Claude Code Templates explained: configuration catalog, not a model runtime
Build a configuration manifest for Claude Code Templates
Track provenance and file changes without executing the installed instructions.
What you will learn
- Start with a passive inventory
- Test drift and ambiguity
- Connect to a supervised trial
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
- The manifest is a proposed extension.
- Hashes identify bytes, not safety.
- Successful installation does not imply review.
Start with a passive inventory
Create a local manifest containing component ID, installer version, source revision, file path and content hash. Use synthetic files first and never interpret their text as executable commands.
This is a proposed learning project, not a built-in feature claimed from the inspected source. Its purpose is to make configuration review and rollback inspectable.
Test drift and ambiguity
Detect a changed file, an unknown source revision and two components targeting the same destination. Show those cases as review required rather than silently selecting a winner.
Keep secrets out of the manifest; hash configuration content and record redacted metadata only where appropriate. A hash proves identity of bytes, not that the instructions are safe.
Connect to a supervised trial
After the inventory tests pass, compare one disposable installation with its reviewed baseline. Display the exact changed paths and require human approval before those files are used by the host.
The acceptance case is an unreviewed update that remains blocked despite a successful installer exit. Automatic updates, host execution and remote dashboards are outside the first exercise.
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
Inventory synthetic configuration files.
- 2
Test drift, unknown provenance and collisions.
- 3
Require review before host consumption.
Copy-ready example
{"component":"fixture-agent","installer":"1.29.6","source_revision":"unknown","review":"required","host_execution":false}Frequently asked questions
Must this exercise call Claude?
No. Passive file fixtures are enough.
What should the demonstration prove?
An unreviewed change remains pending even after a successful installer result.
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/src/index.jsSource checked 2026-09-23