Using Claude Code Across Multiple Repositories

The article discusses strategies for using the Claude Code AI assistant effectively when working across multiple code repositories, such as a frontend, backend, and shared library.

Details

The core problem is that Claude Code, an AI-powered code assistant, does not have persistent memory across sessions or repositories. When switching between projects, it loses the context and conventions from the previous repo, leading to challenges when working on shared types, coordinated changes, and migrations that span multiple codebases. To address this, the article suggests three solutions: 1. The 'shared CLAUDE.md strategy' - Create a CLAUDE.md file in each repository that cross-references the other related repos, documenting shared types, API conventions, and other important context. 2. The 'context handoff file' - Maintain a CONTEXT.md file at the workspace root that captures the current task, status, and constraints, allowing Claude Code to pick up where the developer left off. 3. 'Parallel instances with clear boundaries' - Run separate Claude Code instances for the backend and frontend, each with a single responsibility, to avoid context switching issues. These strategies help developers using Claude Code maintain context and consistency when working across multiple repositories, improving productivity and collaboration.