Introduction
SwissArmyHammer transforms AI prompt and workflow management by treating them as simple markdown files. It provides a unified, file-based approach that integrates seamlessly with your development workflow and Claude Code.
The Problem
Working with AI assistants involves repetitive prompt crafting, context loss, inconsistent results, limited automation, and poor organization of prompts scattered across different tools.
The Solution
SwissArmyHammer provides three integrated components that work together to solve these problems:
Command Line Application
A powerful CLI that executes prompts and workflows, with comprehensive diagnostics, validation, and shell completions.
MCP Server
Seamless integration with Claude Code via the Model Context Protocol, providing a comprehensive tool suite for AI-powered development.
Rust Library
A flexible library for building prompt-based applications with comprehensive APIs for custom integrations.
Core Architecture
SwissArmyHammer uses a hierarchical file system approach:
File-Based Management
- Store prompts and workflows as markdown files with YAML front matter
- No databases or complex configuration required
- Everything is version-controlled and easily shared
- Live reloading with automatic change detection
Organized Hierarchy
Clear precedence rules across three locations:
- Builtin - Pre-installed prompts and workflows embedded in the binary
- User - Personal collection in
~/.swissarmyhammer/ - Local - Project-specific files in
./.swissarmyhammer/
Liquid Template Engine
- Dynamic content with variables, conditionals, and loops
- Custom filters for domain-specific operations
- Environment integration and system context access
- Extensible plugin architecture
Key Features
Workflow Management
- State-based workflow execution with Mermaid diagrams
- Parallel and sequential action execution
- Built-in error handling and recovery mechanisms
Development Integration
- Git-integrated issue tracking with automatic branch management
- Semantic search using vector embeddings and TreeSitter parsing
- Note-taking system with full-text search capabilities
Built-in Resources
- 20+ production-ready prompts for common development tasks
- Example workflows demonstrating best practices
- Comprehensive MCP tool suite for Claude Code integration
Quick Examples
Simple Prompt
---
title: Code Review Helper
description: Assists with code review tasks
arguments:
- name: language
description: Programming language
required: true
---
Review this {{language}} code for:
- Quality and style
- Potential bugs
- Performance issues
- Best practices
Basic Workflow
---
name: feature-development
description: Complete feature development process
initial_state: plan
---
### plan
Plan the feature implementation
**Next**: implement
### implement
Write the feature code
**Next**: review
### review
Review the implementation
**Next**: complete
Command Line Usage
# Diagnose setup
sah doctor
# Test a prompt
sah prompt test code-review --var language=rust
# Run a workflow
sah flow run feature-development
# Configure Claude Code integration
claude mcp add --scope user sah sah serve
Next Steps
- Installation - Get SwissArmyHammer installed
- Quick Start - Your first prompt in 5 minutes
- Configuration - Customize your setup
- Architecture Overview - Understand the system design