Claude to Gemini Context Handoff
Overview
- Project: Aloysius Productions
- Status: Active — transferring organizational principles across AI agents
- Goal: Apply workflow and principles regardless of which agent is in use
The “Core + Adapter” Architecture
The most robust approach separates immutable organizational rules from agent-specific mechanics:
Core Layer (Agent-Agnostic)
CORE_PRINCIPLES.md — The organization’s “Constitution”:
- Coding style and architectural patterns
- Dogfooding protocols
- Compliance requirements
- Quality gates
Adapter Layer (Agent-Specific)
| File | Agent | Additions |
|---|---|---|
.claude.md | Claude Code | Includes CORE_PRINCIPLES + Claude-specific instructions |
.gemini.md | Gemini CLI | Includes CORE_PRINCIPLES + Gemini-specific instructions (e.g., leverage 2M context window) |
Implementation: Symlink Strategy
# Master file
_instructions.md
# Symlinks for each agent
ln -s _instructions.md .gemini.md
ln -s _instructions.md .claude.mdBenefit: Update standards in one place, every agent gets the update instantly. Eliminates version drift.
Gap-Filling Prompts
Prompt A: Translation Audit
Identify Claude-specific references (Artifacts, tool limitations) that confuse Gemini. Expand compressed shorthand where Gemini’s larger context allows.
Prompt B: Principle Stress-Test
Act as “Compliance Officer” — find where principles are stated but not operationalized (e.g., “TDD” mentioned but no explicit “write tests before code” instruction).
Prompt C: Context Expansion
Leverage Gemini’s 1M+ token context — scan entire project structure and recommend which docs to permanently include for “God-mode” understanding.
Key Differences
| Feature | Claude Workflow | Gemini Workflow |
|---|---|---|
| Context strategy | Selective/condensed (save tokens) | Comprehensive/full repo (feed the architecture) |
| File management | .claude.md specific rules | Symlinked CORE_PRINCIPLES across agents |
| Gap filling | Manual prompting | Recursive self-analysis |
Related
- claude-gemini-integration — Multi-AI workflow State of Play protocol
- optimizing-gemini — GAS optimization for Gemini context management