System Prompts

Add these prompts to enforce SCRUM MCP usage.

Copy the appropriate system prompt into your AI coding tool's configuration. These prompts instruct agents to use SCRUM MCP for all file operations, ensuring proper coordination in multi-agent environments.

Where to add these prompts

Claude Code: Add to CLAUDE.md in your project root or ~/.claude/CLAUDE.md globally.
Cursor: Add to .cursorrules in your project root.
Continue: Add to your config.json system prompt field.

CLAUDE.md

Claude Code System Prompt

Add this to your project's CLAUDE.md file or ~/.claude/CLAUDE.md for global enforcement.

Full prompt template
# Project Instructions

**IMPORTANT: Always use SCRUM MCP tools for any code changes.** Multiple agents may be working on this codebase simultaneously. Check for conflicts and claim files before editing.

## Session Startup (Do This First!)

When starting a session, AUTOMATICALLY run:
```
scrum_status()      # Check server status
scrum_task_list()   # See pending/active tasks
scrum_claims_list() # See what files are claimed
```

This gives you situational awareness of what other agents are working on.

## Code Quality Requirements

Before releasing any file claims, you MUST:

1. **Run tests** - All existing tests must pass
2. **No regressions** - Don't break what works
3. **Attach evidence** - Prove your changes work via `scrum_evidence_attach`
4. **Small, focused changes** - One concern per task, don't scope creep
5. **Review your own code** - Read it back before committing

Do NOT optimize for speed of completion. Optimize for correctness and maintainability. If unsure, ask the user rather than guessing.

## Multi-Agent Coordination with SCRUM MCP

This project uses **SCRUM (Synchronized Claims Registry for Unified Multi-agents)** for multi-agent coordination. When multiple AI agents work on this codebase simultaneously, they MUST use SCRUM to prevent conflicts and coordinate their work.

### Enforced Workflow

**SCRUM enforces this workflow at the server level. You cannot skip steps - the tools will reject your requests.**

1. **Check for conflicts** before touching any files:
   ```
   scrum_overlap_check(files: ["path/to/file.ts", ...])
   ```

2. **Find or create a task** for your work:
   ```
   scrum_task_list()  # Check existing tasks
   scrum_task_create(title: "Your task", description: "Details")
   ```

3. **Declare your intent** (REQUIRED before claiming):
   ```
   scrum_intent_post(
     taskId: "task-id",
     agentId: "your-unique-id",
     files: ["files/you/will/edit.ts"],
     boundaries: "What you WON'T touch",
     acceptanceCriteria: "REQUIRED: How to verify success (min 10 chars)"
   )
   ```

4. **Claim files** (will fail without intent):
   ```
   scrum_claim(agentId: "your-unique-id", files: ["file.ts"], ttlSeconds: 900)
   ```

5. **Make your changes** to the claimed files

6. **Log each change** to the changelog (do this AFTER each file edit):
   ```
   scrum_changelog_log(
     agentId: "your-unique-id",
     filePath: "path/to/edited/file.ts",
     changeType: "modify",  // or "create" or "delete"
     summary: "Added error handling to login function",
     taskId: "task-id"
   )
   ```

7. **Attach evidence** (REQUIRED before releasing):
   ```
   scrum_evidence_attach(
     taskId: "task-id",
     agentId: "your-unique-id",
     command: "npm test",
     output: "All tests passed"
   )
   ```

8. **Release claims** (will fail without evidence):
   ```
   scrum_claim_release(agentId: "your-unique-id", files: ["file.ts"])
   ```

### Debugging with Changelog

When investigating bugs or issues, search the changelog:
```
scrum_changelog_search(
  filePath: "suspect/file.ts",
  query: "error handling",
  since: 1702900000000
)
```

### Agent Identity

Each agent instance MUST use a unique `agentId`. Suggested format:
- `claude-code-{session-hash}`
- `cursor-{timestamp}`
- `agent-{random-id}`

### Conflict Resolution

If `scrum_overlap_check` or `scrum_claim` returns conflicts:
1. Check `scrum_claims_list()` to see who holds the files
2. Wait for the other agent to release, OR
3. Coordinate by creating an intent explaining your needs
4. Work on non-conflicting files in the meantime
.cursorrules

Cursor System Prompt

Add this to your project's .cursorrules file to enforce SCRUM MCP usage in Cursor.

Full prompt template
# Project Rules

**IMPORTANT: Always use SCRUM MCP tools for any code changes.** Multiple agents may be working on this codebase simultaneously. Check for conflicts and claim files before editing.

## Session Startup (Do First!)

AUTOMATICALLY run at session start:
- `scrum_status()` - Check server status
- `scrum_task_list()` - See pending tasks
- `scrum_claims_list()` - See claimed files

## Code Quality Requirements

Before releasing claims:
1. Run tests - all must pass
2. No regressions - don't break existing functionality
3. Log changes via `scrum_changelog_log`
4. Attach evidence via `scrum_evidence_attach`
5. Keep changes small and focused
6. Review your own code before finishing

Optimize for correctness, not speed. Ask the user if uncertain.

## Multi-Agent Coordination (SCRUM MCP)

This project uses SCRUM for multi-agent coordination. **The workflow is enforced at the server level - you cannot skip steps.**

### Before Any Code Changes

1. **Check conflicts**: `scrum_overlap_check(files: [...])`
2. **Get/create task**: `scrum_task_list()` or `scrum_task_create(...)`
3. **Post intent** (REQUIRED before claim):
   - `scrum_intent_post(taskId, agentId, files, boundaries, acceptanceCriteria)`
   - `acceptanceCriteria` is mandatory (min 10 chars)
4. **Claim files** (fails without intent):
   - `scrum_claim(agentId, files, ttlSeconds: 900)`
   - Rejects with `NO_INTENT` if step 3 was skipped

### After Each File Edit

5. **Log the change**:
   - `scrum_changelog_log(agentId, filePath, changeType, summary)`
   - Creates searchable history for debugging

### Before Releasing Claims

6. **Attach evidence** (REQUIRED before release):
   - `scrum_evidence_attach(taskId, agentId, command, output)`
   - No receipts = no release
7. **Release claims** (fails without evidence):
   - `scrum_claim_release(agentId, files)`
   - Rejects with `NO_EVIDENCE` if step 6 was skipped

### Debugging

Search changelog to find when issues were introduced:
- `scrum_changelog_search(filePath, query, since, until)`

### Agent Identity

Use a unique agentId like `cursor-{timestamp}` or `cursor-{random}`.

### Conflict Resolution

If files are claimed by another agent:
- Check `scrum_claims_list()` to see current claims
- Wait or work on unclaimed files
- Coordinate via intents
mcp.json

MCP Server Configuration

Add this to your MCP client configuration. Update the paths to match your SCRUM MCP installation.

MCP config
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "scrum": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/path/to/scrum-mcp/dist/mcp.js"],
      "env": {
        "SCRUM_DB_PATH": "/path/to/.scrum/scrum.sqlite"
      }
    }
  }
}

Available MCP Tools

Once configured, agents will have access to these SCRUM MCP tools:

## Core Tools

scrum_status()              # Check server status
scrum_task_list()           # List all tasks
scrum_task_create()         # Create a new task
scrum_intent_post()         # Declare intent before claiming
scrum_overlap_check()       # Check for file conflicts
scrum_claim()               # Claim files for editing
scrum_claim_release()       # Release file claims
scrum_claims_list()         # List all active claims

## Evidence & Changelog

scrum_evidence_attach()     # Attach proof of work
scrum_changelog_log()       # Log a file change
scrum_changelog_search()    # Search change history

## Workflow Enforcement

- claim() fails without prior intent_post()
- claim_release() fails without prior evidence_attach()
- acceptanceCriteria is required (min 10 chars)
- All operations are logged and auditable

Ready to coordinate

Get SCRUM MCP running in minutes.

Clone the repo, build the MCP server, and add your prompt. Your agents will start coordinating immediately.