icm-template: Instructions file for Claude Code

ICM — Identity

Purpose

A skill-based distribution of the Interpretable Context Methodology for organizing AI workflows using folder structure.

Folder Map

icm-template/
├── SKILLS
│   ├── icm-scaffold
│   │   └── SKILL.md         # The skill — generates ICM layers on any project
│   ├── icm-sync
│   │   └── SKILL.md         # Maintenance — syncs IDENTITY.md and CONTEXT.md with disk
│   └── icm-context-scaffold
│       └── SKILL.md         # Maintenance — generates missing CONTEXT.md files
├── docs
│   ├── methodology.md       # Full ICM explanation (5 layers, 5 principles)
│   ├── best-practices.md    # Writing effective stage contracts and _config/
│   ├── layer-reference.md   # Quick reference for all 5 layers
│   ├── model-adapters.md    # Per-tool setup (Claude, Cursor, Copilot, Windsurf)
│   └── Interpretable_Context_Methdology_.pdf  # Original research paper
├── IDENTITY.md              # Layer 0 — workspace map
├── CONTEXT.md               # Layer 1 — task routing
├── CLAUDE.md                # You are here
├── LICENSE                  # MIT
└── README.md                # Project overview and quick start

Rules

• The SKILL.md files are the primary products. Everything else is supporting documentation.
• icm-scaffold generates ICM layers on the user's project. icm-sync and icm-context-scaffold maintain them over time.
• The skills generate files on the user's project — they do not generate files in this repo.
• Docs are educational — they explain the methodology for humans who want to understand the why.
• Do not add Python tools, templates, or scaffolding scripts. The skills replace all of those.