Claude Critical Rules MCP Server

MCP server providing automatic enforcement of 21 critical rules for Claude AI, based on 96+ documented failure patterns

🎯 What is this?

An MCP (Model Context Protocol) server that makes critical best practices automatically available to Claude AI in every conversation. Based on exhaustive analysis of 96+ real documented failures over 6+ months of intensive production usage.

The system provides 21 numbered rules organized into 5 categories, with automatic verification checklists, rule summaries, and auto-update capabilities.

✨ Features

• 21 Critical Rules - Comprehensive checklist preventing common AI assistant failures
• 5 Rule Categories - Organized by: Verification, Backups, Execution, Database, Advanced
• Pre-flight Verification - Mandatory checklist before technical tasks
• Auto-Update System - Check and install rule updates from GitHub automatically
• Version Tracking - SHA256 verification and changelog integration
• Evidence-based - Every rule derived from real production failures

⚡ Quick Install

Via npx (Recommended)

Add to your claude_desktop_config.json:

macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json
Linux: ~/.config/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "critical-rules": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@optima-quantum/claude-critical-rules-mcp-new"]
    }
  }
}

Via Global Install

npm install -g @optima-quantum/claude-critical-rules-mcp-new

Then configure:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "critical-rules": {
      "command": "claude-critical-rules-mcp"
    }
  }
}

Restart Claude Desktop

After configuration, restart Claude Desktop to load the MCP server.

📋 Usage Instructions

CRITICAL: Two Mandatory Steps Before Any Technical Task

1. ALWAYS Read, Understand, and Execute Compliance Check

Before starting ANY technical task, execute:
critical-rules:verify_compliance

This displays a 21-point checklist organized in 5 categories.
Do NOT proceed until you confirm ALL 21 items.

2. ALWAYS Read Appropriate Skill Documentation

Before creating documents or working with specific technologies:
- Read the appropriate skill file first
- Common location: /mnt/skills/user/sysadmin-professional/SKILL.md
- If skill doesn't exist: search online, verify reliability, propose installation

Example Workflow:

User: "Deploy the new API to production"

Claude:
1. Executes: critical-rules:verify_compliance
2. Reviews all 21 rules checklist
3. Reads: /mnt/skills/user/sysadmin-professional/SKILL.md
4. THEN proceeds with deployment

🛠️ Available Tools

verify_compliance

Displays mandatory 21-rule checklist before technical tasks.

Usage:

critical-rules:verify_compliance
task_description: "Deploy API to production"

Returns:

• 21-point checklist organized by category
• Rule numbers and descriptions
• Confirmation requirements
• Version information

get_rules_summary

Quick reference of all 21 rules with descriptions.

Usage:

critical-rules:get_rules_summary

Returns:

• Core principles (5 items)
• All 21 rules by category
• 6-step mandatory workflow
• Update instructions

get_version_info

Display current version and check for updates.

Usage:

critical-rules:get_version_info
check_remote: true  // Optional, default true

Returns:

• Current version details
• Remote version comparison
• Update availability status
• SHA256 hash information

check_for_updates

Check GitHub for new rule versions.

Usage:

critical-rules:check_for_updates

Returns:

• Update availability status
• Version comparison
• Release date
• Changelog reference

update_rules

Download and install latest rules from GitHub.

Usage:

critical-rules:update_rules
force: false  // Optional, force reinstall

Returns:

• Update status
• SHA256 verification
• Backup location
• Next steps

📚 Available Resources

critical-rules://instructions

Complete CRITICAL-RULES.md document with all 21 rules, examples, and detailed explanations.

critical-rules://changelog

Full changelog with version history and update details.

📖 The 21 Rules (Quick Reference)

🔍 VERIFICATION (Rules 0-5)

1. Never act without reading instructions completely
2. Search current best practices (web_search mandatory)
3. Read skills before creating documents
4. Read ENTIRE file before modifying
5. VERIFY, not assume structures/locations
6. Check correct file/server

💾 BACKUPS & PERMISSIONS (Rules 6-8)

1. Search previous context if mentioned
2. Backups with timestamp in standardized directories
3. ASK before deleting/modifying critical items

🔧 EXECUTION & VALIDATION (Rules 9-12)

1. Ask SCOPE before implementing
2. STOP if something fails (no cascading)
3. Validate with EVIDENCE
4. Complete logs (not just last 20 lines)

🗃️ DATABASE & SECURITY (Rules 13-15)

1. Database: backup → test → verify rollback
2. Production vs Dev differentiation
3. Security verification (IPs, fail2ban, firewall)

⚡ ADVANCED RULES (Rules 16-21)

1. Long commands (>30s) → background execution
2. NEVER use sed (python/awk/perl instead)
3. Verify file line count before/after editing
4. Follow instructions EXACTLY
5. Check MCPs/skills/context FIRST
6. Mandatory 21-point confirmation

🎯 Core Principles

1. 🔍 VERIFY, DON'T ASSUME - Always check before acting
2. 💾 BACKUP EVERYTHING - Before any modification
3. 🚫 ASK PERMISSION - For deletions and critical changes
4. 📊 EVIDENCE-BASED - Test with proof, not assumptions
5. 🛑 STOP ON ERRORS - Don't continue after failures

🔄 6-Step Mandatory Workflow

1. Ask scope before starting
2. Analyze completely
3. Plan and explain
4. Create backups
5. Execute carefully
6. Validate with evidence
7. Document changes

📊 Evidence Base

Based on comprehensive analysis of:

• 96+ documented failures in production environments
• 20+ recurring patterns identified and categorized
• 6+ months of intensive Claude AI usage
• Multiple production systems (servers, databases, APIs, deployments)

🔐 Auto-Update Security

• SHA256 verification - All downloaded rules verified for integrity
• Automatic backups - Previous versions saved before updates
• Version tracking - Complete changelog and version history
• Manual override - Force parameter for explicit reinstalls

🤝 Contributing

Contributions are welcome! If you've identified additional failure patterns or improvements:

1. Fork the repository
2. Create a feature branch
3. Document the failure pattern with examples
4. Submit a pull request

📄 License

MIT License - See LICENSE file for details.

🏢 Author

Óptima Quantum Services FZCO
Dubai, UAE

• Website: optimaquantum.com
• Email: support@optimaquantum.com
• GitHub: @optimaquantum

📝 Changelog

See CHANGELOG.md for version history and updates.

🔗 Links

• npm Package
• GitHub Repository
• Model Context Protocol
• Claude AI

⭐ Star History

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Version: 1.2.0
Last Updated: 2026-01-10
Rules Count: 21 numbered rules
Failure Patterns Analyzed: 96+