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Claude Code Hooks Workflow Automation

2 min read

Claude Code Hooks Workflow Automation

Overview

Claude Code hooks allow custom shell commands to execute in response to agent events (tool calls, notifications, etc.), enabling automated rule enforcement, safety guardrails, and workflow integration without editing native JSON configuration files.

Two Approaches

1. Hookify Plugin (Markdown-Based)

Anthropic’s hookify plugin defines rules via Markdown files in .claude/hooks/:

  • Hot-reloading — rules loaded fresh on every hook invocation
  • Simple syntax — Markdown files with headers and code blocks
  • Known issues (v0.1.0) — “No module named ‘hookify’” error from incorrect import paths; silent failures where blocking messages don’t reach Claude

2. Native Script Hooks (Production-Ready)

Community-driven JavaScript/Python scripts in ~/.claude/hooks/ integrated via settings.json:

Standard Suite:

HookTypePurpose
event-logger.pyDiagnosticCaptures exact JSON payloads for debugging
block-dangerous-commands.jsPreToolUsePrevents rm -rf, force-push, secret exposure
protect-secrets.jsPreToolUseMonitors Read/Edit/Write for .env/API keys
auto-stage.jsPostToolUseRuns git add after Claude modifies files

Configuration structure (~/.claude/settings.json):

{
  "hooks": {
    "PreToolUse": [
      {
        "matcher": "Bash",
        "hooks": [
          { "type": "command", "command": "node ~/.claude/hooks/block-dangerous-commands.js" }
        ]
      }
    ],
    "PostToolUse": [
      {
        "matcher": "Edit|Write",
        "hooks": [
          { "type": "command", "command": "node ~/.claude/hooks/auto-stage.js" }
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
}

Implementation Strategy

  1. Start with logging — deploy event-logger.py to understand payload structure
  2. Add safety hooks — block-dangerous-commands.js + protect-secrets.js
  3. Start soft, go hard — begin with recommendations before blocking actions
  4. Test hooks — run included unit tests before deploying to live sessions

Task Continuity: “Ralph Loop”

Define success_criteria.md that forces Claude to re-evaluate work until criteria are met, preventing premature task abandonment.

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