SuperClaude/docs/User-Guide/flags.md

SuperClaude Flags Guide 🏁

Most flags activate automatically - Claude Code reads behavioral instructions to engage appropriate contexts based on keywords and patterns in your requests.

Essential Auto-Activation Flags (90% of Use Cases)

Core Analysis Flags

Flag	When Activated	What It Does
--think	5+ files OR complex analysis	Standard structured analysis (~4K tokens)
--think-hard	Architectural analysis, system dependencies	Deep analysis (~10K tokens) with enhanced tools
--ultrathink	Critical system redesign, legacy modernization	Maximum depth analysis (~32K tokens) with all tools

MCP Server Flags

Flag	Server	Purpose	Auto-Triggers
--c7 / --context7	Context7	Official docs, framework patterns	Library imports, framework questions
--seq / --sequential	Sequential	Multi-step reasoning, debugging	Complex debugging, system design
--magic	Magic	UI component generation	/ui commands, frontend keywords
--play / --playwright	Playwright	Browser testing, E2E validation	Testing requests, visual validation
--chrome / --devtools	Chrome DevTools	Performance analysis, debugging	Performance auditing, debugging, layout issues
--tavily	Tavily	Web search, real-time info	Web search requests, research queries
--morph / --morphllm	Morphllm	Bulk transformations, pattern edits	Bulk operations, style enforcement
--serena	Serena	Project memory, symbol operations	Symbol operations, large codebases

Behavioral Mode Flags

Flag	When Activated	What It Does
--brainstorm	Vague requests, exploration keywords	Collaborative discovery mindset
--introspect	Self-analysis, error recovery	Expose reasoning process with transparency
--task-manage	>3 steps, complex scope	Orchestrate through delegation
--orchestrate	Multi-tool operations, performance needs	Optimize tool selection and parallel execution
--token-efficient / --uc	Context >75%, efficiency needs	Symbol-enhanced communication, 30-50% reduction

Execution Control Flags

Flag	When Activated	What It Does
--loop	"improve", "polish", "refine" keywords	Iterative enhancement cycles
--safe-mode	Production, >85% resource usage	Maximum validation, conservative execution
--validate	Risk >0.7, production environment	Pre-execution risk assessment
--delegate	>7 directories OR >50 files	Sub-agent parallel processing

Command-Specific Flags

Analysis Command Flags (/sc:analyze)

Flag	Purpose	Values
--focus	Target specific domain	security, performance, quality, architecture
--depth	Analysis thoroughness	quick, deep
--format	Output format	text, json, report

Build Command Flags (/sc:build)

Flag	Purpose	Values
--type	Build configuration	dev, prod, test
--clean	Clean before build	Boolean
--optimize	Enable optimizations	Boolean
--verbose	Detailed output	Boolean

Design Command Flags (/sc:design)

Flag	Purpose	Values
--type	Design target	architecture, api, component, database
--format	Output format	diagram, spec, code

Explain Command Flags (/sc:explain)

Flag	Purpose	Values
--level	Complexity level	basic, intermediate, advanced
--format	Explanation style	text, examples, interactive
--context	Domain context	Any domain (e.g., react, security)

Improve Command Flags (/sc:improve)

Flag	Purpose	Values
--type	Improvement focus	quality, performance, maintainability, style, security
--safe	Conservative approach	Boolean
--interactive	User guidance	Boolean
--preview	Show without executing	Boolean

Task Command Flags (/sc:task)

Flag	Purpose	Values
--strategy	Task approach	systematic, agile, enterprise
--parallel	Parallel execution	Boolean
--delegate	Sub-agent coordination	Boolean

Workflow Command Flags (/sc:workflow)

Flag	Purpose	Values
--strategy	Workflow approach	systematic, agile, enterprise
--depth	Analysis depth	shallow, normal, deep
--parallel	Parallel coordination	Boolean

Troubleshoot Command Flags (/sc:troubleshoot)

Flag	Purpose	Values
--type	Issue category	bug, build, performance, deployment
--trace	Include trace analysis	Boolean
--fix	Apply fixes	Boolean

Cleanup Command Flags (/sc:cleanup)

Flag	Purpose	Values
--type	Cleanup target	code, imports, files, all
--safe / --aggressive	Cleanup intensity	Boolean
--interactive	User guidance	Boolean
--preview	Show without executing	Boolean

Estimate Command Flags (/sc:estimate)

Flag	Purpose	Values
--type	Estimate focus	time, effort, complexity
--unit	Time unit	hours, days, weeks
--breakdown	Detailed breakdown	Boolean

Index Command Flags (/sc:index)

Flag	Purpose	Values
--type	Index target	docs, api, structure, readme
--format	Output format	md, json, yaml

Reflect Command Flags (/sc:reflect)

Flag	Purpose	Values
--type	Reflection scope	task, session, completion
--analyze	Include analysis	Boolean
--validate	Validate completeness	Boolean

Spawn Command Flags (/sc:spawn)

Flag	Purpose	Values
--strategy	Coordination approach	sequential, parallel, adaptive
--depth	Analysis depth	normal, deep

Git Command Flags (/sc:git)

Flag	Purpose	Values
--smart-commit	Generate commit message	Boolean
--interactive	Guided operations	Boolean

Select-Tool Command Flags (/sc:select-tool)

Flag	Purpose	Values
--analyze	Tool analysis	Boolean
--explain	Explain selection	Boolean

Test Command Flags (/sc:test)

Flag	Purpose	Values
--coverage	Include coverage	Boolean
--type	Test type	unit, integration, e2e
--watch	Watch mode	Boolean

Advanced Control Flags

Scope and Focus

Flag	Purpose	Values
--scope	Analysis boundary	file, module, project, system
--focus	Domain targeting	performance, security, quality, architecture, accessibility, testing

Execution Control

Flag	Purpose	Values
--concurrency [n]	Control parallel ops	1-15
--iterations [n]	Improvement cycles	1-10
--all-mcp	Enable all MCP servers	Boolean
--no-mcp	Native tools only	Boolean
--frontend-verify	UI testing, frontend debugging, layout validation	Enable Playwright + Chrome DevTools + Serena

System Flags (SuperClaude Installation)

Flag	Purpose	Values
--verbose / -v	Verbose logging	Boolean
--quiet / -q	Suppress output	Boolean
--dry-run	Simulate operation	Boolean
--force	Skip checks	Boolean
--yes / -y	Auto-confirm	Boolean
--install-dir	Target directory	Path
--legacy	Use legacy script	Boolean
--version	Show version	Boolean
--help	Show help	Boolean

Common Usage Patterns

Frontend Development

/sc:implement "responsive dashboard" --magic --c7
/sc:design component-library --type component --format code
/sc:test ui-components/ --magic --play
/sc:improve legacy-ui/ --magic --morph --validate

Backend Development

/sc:analyze api/ --focus performance --seq --think
/sc:design payment-api --type api --format spec
/sc:troubleshoot "API timeout" --type performance --trace
/sc:improve auth-service --type security --validate

Large Projects

/sc:analyze . --ultrathink --all-mcp --safe-mode
/sc:workflow enterprise-system --strategy enterprise --depth deep
/sc:cleanup . --type all --safe --interactive
/sc:estimate "migrate to microservices" --type complexity --breakdown

Quality & Maintenance

/sc:improve src/ --type quality --safe --interactive
/sc:cleanup imports --type imports --preview
/sc:reflect --type completion --validate
/sc:git commit --smart-commit

Flag Interactions

Compatible Combinations

• --think + --c7: Analysis with documentation
• --magic + --play: UI generation with testing
• --serena + --morph: Project memory with transformations
• --safe-mode + --validate: Maximum safety
• --loop + --validate: Iterative improvement with validation

Conflicting Flags

• --all-mcp vs individual MCP flags (use one or the other)
• --no-mcp vs any MCP flags (--no-mcp wins)
• --safe vs --aggressive (cleanup intensity)
• --quiet vs --verbose (output level)

Auto-Enabling Relationships

• --safe-mode auto-enables --uc and --validate
• --ultrathink auto-enables all MCP servers
• --think-hard auto-enables --seq + --c7
• --magic triggers UI-focused agents

Troubleshooting Flags

Common Issues

• Too many tools: Use --no-mcp to test with native tools only
• Operation too slow: Add --uc to compress output
• Validation blocking: Use --validate instead of --safe-mode in development
• Context pressure: Auto-activates --token-efficient at >75% usage

Debug Flags

/sc:analyze . --verbose                      # Shows decision logic and flag activation
/sc:select-tool "operation" --explain        # Explains tool selection process
/sc:reflect --type session --analyze         # Reviews current session decisions

Quick Fixes

/sc:analyze . --help                         # Shows available flags for command
/sc:analyze . --no-mcp                       # Native execution only
/sc:cleanup . --preview                      # Shows what would be cleaned

Flag Priority Rules

1. Safety First: --safe-mode > --validate > optimization flags
2. Explicit Override: User flags > auto-detection
3. Depth Hierarchy: --ultrathink > --think-hard > --think
4. MCP Control: --no-mcp overrides all individual MCP flags
5. Scope Precedence: system > project > module > file

Related Resources

• Commands Guide - Commands that use these flags
• MCP Servers Guide - Understanding MCP flag activation
• Session Management - Using flags with persistent sessions