflow YAML
cat > my-workflow.yml <<EOF
agents:
  - frontend-developer
  - backend-developer
commands:
  - ci-pipeline
hooks:
  - format-on-save
mcps:
  - web-fetch
EOF

# Install from workflow
npx claude-code-templates@latest --workflow my-workflow.yml

For detailed workflow creation, see Workflows Guide.

Common Template Use Cases

Startup MVP

npx claude-code-templates@latest \
  --language javascript-typescript \
  --framework nextjs \
  --agent fullstack-developer \
  --mcp web-fetch \
  --mcp supabase

Result: Full-stack Next.js setup with database and API integration.

Enterprise API

npx claude-code-templates@latest \
  --language python \
  --framework fastapi \
  --agent api-developer \
  --agent security-auditor \
  --mcp postgresql-integration \
  --setting read-only-mode

Result: Secure API development environment with database access.

Data Science Project

npx claude-code-templates@latest \
  --language python \
  --agent ml-engineer \
  --agent data-scientist \
  --mcp postgresql-integration \
  --command data-pipeline

Result: ML/data science environment with database integration.

Open Source Project

npx claude-code-templates@latest \
  --workflow git-excellence \
  --agent documentation-expert \
  --command changelog-generator \
  --mcp github-integration

Result: Git workflow automation with documentation and GitHub integration.

Template Limitations

Not Supported

Custom file templates (React components, etc.)
Project scaffolding (create-react-app, etc.)
Package installation (npm install, pip install)
Code generation

Workarounds

Use commands for custom workflows:

# Create command that scaffolds components
npx claude-code-templates@latest --command scaffold-react-component

# Use in Claude Code
/scaffold-react-component Button

Health Check

Verify template installation:

npx claude-code-templates@latest --health

Checks:

.claude/ directory exists
Agents are valid markdown
Commands are valid markdown
Settings are valid JSON
MCP configuration is valid
Hooks are properly configured

Run health check after template installation to catch configuration issues early.

Next Steps

Install Template

Get started with a template

Browse Components

Explore individual components

Create Workflows

Bundle components into workflows

Interactive Mode

Use guided template selection

​What Are Templates?

​Template Categories

​JavaScript/TypeScript

​Python

​Go

​React + TypeScript

​Next.js

​Django + PostgreSQL

​Git Excellence

​Security First

​Testing Excellence

​API Development

​Full-Stack Application

​Microservices

​Interactive Template Selection

​Template Installation

​Auto-Detection Mode

​Manual Template Selection

​Dry Run Mode

​Template Components

​Language: JavaScript/TypeScript

​Language: Python

​Customizing Templates

​Add More Components

​Modify Settings

​Remove Components

​Template Best Practices

​1. Start with Base Template

​2. Separate Team vs Personal Settings

​3. Document Your Template

​4. Version Control Template Configuration

​Template Migration

​Creating Custom Templates

​1. Export Current Setup

​2. Install from Archive

​3. Publish Template Workflow

​Common Template Use Cases

​Startup MVP

​Enterprise API

​Data Science Project

​Open Source Project

​Template Limitations

​Not Supported

​Workarounds

​Health Check

​Next Steps

Install Template

Browse Components

Create Workflows

Interactive Mode

What Are Templates?

Template Categories

JavaScript/TypeScript

Python

Go

React + TypeScript

Next.js

Django + PostgreSQL

Git Excellence

Security First

Testing Excellence

API Development

Full-Stack Application

Microservices

Interactive Template Selection

Template Installation

Auto-Detection Mode

Manual Template Selection

Dry Run Mode

Template Components

Language: JavaScript/TypeScript

Language: Python

Customizing Templates

Add More Components

Modify Settings

Remove Components

Template Best Practices

1. Start with Base Template

2. Separate Team vs Personal Settings

3. Document Your Template

4. Version Control Template Configuration

Template Migration

Creating Custom Templates

1. Export Current Setup

2. Install from Archive

3. Publish Template Workflow

Common Template Use Cases

Startup MVP

Enterprise API

Data Science Project

Open Source Project

Template Limitations

Not Supported

Workarounds

Health Check

Next Steps