Claude Code Engineering Guide - DSL Version

Modular engineering framework in Claude DSL v0.3 format with MCP server support for Claude Desktop.

Quick Setup

git clone https://github.com/username/claude-code-engineering-guide.git
cd claude-code-engineering-guide
chmod +x setup-claude-dsl.sh
./setup-claude-dsl.sh

Choose your integration method:

1. MCP Server (Recommended) - Auto-load rules on demand, 0 tokens
2. Manual DSL Loading - Copy CLAUDE.md, use 4,404 tokens

MCP Server Benefits

Method	Token Usage	Setup	Real-time Updates
MCP Server	0 tokens	One-time setup	✅ Automatic
Manual DSL	4,404 tokens	Per session	❌ Manual reload
Markdown	7,041 tokens	Per session	❌ Manual reload

Architecture Overview

dsl/
├── entry-point.dsl          # Main orchestrator
├── development.dsl          # Development workflow
├── CLAUDE.md               # Session entry point
├── behavior-rules/         # Claude's operational behaviors
├── coding-rules/           # Code quality and standards
├── design-rules/           # UI/UX and documentation
├── git-rules/              # Git workflow operations
├── security-rules/         # Security requirements
└── validation-rules/       # Correctness verification

mcp-server/                 # MCP server for Claude Desktop
├── mcp-handler.js          # Main MCP handler
├── cli.js                  # Command line interface
└── package.json            # NPM package configuration

Usage

With MCP Server (After Setup)

In Claude Desktop:

• @dsl-rules - List available DSL resources
• @dsl-rules claude.md - Show session instructions
• @dsl-rules security-rules - Show security rules
• /apply-dsl-rules - Apply DSL rules for development
• /security-check web_application - Run security validation

Manual DSL Loading

Follow entry-point.dsl for complete DSL execution.

File Structure Details

Core Files (Always Loaded)

• CLAUDE.md (15 lines) - Mandatory session entry point
• entry-point.dsl (247 lines) - Main DSL orchestrator
• development.dsl (138 lines) - Development workflow

Module Categories

behavior-rules/ (7 files, 312 lines)

Claude's operational behaviors and error handling

coding-rules/ (4 files, 201 lines)

Code quality and development standards

design-rules/ (3 files, 114 lines)

UI/UX standards and documentation

security-rules/ (5 files, 218 lines)

Comprehensive security requirements

validation-rules/ (4 files, 172 lines)

Correctness verification and validation

git-rules/ (2 files, 54 lines)

Git workflow and operations

Support Files

• checklist.dsl (25 lines) - Final verification checklist
• app-types.dsl (62 lines) - Application type definitions
• risk-assessment.dsl (41 lines) - Risk evaluation framework

Key Features

1. MCP Server Integration

• Zero token usage: Rules loaded on-demand
• Real-time updates: File changes apply immediately
• Conditional loading: Task-appropriate rules only

2. Modular Rule System

• Category organization: Clear separation of concerns
• Cross-references: Unified variables prevent duplication
• Extensible architecture: Easy to add new categories

3. Token Efficiency Comparison

Version	Files	Lines	Tokens	Efficiency
MCP Server	30 files	1,573 lines	0 tokens	100% reduction
DSL	30 files	1,573 lines	~4,404 tokens	37% reduction
YAML	30 files	1,473 lines	~5,084 tokens	28% reduction
Markdown	10 files	1,264 lines	~7,041 tokens	Baseline

Manual Installation

If the setup script fails:

MCP Server

cd mcp-server
npm install
npm install -g .

Edit ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "dsl-rules": {
      "command": "claude-dsl",
      "args": ["/absolute/path/to/this/repo/dsl"]
    }
  }
}

Manual DSL

Copy dsl/CLAUDE.md contents and paste into Claude sessions.

Troubleshooting

Setup Script Issues

• Permission denied: chmod +x setup-claude-dsl.sh
• npm errors: Use sudo npm install -g . if needed
• Command not found: Check PATH includes npm global bin

MCP Server Issues

# Test MCP server
claude-dsl /path/to/dsl/folder

# Verify installation
claude-dsl --help

Claude Desktop Issues

1. Restart Claude Desktop after config changes
2. Check config file syntax is valid JSON
3. Verify DSL folder path is absolute

License

MIT License - see LICENSE for details.