Working in Multiple IDEs Without Losing Your Mind (or Your Context)

Hey builders! 👋

I've been deep in the weeds figuring out how to organize my dev environment while working across Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf, VS Code, and Google Antigravity — all on the same machine, often on the same projects. This was spurred by my upcoming switch from a Windows to Mac (arrives tomorrow 💻🤩) and a desire to have a clean dev environment before just dumping all of my project files onto it.

The problem? Each IDE has its own config system, and without a clear folder structure, you end up with:

Project context bleeding between unrelated projects
AI assistants mixing up client/project information
Branding files scattered everywhere
No idea which version of a project is "current"

The key insight is understanding how Claude Code loads CLAUDE.md files — it walks UP the directory tree. So if you accidentally put a CLAUDE.md in a parent folder, ALL child projects inherit it. Context leakage nightmare.

I worked with Claude to design a folder structure that keeps everything isolated while still allowing shared global commands/skills across all projects.

I attached a link to a full visual guide showing:

Exactly where each IDE stores global vs project config
The recommended folder hierarchy
The 5 critical rules to prevent context leakage
What each IDE actually "sees" when you open a project

Multi-folder guide I put together with Claude 👉 https://admirable-centaur-607433.netlify.app/ 👈

Would love to hear how others are handling multi-IDE setups, and also get a sanity check on this one. Do you use a similar structure? Something totally different?

Looking forward to hearing how you guys are doing this - thanks in advance for any insights! 🚀

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