Upgrading from Claude Code to ClaudeKit

Already using Claude Code? ClaudeKit enhances your workflow without breaking existing habits.

What Changes?

Stays the Same:

Claude Code CLI and interface
Existing project structure
.claude/ directory (extended, not replaced)
Chat-based interaction

New Capabilities:

Slash commands for common tasks
Specialized agents (planner, tester, debugger)
Reusable skills library
Multi-agent collaboration

Installation (Additive)

# Install ClaudeKit CLI (doesn't replace Claude Code)
npm install -g claudekit-cli

# Initialize in existing project
ck init
# → Adds .claude/CLAUDE.md, skills/, workflows/
# → Existing .claude/commands/ preserved

Upgrading ClaudeKit

# Recommended: Use built-in update command
ck update

# Alternative: npm global update
npm install -g claudekit-cli@latest

Gradual Migration Path

Week 1: Try Core Commands

Start with /cook for feature development:

# Old way
You: "I need to add a new API endpoint for user profiles"
[Long conversation with manual guidance]

# ClaudeKit way
/cook "add user profiles API endpoint"
[Automated planning, development, testing]

Week 2: Use Specialized Workflows

Adopt task-specific commands:

/fix for bug fixing (faster than manual debugging)
/plan for complex features (structured planning)
/docs:update for documentation (automated sync)

Week 3: Leverage Skills

Add custom skills for your stack:

/skill:create "Our GraphQL conventions"
# → Agents learn your team's patterns

Week 4: Full Workflow Integration

Combine commands for complete workflows:

/plan "redesign checkout flow"
/code @plans/checkout-redesign.md
/design:good "checkout UI mockup"
/fix:test
/git:pr "feature/new-checkout"

Compatibility

Supported:

Claude Code v1.0+
Existing .claude/commands/ (fully compatible)
Custom prompts (still work as-is)

Not Supported:

Claude Desktop app (Claude Code CLI only)
Projects without Git (ClaudeKit requires version control)

FAQs

Q: Do I need to rewrite existing commands? A: No. ClaudeKit commands coexist with your custom .claude/commands/

Q: Can I still use regular chat? A: Yes. ClaudeKit adds slash commands, doesn’t remove chat.

Q: What if I don’t like ClaudeKit? A: Uninstall and delete .claude/CLAUDE.md. No breaking changes.