feat(syntax): adopt import syntax for modular file references

Replace markdown links with @path/to/file Import syntax across:
- global/CLAUDE.md and project/CLAUDE.md
- All SKILL.md files in project/.claude/skills/ and plugin/skills/

Import syntax provides:
- More intuitive file references
- Up to 5 levels of recursive imports
- Support for relative and absolute paths

Closes #61

Author: kcenon

README.md

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # Claude Configuration Backup & Deployment System
 
 <p align="center">
-  <a href="https://github.com/kcenon/claude-config/releases"><img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/version-1.3.0-blue.svg" alt="Version"></a>
+  <a href="https://github.com/kcenon/claude-config/releases"><img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/version-1.4.0-blue.svg" alt="Version"></a>
   <a href="LICENSE"><img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/license-BSD--3--Clause-green.svg" alt="License"></a>
   <a href="https://github.com/kcenon/claude-config/actions/workflows/validate-skills.yml"><img src="https://github.com/kcenon/claude-config/actions/workflows/validate-skills.yml/badge.svg" alt="CI"></a>
 </p>
@@ -448,11 +448,12 @@ This configuration includes Claude Code Skills for auto-discovery of guidelines
 
 ### Progressive Disclosure Pattern
 
-Skills use the Progressive Disclosure pattern for token efficiency:
+Skills use the Progressive Disclosure pattern with Import syntax for token efficiency:
 
 1. **SKILL.md**: Contains only essential information (~50 lines)
 2. **reference/**: Symlinks to detailed guideline files
-3. **On-Demand loading**: Claude reads reference files only when necessary
+3. **Import Syntax**: Use `@path/to/file` for on-demand loading (supports up to 5 levels deep)
+4. **On-Demand loading**: Claude reads reference files only when necessary
 
 ```
 skills/coding-guidelines/
@@ -468,6 +469,24 @@ skills/coding-guidelines/
 - Initial load tokens: ~5000 → ~1000 (80% reduction)
 - 1-level deep references for reliable loading
 - Simplified path maintenance
+- Import syntax provides intuitive file references
+
+### Import Syntax
+
+The `@path/to/file` Import syntax (introduced in v1.4.0) provides:
+- More intuitive file references than traditional markdown links
+- Support for up to 5 levels of recursive Import
+- Both relative and absolute path support
+- Automatic ignoring within code blocks
+
+**Example:**
+```markdown
+# CLAUDE.md
+## Core Guidelines
+@claude-guidelines/environment.md
+@claude-guidelines/workflow.md
+@claude-guidelines/coding-standards/general.md
+```
 
 ### Skill Structure
 
@@ -484,8 +503,8 @@ allowed-tools: Read, Grep, Glob  # Optional: restrict tools
 - Use case 1
 - Use case 2
 
-## Quick Reference
-- [Link to guideline](reference/guideline.md)
+## Reference Documents (Import Syntax)
+@reference/guideline.md
 ```
 
 </details>
@@ -825,11 +844,18 @@ curl -sSL -H "Authorization: token YOUR_TOKEN" \
 
 ## Version
 
-- **Version**: 1.3.0
-- **Last Updated**: 2026-01-15
+- **Version**: 1.4.0
+- **Last Updated**: 2026-01-22
 
 ### Changelog
 
+#### v1.4.0 (2026-01-22)
+- Adopted Import syntax (`@path/to/file`) for modular references
+  - Replaced markdown links with Import syntax for better token efficiency
+  - Supports recursive imports up to 5 levels deep
+- Updated all CLAUDE.md files (global and project) to use Import syntax
+- Updated all SKILL.md files to use Import syntax for reference documents
+
 #### v1.3.0 (2026-01-15)
 - Added `/release` command for automated changelog generation
 - Added `/branch-cleanup` command for merged and stale branches

global/CLAUDE.md

@@ -2,16 +2,15 @@
 
 This is the global configuration for all Claude Code sessions. These settings apply across all projects unless overridden by project-specific `CLAUDE.md` files.
 
-## Configuration Modules
+## Configuration Modules (Import Syntax)
 
-The configuration is organized into focused modules for better token efficiency:
+The configuration is organized into focused modules using `@path/to/file` Import syntax:
 
 ### Core Settings
-
-- **[Token Management](token-management.md)** - Token usage display, cost tracking, and optimization strategies
-- **[Conversation Language](conversation-language.md)** - Input/output language preferences and translation policies
-- **[Git Identity](git-identity.md)** - User information for git commits
-- **[Commit Settings](commit-settings.md)** - Commit and PR attribution policy (no Claude references)
+@token-management.md
+@conversation-language.md
+@git-identity.md
+@commit-settings.md
 
 ## Priority Rules
 
@@ -51,6 +50,9 @@ To modify these settings:
 
 ## Version History
 
+- **1.3.0** (2026-01-22): Adopted Import syntax (`@path/to/file`) for modular references
+  - Replaced markdown links with Import syntax
+  - Supports recursive imports up to 5 levels deep
 - **1.2.0** (2026-01-15): CLAUDE.md optimization for official best practices compliance
   - Simplified project/CLAUDE.md (212 → ~85 lines)
   - Added emphasis expressions for key rules
@@ -62,5 +64,5 @@ To modify these settings:
 
 ---
 
-*Last updated: 2026-01-15*
-*Version: 1.2.0*
+*Last updated: 2026-01-22*
+*Version: 1.3.0*

plugin/skills/api-design/SKILL.md

@@ -13,20 +13,17 @@ description: Provides API design guidelines for REST, GraphQL, versioning, loggi
 - Implementing rate limiting or authentication
 - Code review for API endpoints
 
-## Quick Reference
+## Reference Documents (Import Syntax)
 
 ### API Design
-
-- [API Design](reference/api-design.md)
+@reference/api-design.md
 
 ### Architecture
-
-- [Architecture and Design](reference/architecture.md)
+@reference/architecture.md
 
 ### Observability
-
-- [Logging Standards](reference/logging.md)
-- [Observability](reference/observability.md)
+@reference/logging.md
+@reference/observability.md
 
 ## Core Principles
 

plugin/skills/coding-guidelines/SKILL.md

@@ -12,22 +12,19 @@ description: Provides comprehensive coding standards for quality, naming convent
 - Bug fixes requiring code changes
 - Refactoring tasks
 
-## Quick Reference
+## Reference Documents (Import Syntax)
 
 ### Core Standards
-
-- [General Coding Standards](reference/general.md)
-- [Code Quality](reference/quality.md)
+@reference/general.md
+@reference/quality.md
 
 ### Error & Safety
-
-- [Error Handling](reference/error-handling.md)
-- [Memory Management](reference/memory.md)
+@reference/error-handling.md
+@reference/memory.md
 
 ### Performance
-
-- [Concurrency](reference/concurrency.md)
-- [Performance](reference/performance.md)
+@reference/concurrency.md
+@reference/performance.md
 
 ## Core Principles
 

plugin/skills/documentation/SKILL.md

@@ -14,19 +14,16 @@ description: Provides documentation standards for README, API docs, code comment
 - Cleaning up and organizing project files
 - Setting up linting and formatting tools
 
-## Quick Reference
+## Reference Documents (Import Syntax)
 
 ### Documentation Standards
-
-- [Documentation Standards](reference/documentation.md)
+@reference/documentation.md
 
 ### Language Conventions
-
-- [Code and Documentation Language](reference/communication.md)
+@reference/communication.md
 
 ### Project Cleanup
-
-- [Cleanup and Finalization](reference/cleanup.md)
+@reference/cleanup.md
 
 ## Core Principles
 

plugin/skills/performance-review/SKILL.md

@@ -45,12 +45,11 @@ Profiling → Identify bottlenecks → Optimize → Verify
 - [ ] Cache invalidation policy
 - [ ] Cache hit rate monitoring
 
-## Reference
-
-- [Performance Guidelines](reference/performance.md)
-- [Memory Management](reference/memory.md)
-- [Concurrency](reference/concurrency.md)
-- [Monitoring](reference/monitoring.md)
+## Reference Documents (Import Syntax)
+@reference/performance.md
+@reference/memory.md
+@reference/concurrency.md
+@reference/monitoring.md
 
 ## Caution
 

plugin/skills/project-workflow/SKILL.md

@@ -13,26 +13,23 @@ description: Provides workflow guidelines for problem-solving, git commits, GitH
 - Managing builds and dependencies
 - Setting up testing infrastructure
 
-## Quick Reference
+## Reference Documents (Import Syntax)
 
 ### Workflow
-
-- [Workflow Guidelines](reference/workflow.md)
-- [Question Handling](reference/question-handling.md)
-- [Problem Solving](reference/workflow-problem-solving.md)
-- [Performance Analysis](reference/performance-analysis.md)
+@reference/workflow.md
+@reference/question-handling.md
+@reference/workflow-problem-solving.md
+@reference/performance-analysis.md
 
 ### GitHub
-
-- [GitHub Issue Guidelines (5W1H)](reference/github-issue-5w1h.md)
-- [GitHub PR Guidelines (5W1H)](reference/github-pr-5w1h.md)
-- [Git Commit Format](reference/git-commit-format.md)
+@reference/github-issue-5w1h.md
+@reference/github-pr-5w1h.md
+@reference/git-commit-format.md
 
 ### Project Management
-
-- [Problem-Solving Principles](reference/problem-solving.md)
-- [Build and Dependency Management](reference/build.md)
-- [Testing Strategy](reference/testing.md)
+@reference/problem-solving.md
+@reference/build.md
+@reference/testing.md
 
 ## Core Principles
 

plugin/skills/security-audit/SKILL.md

@@ -34,11 +34,10 @@ allowed-tools: Read, Grep, Glob
 - [ ] Permission verification
 - [ ] Resource access control
 
-## Reference
-
-- [Security Guidelines](reference/security.md)
-- [Error Handling (Security)](reference/error-handling.md)
-- [API Security](reference/api-design.md)
+## Reference Documents (Import Syntax)
+@reference/security.md
+@reference/error-handling.md
+@reference/api-design.md
 
 ## OWASP Top 10 Reference
 

project/.claude/skills/api-design/SKILL.md

@@ -21,20 +21,17 @@ model: sonnet
 - Implementing rate limiting or authentication
 - Code review for API endpoints
 
-## Quick Reference
+## Reference Documents (Import Syntax)
 
 ### API Design
-
-- [API Design](reference/api-design.md)
+@reference/api-design.md
 
 ### Architecture
-
-- [Architecture and Design](reference/architecture.md)
+@reference/architecture.md
 
 ### Observability
-
-- [Logging Standards](reference/logging.md)
-- [Observability](reference/observability.md)
+@reference/logging.md
+@reference/observability.md
 
 ## Core Principles
 

project/.claude/skills/coding-guidelines/SKILL.md

@@ -19,22 +19,19 @@ model: sonnet
 - Bug fixes requiring code changes
 - Refactoring tasks
 
-## Quick Reference
+## Reference Documents (Import Syntax)
 
 ### Core Standards
-
-- [General Coding Standards](reference/general.md)
-- [Code Quality](reference/quality.md)
+@reference/general.md
+@reference/quality.md
 
 ### Error & Safety
-
-- [Error Handling](reference/error-handling.md)
-- [Memory Management](reference/memory.md)
+@reference/error-handling.md
+@reference/memory.md
 
 ### Performance
-
-- [Concurrency](reference/concurrency.md)
-- [Performance](reference/performance.md)
+@reference/concurrency.md
+@reference/performance.md
 
 ## Core Principles