Original Reddit post

I keep seeing these terms thrown around in tutorials and videos, but I’ve never seen anyone give a concrete example that makes the difference actually click. Everyone says: • “just create a skill for that” “use a hook here” “install the plugin” “put it in your CLAUDE.md” But when I dig deeper, the explanations are always vague or too theoretical. Same goes for the markdown files - I see people mentioning CLAUDE. md, SKILL.md, and agents. md like they’re obvious, but no one explains: • What actually goes in each one? Are they just documentation, or do they actively change how Claude behaves? • When does Claude even read them? What I’m looking for is something like: “If you’re thinking X, that’s probably a Hook. If you’re thinking Y, that’s a Skill. If you need Z, that’s what CLAUDE.md is for.” Real-world examples would be hugely appreciated. submitted by /u/eaiarthur_

Originally posted by u/eaiarthur_ on r/ClaudeCode