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Running Document

The current project state for Claude or Cowork. Keep this authoritative, current, and easy for the AI to load.

This is your continuity artefact. Modern Claude workflows may include project files, memory, uploaded documents, connectors, or Cowork folders. Those features help Claude access context, but this document defines the current authoritative state.

Claude does not need this pasted every time if it can already access the current file. Claude does need to confirm it is using the current version before important work.

Context check prompt:

"Use the current RUNNING-DOCUMENT.md as the authoritative project state. Confirm the current goal, active rules, and next action before we begin."

Document Control

Last updated: [DATE]
Current version: [VERSION]
Status: Active / Draft / Needs review
Where Claude can access this: [Claude Project / Cowork folder / shared doc / pasted context / other]

Human Profile

Give Claude the context it should not have to infer.

Name: [Your name]
Background: [Professional/personal context relevant to this work]
Technical level: [Non-technical / some technical / technical]
How I work best: [Direct feedback, short responses, structured options, etc.]
Constraints: [Time, tools, risk boundaries, accessibility needs]
Current objective: [What you are trying to achieve]

Active Work

Project / Workstream Status Priority Next action Authoritative files
[Name] Active / Paused / Waiting High / Medium / Low [What needs doing] [File or folder]

Rules Claude Must Follow

These rules override convenience, memory, and inference.

  1. [e.g., "Direct answer first. Context second."]
  2. [e.g., "Label fact vs inference vs speculation."]
  3. [e.g., "Do not use numbers unless they are in CANONICAL-NUMBERS.md or explicitly provided."]
  4. [e.g., "Challenge weak reasoning before helping execute it."]
  5. [e.g., "Ask one clarifying question only when truly blocking."]

Mode Commands

Command What it does
"Just answer." One sentence or direct answer only
"Simplify." Plain language, no jargon
"Proceed." Start the work now
"Stop." Halt current action
"Truth check." Separate fact, inference, uncertainty, and honest assessment
"Source check." Identify which files/sources support the answer
[Add your own]

Current Project State

The concise truth Claude should use before acting.

Current goal: [Goal]
Current phase: [Phase]
What is already decided: [Summary]
What is not decided: [Summary]
What must not change without approval: [Boundaries]

Decisions Log

Date Decision Rationale Status
[DATE] [What was decided] [Why] Active / Superseded

Corrections Log

When Claude or the workflow gets something wrong, log it if it may recur.

Date What went wrong Correction Prevention rule
[DATE] [Error] [Fix] [Rule]

Open Questions

  • [Question — why it matters]
  • [Question — why it matters]

Active Ideas

Not decisions yet. Useful context Claude should preserve without treating as final.

  • [Idea and brief context]
  • [Idea and brief context]

Files In Play

This prevents Claude from using stale or non-authoritative files.

File / Location Status Purpose Notes
[filename or folder] Active / Frozen / Deprecated [Purpose] [Notes]

Native Claude / Cowork Context

Record what Claude may be relying on outside this document.

Context source Status Notes
Claude project instructions Current / Stale / Unknown [Notes]
Uploaded project files Current / Stale / Unknown [Notes]
Claude memory / preferences Useful / Ignore / Review [Notes]
Connectors / external sources Connected / Not connected [Notes]
Cowork local folder Active / Not used [Notes]
Scheduled or background tasks Active / Not used [Notes]

Rule: If native memory or project context conflicts with this Running Document, this Running Document wins until updated.

Scheduled / Background Work

Task When / Trigger Purpose Where updates appear
[Task name] [Schedule] [Purpose] [File/log/location]

Next Session Starts Here

Pick up from: [Exactly where to resume]
Most important thing to hold: [The one thing that must not be forgotten]
Open decision needing resolution: [Anything waiting for a call]
Files to check first: [Files]

Recent Session Log

Keep this compact. Archive old notes when they stop being useful.

[DATE] — Session [N]

  • [What happened]
  • [What was decided]
  • [What is next]

What I Am Watching

Things in the world relevant to this work. Claude should connect these when relevant, but must check freshness before relying on them.

  • [Topic — why it matters]
  • [Topic — why it matters]

Remember

The Running Document is not bureaucracy. It is the governed state of the collaboration.

If it is stale, Claude may work from stale context. If it is current, Claude has a stable foundation.

Update it when decisions, files, numbers, or rules change.