Claude Code Workflow Visual Details Memory Hierarchy and Skills System

Claude Code Workflow Components

A Reddit user shared a visual diagram that clarifies how Claude Code organizes its workflow. The diagram covers several key components: Claude MD files, memory hierarchy, skills, hooks, project structure, and the workflow loop.

Memory Hierarchy Details

The source clarifies how Claude loads context through a layered memory system:

• ~/.claude/CLAUDE.md → Global memory
• /CLAUDE.md → Repository context
• ./subfolder/CLAUDE.md → Scoped context

Subfolders append context rather than replacing it, which can cause sessions to feel "overloaded" if these files become too large.

Skills System

Instead of repeating prompts, Claude Code allows defining reusable patterns as skills. These are stored in specific directories:

• .claude/skills/testing/SKILL.md
• .claude/skills/code-review/SKILL.md

Claude automatically invokes these skills when their descriptions match the current task.

Suggested Workflow Loop

The visual suggests this operational sequence:

1. cd project && claude
2. Plan mode
3. Describe feature
4. Auto accept / compact
5. Commit frequently

The Reddit user notes that while individual components aren't groundbreaking, seeing them integrated in one diagram helps understand the system. The ecosystem is still evolving, with users experimenting with different approaches to organizing CLAUDE.md files, skills, and hooks.