From bac6f084ff14677685305d88052d35741990dff5 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Steve Yegge <steve.yegge@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 28 Dec 2025 12:59:54 -0800
Subject: [PATCH] Wire polecat-CLAUDE.md template into polecat spawn (gt-34mxx)
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Add installCLAUDETemplate() to Manager that:
- Reads templates/polecat-CLAUDE.md from rig root
- Substitutes {{rig}} and {{name}} with actual values
- Writes to polecats/<name>/CLAUDE.md

Called from both Add() and Recreate() after worktree creation.
Non-fatal if template is missing.

🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code)

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
---
 internal/polecat/manager.go | 40 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 1 file changed, 40 insertions(+)

diff --git a/internal/polecat/manager.go b/internal/polecat/manager.go
index fc2f400a..11963357 100644
--- a/internal/polecat/manager.go
+++ b/internal/polecat/manager.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/beads"
@@ -153,6 +154,11 @@ func (m *Manager) Add(name string) (*Polecat, error) {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("creating worktree: %w", err)
 	}
 
+	// Install polecat CLAUDE.md template (non-fatal if template missing)
+	if err := m.installCLAUDETemplate(polecatPath, name); err != nil {
+		fmt.Printf("Warning: could not install CLAUDE.md template: %v\n", err)
+	}
+
 	// Set up shared beads: polecat uses rig's .beads via redirect file.
 	// This eliminates git sync overhead - all polecats share one database.
 	if err := m.setupSharedBeads(polecatPath); err != nil {
@@ -344,6 +350,11 @@ func (m *Manager) Recreate(name string, force bool) (*Polecat, error) {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("creating fresh worktree: %w", err)
 	}
 
+	// Install polecat CLAUDE.md template (non-fatal if template missing)
+	if err := m.installCLAUDETemplate(polecatPath, name); err != nil {
+		fmt.Printf("Warning: could not install CLAUDE.md template: %v\n", err)
+	}
+
 	// Set up shared beads
 	if err := m.setupSharedBeads(polecatPath); err != nil {
 		fmt.Printf("Warning: could not set up shared beads: %v\n", err)
@@ -647,6 +658,35 @@ func (m *Manager) loadFromBeads(name string) (*Polecat, error) {
 	}, nil
 }
 
+// installCLAUDETemplate copies the polecat CLAUDE.md template into the worktree.
+// Template variables {{rig}} and {{name}} are substituted with actual values.
+// This provides polecats with context about their role and available commands.
+func (m *Manager) installCLAUDETemplate(polecatPath, name string) error {
+	// Read template from rig's templates directory
+	templatePath := filepath.Join(m.rig.Path, "templates", "polecat-CLAUDE.md")
+	content, err := os.ReadFile(templatePath)
+	if err != nil {
+		if os.IsNotExist(err) {
+			// Template doesn't exist - this is fine, just skip
+			return nil
+		}
+		return fmt.Errorf("reading template: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	// Substitute template variables
+	output := string(content)
+	output = strings.ReplaceAll(output, "{{rig}}", m.rig.Name)
+	output = strings.ReplaceAll(output, "{{name}}", name)
+
+	// Write to polecat's CLAUDE.md
+	claudePath := filepath.Join(polecatPath, "CLAUDE.md")
+	if err := os.WriteFile(claudePath, []byte(output), 0644); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("writing CLAUDE.md: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
 // setupSharedBeads creates a redirect file so the polecat uses the rig's shared .beads database.
 // This eliminates the need for git sync between polecat clones - all polecats share one database.
 //