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fix(docs): Clarify output styles don't always replace system prompt

- Output styles have two modes based on keep-coding-instructions
- false (default): replaces coding instructions entirely
- true: adds personality layer on top of coding instructions
- Updated hierarchy diagram to reflect this nuance

๐Ÿค– Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code)

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
0xDarkMatter 3 months ago
parent
commit
7a33829798
1 changed files with 15 additions and 10 deletions
  1. 15 10
      docs/ARCHITECTURE.md

+ 15 - 10
docs/ARCHITECTURE.md

@@ -378,21 +378,25 @@ Provide findings in order of severity (critical โ†’ minor).
 
 ### Overview
 
-Output styles replace Claude Code's default system prompt to change its "personality" while keeping all tools intact. Unlike CLAUDE.md which adds instructions, output styles fundamentally change how Claude communicates.
+Output styles modify Claude Code's system prompt to change its "personality" while keeping all tools intact. The behavior depends on the `keep-coding-instructions` frontmatter setting.
 
 ### Benefits
 
-- **Complete personality change**: Not just added instructions, but different behavior
+- **Personality customization**: Change communication style and persona
 - **Tools preserved**: File operations, search, MCP integrations all work
-- **Beyond coding**: Can transform Claude into any domain expert
+- **Flexible modes**: Full replacement OR additive personality layer
 - **Persistent**: Selection saved per-project
 
 ### Authority & Loading
 
-Output styles replace the default system prompt. When selected:
-- Default coding instructions are removed (unless `keep-coding-instructions: true`)
-- Custom personality takes over completely
-- All tools remain available
+Output styles modify the system prompt in two modes:
+
+| Mode | `keep-coding-instructions` | Behavior |
+|------|---------------------------|----------|
+| **Replacement** | `false` (default) | Removes coding instructions, custom style takes over completely. Use for non-coding personas. |
+| **Additive** | `true` | Preserves coding instructions, adds personality layer on top. Use for coding with personality. |
+
+In both modes, all tools remain available.
 
 ### Structure
 
@@ -576,11 +580,12 @@ Understanding how components interact and override each other:
 
 ```
 โ”Œโ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”
-โ”‚                    OUTPUT STYLE                              โ”‚
-โ”‚            (replaces default system prompt)                  โ”‚
-โ”œโ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”ค
 โ”‚                    SYSTEM PROMPT                             โ”‚
 โ”‚   โ”Œโ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”   โ”‚
+โ”‚   โ”‚  Output Style                                       โ”‚   โ”‚
+โ”‚   โ”‚  - keep-coding-instructions: false โ†’ replaces all   โ”‚   โ”‚
+โ”‚   โ”‚  - keep-coding-instructions: true  โ†’ adds on top    โ”‚   โ”‚
+โ”‚   โ”œโ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”ค   โ”‚
 โ”‚   โ”‚  Enterprise Policy CLAUDE.md (highest authority)    โ”‚   โ”‚
 โ”‚   โ”œโ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”ค   โ”‚
 โ”‚   โ”‚  User ~/.claude/CLAUDE.md                           โ”‚   โ”‚