andrej-karpathy-skills
A single CLAUDE.md file to improve Claude Code behavior, derived from Andrej Karpathy's observations on LLM coding pitfalls.
The Andrej Karpathy Skills agent skill delivers a structured CLAUDE.md file that refines how Claude Code and Cursor handle coding tasks, based on Andrej Karpathy's analysis of common LLM coding mistakes. It enforces four core principles—think before coding, simplicity first, surgical changes, and goal-driven execution—to eliminate over-engineering, reduce unnecessary code modifications, and encourage explicit reasoning. Developers add this single-file configuration to projects or install it as a Claude Code plugin to improve code quality and minimize wasteful refactoring.
Key Features
Use Cases
- 01Preventing Claude Code from silently making wrong assumptions during feature implementation
- 02Reducing bloated abstractions and over-complicated code in AI-assisted development sessions
- 03Stopping unrelated code changes and formatting edits in pull requests generated by LLM agents
- 04Enforcing test-driven development by transforming bug fixes into reproducible test cases
- 05Maintaining clean, minimal diffs when using Cursor or Claude Code for refactoring tasks
- 06Training coding agents to ask clarifying questions before implementation rather than after mistakes
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andrej-karpathy-skills — FAQ
What is the Andrej Karpathy Skills agent skill?+
It's a configuration file (CLAUDE.md) that guides Claude Code and Cursor to avoid common LLM coding mistakes identified by Andrej Karpathy, including over-engineering, unnecessary edits, and silent assumptions. The guidelines enforce simplicity, surgical changes, explicit reasoning, and goal-driven execution.
How do I install andrej-karpathy-skills in Claude Code?+
First add the marketplace with `/plugin marketplace add forrestchang/andrej-karpathy-skills`, then install using `/plugin install andrej-karpathy-skills@karpathy-skills`. Alternatively, download the CLAUDE.md file directly into your project root using curl.
Which AI coding clients work with this agent skill?+
It works natively with Claude Code as a plugin and with Cursor via the included `.cursor/rules/karpathy-guidelines.mdc` project rule. Any tool that respects CLAUDE.md configuration files can benefit from these guidelines.
Do I need API keys or prerequisites to use this skill?+
No API keys are required. You only need Claude Code or Cursor installed, and the ability to add a CLAUDE.md file to your project or install plugins in Claude Code.
Is the Andrej Karpathy Skills agent skill free?+
Yes, it is open-source software released under the MIT license and available at no cost from the GitHub repository.
Can I customize these guidelines for my project?+
Yes, the CLAUDE.md file is designed to merge with project-specific instructions. You can append custom rules for your tech stack, coding standards, or error handling patterns.
How do I install andrej-karpathy-skills?+
Open the source repository on GitHub and follow its README. andrej-karpathy-skills is a skill — MCP Agents Market links you directly to the official repo.
Is andrej-karpathy-skills free?+
andrej-karpathy-skills is an open-source project hosted on GitHub. Check the repository for its license and any usage requirements.