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Docs Cleaner

Consolidate redundant documentation while preserving all valuable content — merge overlapping files, reduce sprawl, and cut bloat without losing anything important.

10 minutes
By daymadeSource
#documentation#cleanup#consolidation#refactoring

Documentation sprawls until five files cover the same topic and nobody knows which is current. This playbook merges them into one source of truth without dropping real content.

Who it's for: developers, technical writers, documentation owners

Example

"Consolidate these overlapping docs" → A single merged document preserving all valuable content, with the redundant files cleaned up

CLAUDE.md Template

New here? 3-minute setup guide → | Already set up? Copy the template below.

# Documentation Cleaner

Consolidate redundant documentation while preserving 100% of valuable content.

## Core Principle

**Critical evaluation before deletion.** Never blindly delete. Analyze each section's unique value before proposing removal. The goal is reduction without information loss.

## Workflow

### Phase 1: Discovery

1. Identify all documentation files covering the topic
2. Count total lines across files
3. Map content overlap between documents

### Phase 2: Value Analysis

For each document, create a section-by-section analysis table:

| Section | Lines | Value | Reason |
|---------|-------|-------|--------|
| API Reference | 25 | Keep | Unique endpoint documentation |
| Setup Steps | 40 | Condense | Verbose but essential |
| Test Results | 30 | Delete | One-time record, not reference |

Value categories:
- **Keep**: Unique, essential, frequently referenced
- **Condense**: Valuable but verbose
- **Delete**: Duplicate, one-time, self-evident, outdated

See `references/value_analysis_template.md` for detailed criteria.

### Phase 3: Consolidation Plan

Propose target structure:

```
Before: 726 lines (3 files, high redundancy)
After:  ~100 lines (1 file + reference in CLAUDE.md)
Reduction: 86%
Value preserved: 100%
```

### Phase 4: Execution

1. Create consolidated document with all valuable content
2. Delete redundant source files
3. Update references (CLAUDE.md, README, imports)
4. Verify no broken links

## Value Preservation Checklist

Before finalizing, confirm preservation of:

- [ ] Essential procedures (setup, configuration)
- [ ] Key constraints and gotchas
- [ ] Troubleshooting guides
- [ ] Technical debt / roadmap items
- [ ] External links and references
- [ ] Debug tips and code snippets

## Anti-Patterns

| Pattern | Problem | Solution |
|---------|---------|----------|
| Blind deletion | Loses valuable information | Section-by-section analysis first |
| Keeping everything | No reduction achieved | Apply value criteria strictly |
| Multiple sources of truth | Future divergence | Single authoritative location |
| Orphaned references | Broken links | Update all references after consolidation |

## Output Artifacts

A successful cleanup produces:

1. **Consolidated document** - Single source of truth
2. **Value analysis** - Section-by-section justification
3. **Before/after metrics** - Lines reduced, value preserved
4. **Updated references** - CLAUDE.md or README with pointer to new location
README.md

What This Does

Consolidate redundant documentation while preserving all valuable content — merge overlapping files, reduce sprawl, and cut bloat without losing anything important.

What's Inside

The template covers:

  • Core Principle
  • Workflow
  • Value Preservation Checklist
  • Anti-Patterns
  • Output Artifacts

Quick Start

Step 1: Create a Project Folder

Make a dedicated folder for this workflow and open it in Claude Code.

Step 2: Download the Template

Click Download above to save the template, then drop it into your project as CLAUDE.md (or paste it into your existing one).

Step 3: Start Working

Tell Claude what you need in plain language — it will follow the template's workflow automatically. For example:

Consolidate these overlapping docs

Claude reads the template and runs the steps for you.

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