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Claude system prompts as a git timeline

sourceSimon Willison
calendar_todayApril 18, 2026
schedule1 min read
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Exploring Claude's System Prompts Through Git Timeline

Summary

Anthropic has published the system prompts for its Claude chat models, allowing users to explore changes over time using a Git timeline format. This innovative approach enables detailed tracking of updates between model versions.

Key Points

  • Anthropic has made the system prompts for Claude chat publicly available in Markdown format.
  • The prompts can be viewed as a Git timeline, facilitating easier tracking of changes.
  • Claude Code was utilized to convert the prompts into separate files for each model and model family.
  • Fake git commit dates were generated to simulate a commit history for browsing.
  • The changes between Opus versions 4.6 and 4.7 were specifically noted and documented.
  • The article emphasizes the importance of version control in AI model development.

Analysis

The publication of Claude's system prompts in a Git format represents a significant step in transparency and collaboration within the AI community. By allowing users to track changes systematically, it enhances the understanding of model evolution and encourages contributions from developers.

Conclusion

IT professionals should consider leveraging version control systems like Git for managing AI model updates and documentation. This practice can improve collaboration and clarity in the development process.