Claude Code SDK Integration Plan
Executive Summary
This document outlines a comprehensive integration strategy for incorporating the full feature set of the Claude Code SDK into our pipeline configuration system. The integration will enhance our existing Gemini + Claude orchestration with advanced Claude Code capabilities, comprehensive authentication management, sophisticated option configuration, and modern development tools.
Current State Analysis
Existing Pipeline Configuration System
Our current YAML-based pipeline configuration system (documented in PIPELINE_CONFIG_GUIDE.md
) provides:
- Multi-AI Orchestration: Gemini (brain) + Claude (muscle) workflow patterns
- YAML Configuration: Declarative workflow definitions with steps, prompts, and options
- Basic Claude Integration: Limited Claude Code SDK usage via
Pipeline.Providers.ClaudeProvider
- Mock/Live Testing: Comprehensive testing infrastructure with mocks
- Checkpoint System: Workflow state management and resumption capabilities
Current Claude Code SDK Implementation
The existing SDK (in deps/claude_code_sdk/
) provides:
✅ Implemented Core Features:
- Basic SDK functions:
query/2
,continue/2
,resume/3
- Message processing with structured types (
:system
,:user
,:assistant
,:result
) - Options configuration via
ClaudeCodeSDK.Options
struct - Authentication delegation to Claude CLI
- Mocking system for cost-free testing
- Helper modules:
ContentExtractor
,AuthChecker
,OptionBuilder
,DebugMode
❌ Current Limitations:
- Limited integration depth in pipeline configuration
- Basic error handling without retry mechanisms
- No MCP (Model Context Protocol) support
- No advanced session management features
- Missing performance optimization features
Integration Strategy
Phase 1: Enhanced Configuration Schema
Objective: Extend the pipeline configuration system to support all Claude Code SDK features.
1.1 Extended Claude Options Schema
Current basic claude_options
:
claude_options:
max_turns: 15
allowed_tools: ["Write", "Edit", "Read", "Bash"]
cwd: "./workspace"
Enhanced claude_options
schema:
claude_options:
# Core Configuration
max_turns: 15
output_format: "stream_json" # "text", "json", "stream_json"
verbose: true
# Tool Management
allowed_tools: ["Write", "Edit", "Read", "Bash", "Search"]
disallowed_tools: ["WebFetch"] # Explicit exclusions
# System Prompts
system_prompt: "You are a senior software engineer focused on clean, maintainable code."
append_system_prompt: "Always follow the project's coding standards."
# Working Environment
cwd: "./workspace/backend"
# Permission Management (Future: MCP Support)
permission_mode: "accept_edits" # "default", "accept_edits", "bypass_permissions", "plan"
permission_prompt_tool: "mcp__auth__approve" # Future MCP integration
# Advanced Features (Future)
mcp_config: "./config/mcp_servers.json"
# Session Management
session_id: "custom-session-123" # For explicit session control
resume_session: true # Auto-resume if session exists
# Performance & Reliability
retry_config:
max_retries: 3
backoff_strategy: "exponential" # "linear", "exponential"
retry_on: ["timeout", "api_error"]
timeout_ms: 300000 # 5 minute timeout
# Debug & Monitoring
debug_mode: true
telemetry_enabled: true
cost_tracking: true
1.2 New Step Types
Current step types: gemini
, claude
, parallel_claude
New step types:
# Advanced Claude step with session management
- name: "claude_session"
type: "claude_session"
session_config:
persist: true
session_name: "refactoring_session"
continue_on_restart: true
claude_options:
max_turns: 50
# ... enhanced options
# Claude with preprocessing using OptionBuilder
- name: "claude_smart"
type: "claude_smart"
preset: "development" # "development", "production", "analysis", "chat"
environment_aware: true
claude_options:
# Overrides for the preset
max_turns: 20
# Claude with content extraction
- name: "claude_extract"
type: "claude_extract"
extraction_config:
extract_format: "markdown" # "text", "json", "markdown"
summary_length: 500
include_metadata: true
claude_options:
output_format: "stream_json"
1.3 Advanced Prompt Templates
Enhanced prompt template support:
prompt:
- type: "static"
content: "Review this code for security issues:"
- type: "file"
path: "src/auth.py"
- type: "previous_response"
step: "security_scan"
extract_with: "content_extractor" # Use ContentExtractor
summary: true
max_length: 1000
- type: "session_context" # New: Include session history
session_id: "refactoring_session"
include_last_n: 3
- type: "claude_continue" # New: Continue previous Claude session
session_id: "${previous_step.session_id}"
new_prompt: "Now implement the security fixes"
Phase 2: Advanced Features Integration
2.1 Enhanced Provider Implementation
Current: Pipeline.Providers.ClaudeProvider
with basic functionality
Enhanced: Full-featured provider with all SDK capabilities
defmodule Pipeline.Providers.EnhancedClaudeProvider do
# Support for all ClaudeCodeSDK.Options
# Integration with OptionBuilder presets
# Advanced error handling with retries
# Session management and continuation
# Performance monitoring and cost tracking
# Content extraction and processing
end
2.2 Authentication & Environment Management
New configuration section:
workflow:
name: "enhanced_pipeline"
# New: Claude authentication configuration
claude_auth:
auto_check: true # Verify authentication before starting
provider: "anthropic" # "anthropic", "aws_bedrock", "google_vertex"
fallback_mock: true # Use mocks if auth fails in dev mode
diagnostics: true # Run AuthChecker diagnostics
# Enhanced environment configuration
environment:
mode: "development" # Auto-detected or explicit
debug_level: "verbose"
cost_alerts:
enabled: true
threshold_usd: 1.00
notify_on_exceed: true
2.3 Advanced Step Features
Session Management Steps
steps:
- name: "start_refactoring_session"
type: "claude_session_start"
session_config:
name: "refactoring_session"
description: "Large-scale refactoring project"
persist: true
checkpoint_frequency: 5 # Save every 5 interactions
- name: "continue_refactoring"
type: "claude_session_continue"
session_name: "refactoring_session"
prompt:
- type: "static"
content: "Continue with the next refactoring step"
- name: "session_summary"
type: "claude_session_analyze"
session_name: "refactoring_session"
analysis_config:
include_cost_breakdown: true
include_interaction_summary: true
extract_key_decisions: true
Batch Processing Steps
- name: "batch_analysis"
type: "claude_batch"
batch_config:
max_parallel: 3
timeout_per_task: 60000
consolidate_results: true
tasks:
- file: "src/module1.py"
prompt: "Analyze this module for performance issues"
- file: "src/module2.py"
prompt: "Analyze this module for performance issues"
- file: "src/module3.py"
prompt: "Analyze this module for performance issues"
claude_options:
preset: "analysis"
max_turns: 5
Error Recovery Steps
- name: "robust_implementation"
type: "claude_robust"
retry_config:
max_retries: 3
backoff_strategy: "exponential"
retry_conditions:
- "max_turns_exceeded"
- "api_timeout"
- "authentication_error"
fallback_action: "continue_with_mock"
claude_options:
max_turns: 10
verbose: true
Phase 3: Developer Experience Enhancements
3.1 Smart Configuration Presets
Integration with OptionBuilder:
defaults:
# Use OptionBuilder presets
claude_preset: "development" # Auto-configures verbose, permissive settings
steps:
- name: "analysis_step"
type: "claude_smart"
preset: "analysis" # Read-only tools, focused on code analysis
- name: "implementation_step"
type: "claude_smart"
preset: "production" # Restricted tools, safe defaults
- name: "interactive_step"
type: "claude_smart"
preset: "chat" # Simple conversation settings
3.2 Enhanced Debug and Monitoring
New debug configuration:
workflow:
debug_config:
level: "detailed" # "basic", "detailed", "performance"
enable_benchmarking: true
message_analysis: true
cost_tracking: true
performance_profiling: true
monitoring:
telemetry:
enabled: true
include_timing: true
include_costs: true
include_token_usage: true
alerts:
cost_threshold: 5.00
duration_threshold: 600000 # 10 minutes
error_threshold: 3
3.3 Content Processing Pipeline
Enhanced content extraction:
steps:
- name: "analyze_with_extraction"
type: "claude_extract"
extraction_config:
use_content_extractor: true
format: "structured" # "text", "json", "structured", "summary"
post_processing:
- "extract_code_blocks"
- "extract_recommendations"
- "generate_summary"
max_summary_length: 500
claude_options:
output_format: "stream_json"
max_turns: 5
prompt:
- type: "file"
path: "complex_codebase.py"
Phase 4: Future-Ready Features
4.1 MCP Integration Preparation
MCP configuration schema (Future):
workflow:
mcp_config:
enabled: true
config_file: "./config/mcp_servers.json"
auto_discover_tools: true
steps:
- name: "mcp_enhanced_step"
type: "claude_mcp"
mcp_tools:
- "mcp__filesystem__read_file"
- "mcp__github__search_issues"
- "mcp__slack__send_message"
claude_options:
permission_mode: "prompt"
permission_prompt_tool: "mcp__auth__approve"
4.2 Advanced Performance Features
Performance optimization schema:
workflow:
performance:
caching:
enabled: true
strategy: "intelligent" # Cache similar prompts
ttl: 3600 # 1 hour
parallel_optimization:
enabled: true
max_concurrent_claude: 3
load_balancing: "round_robin"
memory_management:
stream_processing: true
lazy_evaluation: true
garbage_collection: "aggressive"
4.3 Integration Patterns
Phoenix LiveView Integration (Future):
workflow:
integration:
phoenix_liveview:
enabled: true
real_time_updates: true
websocket_channel: "pipeline_updates"
otp_integration:
supervisor: "Pipeline.DynamicSupervisor"
worker_pool: "claude_workers"
max_workers: 5
Implementation Roadmap
Milestone 1: Core Integration (Week 1-2)
- Extend pipeline configuration schema for enhanced Claude options
- Implement
EnhancedClaudeProvider
with full SDK feature support - Add OptionBuilder preset integration
- Update configuration validation and error handling
Milestone 2: Advanced Features (Week 3-4)
- Implement session management step types
- Add content extraction and processing pipeline
- Implement retry mechanisms and error recovery
- Add authentication management and environment validation
Milestone 3: Developer Experience (Week 5-6)
- Integrate DebugMode for comprehensive diagnostics
- Add performance monitoring and cost tracking
- Implement smart configuration presets
- Add batch processing capabilities
Milestone 4: Future-Ready Architecture (Week 7-8)
- Prepare MCP integration foundation
- Implement performance optimization features
- Add integration pattern support
- Create comprehensive documentation and examples
Configuration Migration Strategy
Backward Compatibility
All existing pipeline configurations will continue to work without modification. New features are additive and opt-in.
Migration Path
- Phase 1: Existing configurations work as-is
- Phase 2: Optional enhancement with new
claude_options
fields - Phase 3: Gradual adoption of new step types and features
- Phase 4: Full feature utilization with advanced configurations
Example Migration
Current Configuration:
- name: "implement"
type: "claude"
claude_options:
max_turns: 15
allowed_tools: ["Write", "Edit", "Read"]
prompt:
- type: "static"
content: "Implement the feature"
Enhanced Configuration:
- name: "implement"
type: "claude_smart" # New step type
preset: "development" # OptionBuilder preset
claude_options:
max_turns: 15
output_format: "stream_json"
verbose: true
retry_config:
max_retries: 2
debug_mode: true
prompt:
- type: "static"
content: "Implement the feature"
extraction_config:
use_content_extractor: true
format: "structured"
Benefits and Impact
Enhanced Reliability
- Retry Mechanisms: Automatic recovery from transient failures
- Better Error Handling: Comprehensive error classification and recovery
- Session Management: Persistent conversation state across interruptions
Improved Developer Experience
- Smart Presets: Environment-aware configuration defaults
- Enhanced Debugging: Comprehensive diagnostics and performance analysis
- Content Processing: Intelligent extraction and summarization
Advanced Capabilities
- Multi-Modal Operations: Support for various output formats and processing modes
- Performance Optimization: Parallel processing, caching, and resource management
- Future-Ready: Prepared for MCP integration and advanced AI features
Cost and Performance Benefits
- Cost Tracking: Real-time monitoring and alerting
- Efficient Processing: Stream-based, lazy evaluation patterns
- Resource Optimization: Intelligent session and memory management
Risk Assessment and Mitigation
Technical Risks
- Complexity Increase: Mitigated by maintaining backward compatibility and gradual adoption
- Performance Impact: Mitigated by optional features and efficient implementations
- Integration Challenges: Mitigated by comprehensive testing and phased rollout
Operational Risks
- Learning Curve: Mitigated by extensive documentation and examples
- Configuration Errors: Mitigated by validation, defaults, and helpful error messages
- Cost Overruns: Mitigated by cost tracking, alerts, and smart defaults
Success Metrics
Technical Metrics
- Integration Coverage: 100% of Claude Code SDK features accessible via configuration
- Performance: No degradation in existing pipeline execution times
- Reliability: 99%+ success rate with retry mechanisms
Developer Experience Metrics
- Adoption Rate: 80%+ of new pipelines using enhanced features within 3 months
- Error Reduction: 50% reduction in configuration-related errors
- Development Speed: 30% faster pipeline development with smart presets
Business Metrics
- Cost Efficiency: 20% reduction in API costs through intelligent caching and optimization
- Feature Delivery: 40% faster delivery of AI-enhanced features
- System Reliability: 99.9% uptime for AI pipeline operations
Conclusion
This integration plan provides a comprehensive roadmap for evolving our pipeline configuration system to leverage the full power of the Claude Code SDK. The phased approach ensures minimal disruption while maximizing benefits, creating a robust, feature-rich platform for AI-orchestrated development workflows.
The enhanced system will support everything from simple automated tasks to complex, multi-session software development projects, positioning our platform as a leading solution for AI-assisted development pipelines.