Before You Start a .NET Web API, Add These 3 Files

Before writing the first endpoint in a .NET Web API project, three configuration files can prevent common team-scale problems. An `.editorconfig` enforces consistent code style across all developers, eliminating formatting debates in code reviews. A `Directory.Packages.props` file enables Central NuGet Package Management, keeping package versions consistent across all projects in a solution and reducing dependency conflicts. A `CLAUDE.md` file provides AI coding assistants like Claude Code with explicit project architecture rules, folder conventions, and prohibited actions — preventing the AI from making decisions that violate your design. A recommended setup order is provided, emphasizing that these foundational files should be added before any feature development begins.