agentconfig.ing
Axe vs Claude CodeUpdated 2026-03-17

SUMMARY

Axe (CLI) uses toml configuration while Claude Code (CLI) uses markdown. They differ on 6 of 11 compared features. Both tools provide AI-assisted development but take different approaches to project configuration.

FEATURE COMPARISON

FeatureAxeClaude Code
Config formattomlmarkdown
Hierarchy support✗✓
Global config✓✓
Project config✓✓
Subdirectory scoping✗✓
File inclusion / imports✗✓
Ignore file✗.claudeignore
IDE integrationCLICLI
Schema / structureunknownFree-form (Markdown)
Git committed✓✓
EncodingUTF-8UTF-8

FILE MAPPING

PurposeAxeClaude Code
Settings / configurationconfig.toml.claude/settings.json
skillsSKILL.md.claude/skills/*/SKILL.md

KEY DIFFERENCES

1. Config format

Axe: toml. Claude Code: markdown.

2. Hierarchy support

Axe: Not supported. Claude Code: Supported.

3. Subdirectory scoping

Axe: Not supported. Claude Code: Supported.

4. File inclusion / imports

Axe: Not supported. Claude Code: Supported.

5. Ignore file

Axe: Not supported. Claude Code: .claudeignore.

6. Schema / structure

Axe: unknown. Claude Code: Free-form (Markdown).

WHICH SHOULD I USE?

Recommendation

Choose based on your IDE/CLI preference. If you use Axe, configure config.toml. If you use Claude Code, configure CLAUDE.md. Many projects include config files for multiple tools so each team member can use their preferred editor.

PORTABILITY TIP

sync-instructions.sh
bash
# Maintain a single source of truth:
cp AI-INSTRUCTIONS.md CLAUDE.md
cp AI-INSTRUCTIONS.md .cursorrules
cp AI-INSTRUCTIONS.md AGENTS.md

SEE ALSO

File references:
SKILL.mdCLAUDE.md
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