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Code Foundations

Code Complete-based software engineering skills for Claude Code.

How It Works

DEBUG

User: "X isn't working, use foundations to debug it"
  → code-foundations classifies as DEBUG
  → cc-developer-character checks mindset
  → cc-quality-practices: hypothesis → verify → fix

WRITE

User: "Build feature X with foundations"
  → code-foundations classifies as WRITE
  → cc-construction-prerequisites: requirements check
  → cc-pseudocode-programming: design first
  → CHECKER gates before done

REVIEW

User: "Use foundations to review this code"
  → cc-quality-practices (CHECKER mode)
  → cc-routine-and-class-design (CHECKER mode)
  → Output: violations, warnings, fixes

REFACTOR

User: "Clean this up with foundations"
  → cc-refactoring-guidance: plan steps
  → Execute one change at a time
  → CHECKER gates verify quality preserved

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Skills

Skill	Purpose	Example
code-foundations	Master dispatcher	"use foundations to [anything]"
cc-developer-character	Mindset and discipline	"use dev character to check my approach"
cc-construction-prerequisites	Requirements and planning	"use prereqs to review this plan"
cc-pseudocode-programming	Design routines first	"use pseudocode to design this feature"
cc-quality-practices	Reviews, testing, debugging	"use quality practices to review this code"
cc-routine-and-class-design	High-quality interfaces	"use routine design to review this code"
cc-control-flow-quality	Clean control structures	"use control flow to review this code"
cc-data-organization	Variables, naming, types	"use data org to review this code"
cc-defensive-programming	Error handling	"use defensive programming to review this code"
cc-code-layout-and-style	Formatting and comments	"use layout style to review this code"
cc-refactoring-guidance	Safe refactoring	"use refactoring to clean this up"
cc-integration-practices	Integration and builds	"use integration to review this merge"
cc-performance-tuning	Measure-first optimization	"use perf tuning, this is slow"

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Example

Question:

"The picker text is overflowing into the icons on the right side"

Result:

Step 1: Task Classification
  → DEBUG (signals: "overflowing", visual bug)

Step 2: Developer Character Check ✓

Step 3: Root Cause Analysis
  | Location        | Uses maxWidth? |
  |-----------------|----------------|
  | ResultRow       | ✓ maxWidth set |
  | PickerTextField | ✗ No maxWidth  |

  Root cause: PickerTextField missing the pattern already used elsewhere.

Step 4: Surgical Fix
  → Add maxWidth: "calc(100% - iconSpace)" to PickerTextField
  → Done in 57 seconds

---

Skill Chain

The skills chain together based on task type:

code-foundations (dispatcher)
       │
       ├── DEBUG ──→ cc-developer-character ──→ cc-quality-practices
       │                                              │
       │                                              └── Scientific Method
       │                                                  (hypothesis → verify → fix)
       │
       ├── WRITE ──→ cc-developer-character ──→ cc-construction-prerequisites
       │                                              │
       │                                              └── cc-pseudocode-programming
       │                                                  (design before code)
       │
       ├── REVIEW ─→ cc-quality-practices ──→ cc-routine-and-class-design
       │                                              │
       │                                              └── CHECKER mode
       │                                                  (violations, warnings)
       │
       └── REFACTOR → cc-developer-character ──→ cc-refactoring-guidance
                                                      │
                                                      └── cc-control-flow-quality (CHECKER)
                                                          cc-routine-and-class-design (CHECKER)

---

Installation

# Add marketplace
/plugin marketplace add ryanthedev/rtd-claude-inn

# Install plugin
/plugin install code-foundations@rtd

# Update to latest
/plugin update code-foundations@rtd

---

What do you want to do?

I want to...	Guide	See it in action
Fix a bug	Debugging Guide	Picker Focus Bug
Write new code	Writing Guide	Window Picker Plan
Review code	Reviewing Guide	Picker History Review
Plan a feature	Planning Guide	Window Picker Plan
Refactor code	Refactoring Guide	Tab Indicator Removal

Case Studies

Ranked by how well they demonstrate the skills:

#	Example	Type	Shows
1	Picker History Review ⭐	REVIEW	Multi-skill chaining, 4 violations, 3 warnings
2	Comment Renumbering	REFACTOR	Most concise—systematic table, one change at a time
3	Critical Path Review	OPTIMIZE	Measure-first—correctly decides NOT to optimize
4	Border Cleanup	REFACTOR	CHECKER gates, McCabe complexity
5	Picker Text Overflow	DEBUG	Root cause analysis, pattern matching
6	Tab Indicator Removal	REFACTOR	Discipline recovery, systematic removal
7	Picker Focus Bug	DEBUG	Scientific debugging method
8	Window Picker Plan	PLAN	Phased plan with checkpoints

Source

Based on Code Complete, 2nd Edition by Steve McConnell.