# Backend Playbooks - Implementation Complete
## Summary
I've created comprehensive playbooks for setting up permanent Claude Code instances that can serve as MCP server backends for Claude Imagine. These playbooks enable you to:
1. **Create permanent backend instances** with proper configuration
2. **Control behavior using CLAUDE.md files**
3. **Configure tools and MCP servers** programmatically
4. **Test everything** with comprehensive test suites
## What Was Created
### Playbooks
1. **`playbooks/backend-instance-playbook.md`** - Documentation for backend instances
2. **`playbooks/client-instance-playbook.md`** - Documentation for client instances
3. **`playbooks/CLAUDE-md-templates.md`** - Templates for CLAUDE.md files
4. **`playbooks/create-backend-instance.js`** - Script to create backend instances
5. **`playbooks/create-client-instance.js`** - Script to create client instances
6. **`playbooks/README.md`** - Playbooks directory documentation
### Test Suites
1. **`test-backend-playbooks.js`** - Tests backend instance creation and configuration
2. **`test-claude-md-configuration.js`** - Tests CLAUDE.md file configuration
3. **`test-mcp-tool-configuration.js`** - Tests MCP tool configuration and execution
4. **`test-backend-e2e.js`** - End-to-end tests for backend instances as permanent backends
### Documentation
1. **`PLAYBOOKS-SUMMARY.md`** - Comprehensive summary of all playbooks and tests
2. **`BACKEND-PLAYBOOKS-COMPLETE.md`** - This file
## Features
### Backend Instance Creation
- ✅ Creates complete directory structure
- ✅ Generates CLAUDE.md with proper documentation
- ✅ Creates .claude/settings.json with Claude Code settings
- ✅ Creates claude_config.json for MCP configuration
- ✅ Generates start.sh script for easy startup
- ✅ Configures MCP server connection
- ✅ Sets up tool configuration (MCP tools only)
- ✅ Configures system prompts
### CLAUDE.md Configuration
- ✅ Templates for different instance types
- ✅ Documents purpose, configuration, and behavior
- ✅ Lists available MCP tools
- ✅ Supports custom configurations
- ✅ Supports agent configurations
### MCP Tool Configuration
- ✅ Tests MCP config structure
- ✅ Verifies tools are available
- ✅ Tests tool execution
- ✅ Tests combined tool usage
- ✅ Tests tools with custom agents
- ✅ Error handling
### Testing
- ✅ 10 tests for backend playbooks
- ✅ 7 tests for CLAUDE.md configuration
- ✅ 8 tests for MCP tool configuration
- ✅ 10 tests for end-to-end scenarios
## Usage
### Create a Backend Instance
```bash
# Set your API key
export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY="your-token"
# Create backend instance
npm run create:backend ~/my-backend-instance
# Or directly
node playbooks/create-backend-instance.js ~/my-backend-instance
```
### Start the Backend Instance
```bash
cd ~/my-backend-instance
./start.sh
# Or manually
claude --mcp-config ./claude_config.json --dangerously-skip-permissions
```
### Run Tests
```bash
# Test backend playbooks
npm run test:backend-playbooks
# Test CLAUDE.md configuration
npm run test:claude-md
# Test MCP tool configuration
npm run test:mcp-tools
# Test end-to-end
npm run test:backend-e2e
```
## Architecture
```
┌─────────────┐ MCP (stdio) ┌──────────────┐
│ Claude Code │◄───────────────────────────►│ MCP Backend │
│ (Backend) │ │ Instance │
└─────────────┘ └──────────────┘
│
│ WebSocket
│ (localhost:3000)
▼
┌──────────────┐
│ Browser │
│ (Frontend) │
└──────────────┘
```
## Configuration Files Created
Each backend instance includes:
1. **CLAUDE.md** - Documents instance purpose and configuration
2. **.claude/settings.json** - Claude Code settings (model, MCP servers, system prompt)
3. **claude_config.json** - MCP server configuration
4. **start.sh** - Startup script
## Key Features
### 1. Permanent Backend Instances
Backend instances are designed to run continuously and serve as permanent MCP backends:
- Isolated from main Claude setup
- Persistent configuration
- Production-ready settings
- Easy to start and manage
### 2. CLAUDE.md Control
Behavior is controlled via CLAUDE.md files:
- Documents instance purpose
- Specifies configuration
- Defines behavior guidelines
- Lists available tools
### 3. Tool Configuration
Tools are configured via settings:
- MCP tools only (for backend)
- Custom tool lists (for clients)
- Tool limiting options
- Agent-specific tools
### 4. MCP Configuration
MCP servers are configured via:
- `claude_config.json` (for --mcp-config flag)
- `.claude/settings.json` (for Claude Code settings)
- Absolute paths to server scripts
- Proper command and args
## Testing Coverage
### Backend Playbooks (10 tests)
- Instance creation
- CLAUDE.md configuration
- Settings configuration
- MCP config creation
- Tool configuration
- Instance startup
- Tool execution
- Custom agents
- Persistence
- Isolation
### CLAUDE.md Configuration (7 tests)
- File exists
- Content structure
- MCP tools documentation
- Custom configuration
- Agent configuration
- Behavior influence
- Multiple instances
### MCP Tool Configuration (8 tests)
- Config structure
- Tools available
- Tool execution
- Update UI tool
- Combined tools
- Config in settings
- Tools with agents
- Error handling
### End-to-End (10 tests)
- Instance creation
- Configuration
- Tool execution
- Persistence
- Multiple clients
- Custom agents
- Start script
- Isolation
- Production readiness
- Documentation
**Total: 35 comprehensive tests**
## Next Steps
1. **Set API Key:** `export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY="your-token"`
2. **Run Tests:** Verify everything works with `npm run test:backend-playbooks`
3. **Create Instance:** Create your first backend instance
4. **Configure:** Customize CLAUDE.md and settings as needed
5. **Deploy:** Use as permanent MCP backend
## Files Modified
- `package.json` - Added test and create scripts
- Created all playbook files
- Created all test files
- Created documentation files
## Status
✅ **Implementation Complete**
All playbooks, scripts, tests, and documentation have been created and are ready to use. The system is designed to:
- Create permanent backend instances
- Control behavior via CLAUDE.md
- Configure tools and MCP servers
- Test everything comprehensively
- Serve as MCP backends for Claude Imagine
