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The short version
- Use the Claude Code plugin for guidelines that work across projects.
- Use CLAUDE.md when you want the rules limited to one repository.
- Review third-party instruction files before adding them to a project.
- Judge the skill by smaller diffs, fewer assumptions, and verified results.
This repository turns Andrej Karpathy’s observations about common LLM coding mistakes into four concise instructions you can apply in Claude Code or Cursor.
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What this repository does
The repository packages four coding-agent guidelines derived from observations by AI researcher and Co-Founder of OpenAI - Andrej Karpathy. It does not add a runtime library to your application or generate production code by itself.
Instead, it changes the instructions Claude Code follows while working: clarify uncertainty, prefer the simplest sufficient solution, keep edits tightly scoped, and define a result that can be verified.
The framework
The four principles
- Think Before Coding — state assumptions, surface ambiguity, and ask when the requirement is unclear.
- Simplicity First — write the minimum code needed and avoid speculative abstractions or features.
- Surgical Changes — touch only what the task requires and preserve the project’s existing style.
- Goal-Driven Execution — define success criteria, use tests where appropriate, and verify the outcome.
The practical goal is not longer reasoning. It is fewer incorrect assumptions, smaller diffs, and work that can be checked.
Recommended setup
Option 1: Install the Claude Code plugin
Use this option when you want the skill available across your Claude Code projects. Run both slash commands from inside Claude Code, one at a time.
/plugin marketplace add forrestchang/andrej-karpathy-skills/plugin install andrej-karpathy-skills@karpathy-skillsThe repository is available at the multica-ai URL, while the README’s current marketplace commands use the forrestchang identifier. Use the commands exactly as shown above.
Per-project setup
Option 2: Add the guidelines with CLAUDE.md
Choose this option when the guidelines should apply only inside one project. Review the remote CLAUDE.md first, especially if your project already contains instructions.
curl -o CLAUDE.md https://raw.githubusercontent.com/forrestchang/andrej-karpathy-skills/main/CLAUDE.mdecho "" >> CLAUDE.md
curl https://raw.githubusercontent.com/forrestchang/andrej-karpathy-skills/main/CLAUDE.md >> CLAUDE.mdIf CLAUDE.md already exists, do not use the new-project command: it overwrites that file. Back it up, review both sets of instructions, and append only what you want to keep.
Cursor setup
Use the same guidelines in Cursor
The repository includes a committed Cursor rule at .cursor/rules/karpathy-guidelines.mdc. Opening the cloned repository in Cursor makes that project rule available. For another project, follow the repository’s Cursor guide and copy the rule into that project’s .cursor/rules directory.
Verification
How to know the guidelines are working
Use the skill on a real, bounded task and review the result rather than judging the installation message alone.
- Claude asks for clarification before implementing an ambiguous requirement.
- The diff contains only changes that trace back to your request.
- The solution avoids new abstractions that are used only once.
- Tests or explicit success criteria are stated and checked.
- Unrelated code, comments, and formatting remain untouched.
Tradeoff
Know the bias before you use it
These guidelines deliberately bias the coding agent toward caution and minimal changes. That is valuable for non-trivial work, unfamiliar codebases, and production repositories.
For an obvious typo or one-line edit, the full process can be unnecessary. Keep project-specific requirements in your own CLAUDE.md and use judgment for genuinely trivial work.
Common questions
Karpathy-inspired Claude Code skill FAQ
Is this an official Andrej Karpathy or Anthropic skill?
No. It is a community-maintained repository inspired by Andrej Karpathy’s public observations. The repository does not claim to be an official Anthropic or Andrej Karpathy project.
Does the skill write or modify application code during installation?
The plugin adds coding-agent instructions. The CLAUDE.md option creates or appends an instruction file in your project. Always review third-party instructions and check the resulting diff before committing.
Should I use the plugin or CLAUDE.md?
Use the plugin when you want the guidelines available broadly in Claude Code. Use CLAUDE.md when you want project-level control or need to combine the principles with repository-specific conventions.
Can I use these guidelines with Cursor?
Yes. The repository contains a Cursor project rule and a dedicated CURSOR.md setup guide.
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