An MCP (Model Context Protocol) server that makes critical best practices automatically available to Claude AI in every conversation. Based on exhaustive analysis of 96+ real documented failures over 6+ months of intensive production usage. The system provides 21 numbered rules organized into 5 categories, with automatic verification checklists, rule summaries, and auto-update capabilities. - 21 C
Add this skill
npx mdskills install optimaquantum/claude-critical-rules-mcpEvidence-based ruleset derived from 96+ documented failures with verification tools and auto-update system
1# Claude Critical Rules MCP Server23> **MCP server providing automatic enforcement of 21 critical rules for Claude AI, based on 96+ documented failure patterns**45[](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@optima-quantum/claude-critical-rules-mcp-new)6[](https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT)7[](https://github.com/optimaquantum/claude-critical-rules-mcp/releases)89## 🎯 What is this?1011An MCP (Model Context Protocol) server that makes critical best practices automatically available to Claude AI in every conversation. Based on exhaustive analysis of **96+ real documented failures** over 6+ months of intensive production usage.1213The system provides **21 numbered rules** organized into 5 categories, with automatic verification checklists, rule summaries, and auto-update capabilities.1415## ✨ Features1617- **21 Critical Rules** - Comprehensive checklist preventing common AI assistant failures18- **5 Rule Categories** - Organized by: Verification, Backups, Execution, Database, Advanced19- **Pre-flight Verification** - Mandatory checklist before technical tasks20- **Auto-Update System** - Check and install rule updates from GitHub automatically21- **Version Tracking** - SHA256 verification and changelog integration22- **Evidence-based** - Every rule derived from real production failures2324## ⚡ Quick Install2526### Via npx (Recommended)2728Add to your `claude_desktop_config.json`:2930**macOS:** `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json`31**Windows:** `%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json`32**Linux:** `~/.config/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json`3334```json35{36 "mcpServers": {37 "critical-rules": {38 "command": "npx",39 "args": ["-y", "@optima-quantum/claude-critical-rules-mcp-new"]40 }41 }42}43```4445### Via Global Install4647```bash48npm install -g @optima-quantum/claude-critical-rules-mcp-new49```5051Then configure:5253```json54{55 "mcpServers": {56 "critical-rules": {57 "command": "claude-critical-rules-mcp"58 }59 }60}61```6263### Restart Claude Desktop6465After configuration, restart Claude Desktop to load the MCP server.6667## 📋 Usage Instructions6869### **CRITICAL: Two Mandatory Steps Before Any Technical Task**7071#### 1. **ALWAYS Read, Understand, and Execute Compliance Check**7273```74Before starting ANY technical task, execute:75critical-rules:verify_compliance7677This displays a 21-point checklist organized in 5 categories.78Do NOT proceed until you confirm ALL 21 items.79```8081#### 2. **ALWAYS Read Appropriate Skill Documentation**8283```84Before creating documents or working with specific technologies:85- Read the appropriate skill file first86- Common location: /mnt/skills/user/sysadmin-professional/SKILL.md87- If skill doesn't exist: search online, verify reliability, propose installation88```8990**Example Workflow:**91```92User: "Deploy the new API to production"9394Claude:951. Executes: critical-rules:verify_compliance962. Reviews all 21 rules checklist973. Reads: /mnt/skills/user/sysadmin-professional/SKILL.md984. THEN proceeds with deployment99```100101## 🛠️ Available Tools102103### `verify_compliance`104Displays mandatory 21-rule checklist before technical tasks.105106**Usage:**107```javascript108critical-rules:verify_compliance109task_description: "Deploy API to production"110```111112**Returns:**113- 21-point checklist organized by category114- Rule numbers and descriptions115- Confirmation requirements116- Version information117118### `get_rules_summary`119Quick reference of all 21 rules with descriptions.120121**Usage:**122```javascript123critical-rules:get_rules_summary124```125126**Returns:**127- Core principles (5 items)128- All 21 rules by category129- 6-step mandatory workflow130- Update instructions131132### `get_version_info`133Display current version and check for updates.134135**Usage:**136```javascript137critical-rules:get_version_info138check_remote: true // Optional, default true139```140141**Returns:**142- Current version details143- Remote version comparison144- Update availability status145- SHA256 hash information146147### `check_for_updates`148Check GitHub for new rule versions.149150**Usage:**151```javascript152critical-rules:check_for_updates153```154155**Returns:**156- Update availability status157- Version comparison158- Release date159- Changelog reference160161### `update_rules`162Download and install latest rules from GitHub.163164**Usage:**165```javascript166critical-rules:update_rules167force: false // Optional, force reinstall168```169170**Returns:**171- Update status172- SHA256 verification173- Backup location174- Next steps175176## 📚 Available Resources177178### `critical-rules://instructions`179Complete CRITICAL-RULES.md document with all 21 rules, examples, and detailed explanations.180181### `critical-rules://changelog`182Full changelog with version history and update details.183184## 📖 The 21 Rules (Quick Reference)185186### 🔍 VERIFICATION (Rules 0-5)1870. Never act without reading instructions completely1881. Search current best practices (web_search mandatory)1892. Read skills before creating documents1903. Read ENTIRE file before modifying1914. VERIFY, not assume structures/locations1925. Check correct file/server193194### 💾 BACKUPS & PERMISSIONS (Rules 6-8)1956. Search previous context if mentioned1967. Backups with timestamp in standardized directories1978. ASK before deleting/modifying critical items198199### 🔧 EXECUTION & VALIDATION (Rules 9-12)2009. Ask SCOPE before implementing20110. STOP if something fails (no cascading)20211. Validate with EVIDENCE20312. Complete logs (not just last 20 lines)204205### 🗃️ DATABASE & SECURITY (Rules 13-15)20613. Database: backup → test → verify rollback20714. Production vs Dev differentiation20815. Security verification (IPs, fail2ban, firewall)209210### ⚡ ADVANCED RULES (Rules 16-21)21116. Long commands (>30s) → background execution21217. NEVER use sed (python/awk/perl instead)21318. Verify file line count before/after editing21419. Follow instructions EXACTLY21520. Check MCPs/skills/context FIRST21621. Mandatory 21-point confirmation217218## 🎯 Core Principles2192201. **🔍 VERIFY, DON'T ASSUME** - Always check before acting2212. **💾 BACKUP EVERYTHING** - Before any modification2223. **🚫 ASK PERMISSION** - For deletions and critical changes2234. **📊 EVIDENCE-BASED** - Test with proof, not assumptions2245. **🛑 STOP ON ERRORS** - Don't continue after failures225226## 🔄 6-Step Mandatory Workflow2272280. **Ask scope** before starting2291. **Analyze** completely2302. **Plan** and explain2313. **Create backups**2324. **Execute** carefully2335. **Validate** with evidence2346. **Document** changes235236## 📊 Evidence Base237238Based on comprehensive analysis of:239- **96+ documented failures** in production environments240- **20+ recurring patterns** identified and categorized241- **6+ months** of intensive Claude AI usage242- **Multiple production systems** (servers, databases, APIs, deployments)243244## 🔐 Auto-Update Security245246- **SHA256 verification** - All downloaded rules verified for integrity247- **Automatic backups** - Previous versions saved before updates248- **Version tracking** - Complete changelog and version history249- **Manual override** - Force parameter for explicit reinstalls250251## 🤝 Contributing252253Contributions are welcome! If you've identified additional failure patterns or improvements:2542551. Fork the repository2562. Create a feature branch2573. Document the failure pattern with examples2584. Submit a pull request259260## 📄 License261262MIT License - See [LICENSE](LICENSE) file for details.263264## 🏢 Author265266**Óptima Quantum Services FZCO**267Dubai, UAE268269- Website: [optimaquantum.com](https://optimaquantum.com)270- Email: support@optimaquantum.com271- GitHub: [@optimaquantum](https://github.com/optimaquantum)272273## 📝 Changelog274275See [CHANGELOG.md](CHANGELOG.md) for version history and updates.276277## 🔗 Links278279- [npm Package](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@optima-quantum/claude-critical-rules-mcp-new)280- [GitHub Repository](https://github.com/optimaquantum/claude-critical-rules-mcp)281- [Model Context Protocol](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/)282- [Claude AI](https://claude.ai)283284## ⭐ Star History285286If this MCP server has helped prevent errors in your workflow, please consider starring the repository!287288---289290**Version:** 1.2.0291**Last Updated:** 2026-01-10292**Rules Count:** 21 numbered rules293**Failure Patterns Analyzed:** 96+294
Full transparency — inspect the skill content before installing.