Claude Code Templates explained: configuration catalog, not a model runtime
Claude Code Templates quickstart: install one reviewed component
Use an isolated repository and compare the file diff before starting the coding assistant.
What you will learn
- Prepare the target deliberately
- Avoid treating convenience flags as safety
- Review before invoking the host
Before you start
- Basic npm and Git knowledge
- Disposable project and preserved configuration
Track provenance and file changes without executing the installed instructions.
Key takeaways
- Current directory is the default target.
- --yes removes review prompts.
- Dry-run is not proven globally side-effect-free.
Prepare the target deliberately
Use a disposable project and save its initial Git state. The CLI exposes --directory and otherwise uses the current directory. An accidental working directory can therefore send configuration into the wrong project.
Inspect the chosen component in the fixed repository before running the installer. Start with one review-oriented agent, without hooks, MCP or a post-install prompt, so the first change has a small review surface.
Avoid treating convenience flags as safety
The README commonly uses --yes, which skips prompts and accepts defaults. Omit it for the initial supervised trial and review every proposed file change. Record the actual package version used.
The code advertises --dry-run, but its placement does not establish a universal no-write guarantee: selected agents may be installed before that branch. Use a disposable directory even when evaluating dry-run behavior.
Review before invoking the host
After installation inspect created and modified files, component instructions and any tool requests. Only then start the intended host in the sample project and run a bounded task with its own approval controls.
This article did not execute the installer or Claude Code. If the installed files differ from the reviewed capture, inspect that difference rather than assuming the package pin fixes all remote component content.
Decision guide
| Criterion | Option A | Option B |
|---|---|---|
| Best when | You need predictable behavior and easy auditing | You need adaptive optimization and have reliable telemetry |
| Main risk | May leave performance on the table | Can become difficult to explain or debug |
Implementation steps
- 1
Preserve a disposable repository baseline.
- 2
Inspect one component and target directory.
- 3
Review file changes before host execution.
Copy-ready example
npx claude-code-templates@1.29.6 --agent development-tools/code-reviewer --directory ./trial-project
git -C ./trial-project status --short
git -C ./trial-project diffFrequently asked questions
Can I try this in my only working copy?
Prefer a disposable project and preserve existing configuration.
Was this exact installation tested?
No. The command is a source-grounded example for a supervised trial.
Sources
- Claude Code Templates / README.mdSource checked 2026-09-23
- Claude Code Templates / cli-tool/package.jsonSource checked 2026-09-23
- Claude Code Templates / cli-tool/bin/create-claude-config.jsSource checked 2026-09-23
- Claude Code Templates / cli-tool/src/index.jsSource checked 2026-09-23