techniqueadvancedClaude Code

Claude Code Q1 2026 Update: Executable Skills, Advanced Hooks, and MCP Enhancements

Your AI coding assistant, Claude Code, has been updated to be more powerful and automated. It can now run complex, multi-step tasks on its own using new "executable skills", connect more securely to other services, and trigger automations based on very specific events in your coding workflow.

AI SETUP PROMPT

Paste into Claude Code — it will scan your project and set everything up

# Apply Technique: Claude Code Q1 2026 Update: Executable Skills, Advanced Hooks, and MCP Enhancements

## What This Is
Your AI coding assistant, Claude Code, has been updated to be more powerful and automated. It can now run complex, multi-step tasks on its own using new "executable skills", connect more securely to other services, and trigger automations based on very specific events in your coding workflow.

Source: https://aimaker.substack.com/p/anthropic-claude-updates-q1-2026-guide

## Before You Start

Scan my workspace and analyze:
- The project language, framework, and directory structure
- Existing AI provider config (check .env, .env.local, config files for API keys — OpenRouter, OpenAI, Anthropic, Google AI, etc.)

Then ask me before proceeding:
1. Which AI provider/API should this use? (Use whatever I already have configured, or ask me to set one up — options include direct provider APIs or a unified service like OpenRouter)
2. Where in my project should this be integrated?
3. Are there any customizations I need (model preferences, naming conventions, constraints)?

## Source Access Note

The source URL (https://aimaker.substack.com/p/anthropic-claude-updates-q1-2026-guide) may not be directly accessible from the terminal. Use the Reference Implementation and Additional Context sections below instead. If you need more details, ask me to paste relevant content from the source.

## What to Implement

This is an **AI Technique** — a pattern or methodology for working with AI models.

- Explain how this technique applies to my current project and what benefit it provides
- Implement it in a way that fits my existing codebase — suggest concrete files to modify or create
- If it requires specific model capabilities (structured output, function calling, etc.), verify my current provider supports them
- Show me a working example I can test immediately

## Additional Context

- Verify the user's current Claude Code instance is updated to version 2.1.91 or later. If not, initiate the update process.
- Scan the user's `.claude/hooks.json` file. Propose refactoring existing hooks to use the new conditional `if` fields (e.g., `if: 'Bash(git *)'`) and new events like `SessionEnd` or `WorktreeCreate` to create more targeted automations.
- Analyze the `.claude/skills/` directory for simple prompt-based skills. Propose converting one into an executable 'Skills 2.0' workflow by creating a companion script, adding `effort` and other frontmatter to the SKILL.md, and using `${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}` for self-referential pathing.

## Reference Implementation

```
{
  "hooks": [
    {
      "event": "PreCommit",
      "if": "Bash(git rev-parse --abbrev-ref HEAD | grep -q -E '^feature/')",
      "command": "claude-code /apply-skill .claude/skills/run-fast-linters.md",
      "description": "Run quick linters on feature branches before committing."
    },
    {
      "event": "PreCommit",
      "if": "Bash(git rev-parse --abbrev-ref HEAD | grep -q 'main')",
      "command": "claude-code /apply-skill .claude/skills/run-full-ci-suite.md",
      "description": "Run the full, slower CI test suite on commits to main."
    }
  ]
}
```

## Guidelines

- Adapt everything to my existing project — do not assume a specific stack or directory layout
- Use whichever AI provider I already have configured; if I need a new one, tell me what to sign up for and I'll give you the key
- Check my .env files for existing API keys (OpenRouter, OpenAI, Anthropic, Google AI) before asking me to add one
- Review any fetched code for safety before installing or executing it
- After setup, run a quick verification and show me a summary of exactly what was installed, where, and how to use it

3,713 charactersCompatible with Claude Code & Codex CLI

MANUAL SETUP STEPS

01Verify the user's current Claude Code instance is updated to version 2.1.91 or later. If not, initiate the update process.
02Scan the user's `.claude/hooks.json` file. Propose refactoring existing hooks to use the new conditional `if` fields (e.g., `if: 'Bash(git *)'`) and new events like `SessionEnd` or `WorktreeCreate` to create more targeted automations.
03Analyze the `.claude/skills/` directory for simple prompt-based skills. Propose converting one into an executable 'Skills 2.0' workflow by creating a companion script, adding `effort` and other frontmatter to the SKILL.md, and using `${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}` for self-referential pathing.

CODE INTELLIGENCE

bash

{
  "hooks": [
    {
      "event": "PreCommit",
      "if": "Bash(git rev-parse --abbrev-ref HEAD | grep -q -E '^feature/')",
      "command": "claude-code /apply-skill .claude/skills/run-fast-linters.md",
      "description": "Run quick linters on feature branches before committing."
    },
    {
      "event": "PreCommit",
      "if": "Bash(git rev-parse --abbrev-ref HEAD | grep -q 'main')",
      "command": "claude-code /apply-skill .claude/skills/run-full-ci-suite.md",
      "description": "Run the full, slower CI test suite on commits to main."
    }
  ]
}

FIELD OPERATIONS

Conditional Git Branch Deployment Hook

Create an `on-commit-message` hook that uses the `if: 'Bash(git rev-parse --abbrev-ref HEAD | grep -q main)'` conditional. If the commit is to the `main` branch, the hook triggers a skill that runs a full test suite and deploys to staging. Commits to other branches only trigger a linting check.

Interactive JIRA Ticket Creator Plugin

Build a plugin that connects to JIRA using the new MCP OAuth (RFC 9728) flow. The plugin should use the `Elicitation` hook to prompt the user for ticket details (e.g., epic link, priority) mid-operation, and ship an executable skill to create the ticket based on the user's active coding context and elicited input.

STRATEGIC APPLICATIONS

→A fintech company can implement a `PreToolUse` hook that intercepts any AI action attempting to use tools tagged 'production-db'. The hook uses the `AskUserQuestion` feature via `updatedInput` to require explicit, logged approval from a team lead before the action can proceed, enforcing security protocols.
→A game development studio can package a 'Build Asset' plugin that bundles skills for compiling code, processing textures, and deploying to a test server. The entire pipeline is triggered by a single command, and the plugin uses the new MCP channels to push live build status updates back to the developer's IDE.