Write code. Keep the reasoning.
CDD is a 4-stage development workflow powered by Claude that automatically generates a navigable knowledge tree alongside every feature you build.
You finish a feature. The reasoning behind every decision lives in a chat that's gone, or in your head. Three months later — you remember nothing.
CDD compresses the why behind your code into a hierarchical understanding.json file, navigable via an interactive TUI.
project/
├── .cdd/
│ ├── context.md ← project context (generated once by /cdd-init)
│ └── <feature-name>/
│ ├── spec.md ← what the feature does
│ ├── plan.md ← how to build it
│ └── understanding.json ← navigable knowledge tree
| # | Stage | Output |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spec | What the feature does — no code yet |
| 2 | Plan | Files, functions, technical decisions |
| 3 | Build | Actual implementation |
| 4 | Compress | Knowledge tree, navigable in the TUI |
Add the skills from .claude/commands/ to your project and use:
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
/cdd-init |
Map the codebase once, save context to .cdd/context.md |
/cdd <feature> |
Run the full spec → plan → build → compress flow |
/cdd fix <feature> |
Quick modification to an existing feature |
/cdd-view <feature> |
Open the TUI to navigate understanding.json |
# Install dependencies
uv sync
# Navigate a feature
uv run cdd.py <feature-name>Controls: ↑↓ navigate · Enter expand/collapse · u mark understood · r unmark · q quit
The auth-jwt feature is included as a complete example — JWT authentication with access + refresh tokens, built with CDD from scratch.
- Python 3.12+
- uv
- Claude Code
git clone https://github.com/fiorentinjoao/cdd
cd cdd
uv sync
# Copy skills to your project
cp .claude/commands/cdd*.md /path/to/your/project/.claude/commands/