[BUG] Default git workflow in the system prompt was pushed without context or consent

Preflight Checklist

• [x] I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
• [x] This is a single bug report (please file separate reports for different bugs)
• [x] I am using the latest version of Claude Code

What's Wrong?

The Claude Code system prompt hardcodes: "If on the default branch, branch first."

This was pushed into agent behavior with no context about my repo and no opt-in. For solo developers — or anyone who commits directly to main — it's disruptive: the agent silently branches, pushes, and opens a PR on every commit, leaving me to merge my own work.

The issue isn't the default — it's shipping opinionated lifecycle behavior into every session without consent. Let developers control their own workflow.

Asks:

Drop the line. Don't impose a workflow the agent has no signal to justify.
If you keep it, make it conditional on detectable signals (branch protection, CODEOWNERS, multiple committers) — not a blanket default.
At minimum, surface the assumption before acting on it.

What Should Happen?

don't push opinionated workflow without a developers context or consent. forcing branching logic on a single developer setup wastes my time.

Error Messages/Logs

Steps to Reproduce

...

Claude Model

None

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

current rev

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

macOS

Terminal/Shell

VS Code integrated terminal

Additional Information

_No response_