SUMMARY
Claude Code (CLI) uses markdown configuration while CodeRabbit (Platform) uses yaml. They differ on 8 of 11 compared features. Both tools provide AI-assisted development but take different approaches to project configuration.
FEATURE COMPARISON
| Feature | Claude Code | CodeRabbit |
|---|---|---|
| Config format | markdown | yaml |
| Hierarchy support | ✓ | ✗ |
| Global config | ✓ | ✗ |
| Project config | ✓ | ✓ |
| Subdirectory scoping | ✓ | ✗ |
| File inclusion / imports | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ignore file | .claudeignore | ✗ |
| IDE integration | CLI | Platform |
| Schema / structure | Free-form (Markdown) | unknown |
| Git committed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Encoding | UTF-8 | UTF-8 |
FILE MAPPING
| Purpose | Claude Code | CodeRabbit |
|---|---|---|
| Settings / configuration | .claude/settings.json | .coderabbit.yaml |
KEY DIFFERENCES
Claude Code: markdown. CodeRabbit: yaml.
Claude Code: Supported. CodeRabbit: Not supported.
Claude Code: Supported. CodeRabbit: Not supported.
Claude Code: Supported. CodeRabbit: Not supported.
Claude Code: Supported. CodeRabbit: Not supported.
Claude Code: .claudeignore. CodeRabbit: Not supported.
Claude Code: CLI. CodeRabbit: Platform.
Claude Code: Free-form (Markdown). CodeRabbit: unknown.
WHICH SHOULD I USE?
Choose based on your IDE/CLI preference. If you use Claude Code, configure CLAUDE.md. If you use CodeRabbit, configure .coderabbit.yaml. Many projects include config files for multiple tools so each team member can use their preferred editor.
PORTABILITY TIP
# Maintain a single source of truth:
cp AI-INSTRUCTIONS.md CLAUDE.md
cp AI-INSTRUCTIONS.md .cursorrules
cp AI-INSTRUCTIONS.md AGENTS.md