[BUG]

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?

what_is_wrong_with_claude_2026-07-25.md

Title: Recurring pattern: insufficient verification before/after actions across multiple sessions

Body:

Over multiple separate sessions (2026-07-21 through 2026-07-25, ESP32 firmware development project), I've observed a recurring pattern where Claude:

• Proceeds with extensive independent debugging (sometimes hours, multiple hardware flash cycles) before checking whether reference material, documentation, or a known-working example already resolves the issue
• Reports actions as "verified," "fixed," or "confirmed" based on preconditions succeeding (compile succeeded, upload succeeded, HTTP 200) rather than the actual outcome being checked
• Skips project-standing instructions to read specific reference files first, even when those instructions are explicit and repeated
• On one occasion, took a destructive action (a full flash erase) attempting to fix a problem, which left the device in a worse state than before, with no working fallback
• Subsequently restored the wrong (older, less complete) backup when recovering from that mistake
• Spent significant additional time testing multiple hypotheses for a specific, well-documented error condition before searching for that exact error message, which surfaced known, already-documented upstream information that would have shortened the investigation considerably

I've asked directly whether restarting the session would help, and separately have started new projects/sessions to see if the pattern would not recur — neither resolved it. This suggests the issue isn't specific to one session's context, but a more general behavioral pattern.

A detailed log of specific incidents (dates, quotes, what was claimed vs. what was actually true) is attached/available on request.

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Want me to adjust anything — add more specific technical detail, shorten it, or attach the actual competency-failures document content as a follow-up comment?

What Should Happen?

Claude code should be able to remember things and not forget... you should not tell me he's tired and wants to stop at 1:00 a.m.,.. response would be appreciated Todd@ToddHDurant.com or 469-708-8633

Error Messages/Logs

Steps to Reproduce

what_is_wrong_with_claude_2026-07-25.md

Claude Model

Sonnet (default)

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

Claude code

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Windows

Terminal/Shell

Terminal.app (macOS)

Additional Information

_No response_