diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b327ce9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+# CLAUDE.md
+
+This file provides guidance to Claude Code (claude.ai/code) when working with code in this repository.
+
+## Project Overview
+
+This repository contains Dropshell Tools - a collection of utilities that support dropshell development. The main tool is `dropshell-tool`, a C++ command-line application that manages tool installation, updates, and publishing for the dropshell ecosystem.
+
+## Architecture
+
+### Core Components
+
+- **dropshell-tool**: Main C++ application (`dropshell-tool/src/`)
+  - `main.cpp`: CLI interface and command routing
+  - `ArchiveManager`: Handles .tgz archive creation/extraction
+  - `BashrcEditor`: Manages ~/.bashrc_dropshell_tool script modifications
+  - `DropshellScriptManager`: Manages tool installation and configuration
+  - `GetbinClient`: HTTP client for downloading/uploading tools
+
+- **sos**: Simple object storage utility
+- **whatsdirty**: Git repository status checker
+
+### Build System
+
+- Uses CMake with C++23 standard
+- Docker-based builds with static linking
+- Uses external build base image `gitea.jde.nz/public/dropshell-build-base:latest`
+- Versioning based on timestamp format YYYY.MMDD.HHMM
+
+## Common Commands
+
+### Build Tools
+```bash
+# Build all tools (includes install from getbin.xyz)
+./buildtestpublish_all.sh
+
+# Build specific tool (dropshell-tool)
+cd dropshell-tool && ./build.sh
+
+# Test specific tool
+cd dropshell-tool && ./test.sh
+
+# Publish specific tool (requires SOS_WRITE_TOKEN)
+cd dropshell-tool && ./publish.sh
+```
+
+### Development Workflow
+```bash
+# Check status of all git repositories
+./whatsdirty/whatsdirty.sh
+
+# Build debug version (default in build.sh)
+export CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE="Debug"
+
+# Build release version (used in publish.sh)
+export CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE="Release"
+```
+
+## Tool Functionality
+
+dropshell-tool manages a tool ecosystem by:
+- Installing tools to `~/.local/bin/dropshell-tool/<tool_name>/`
+- Managing bash completions and aliases via `~/.bashrc_dropshell_tool`
+- Storing tool metadata in `~/.config/dropshell-tool/`
+- Publishing/downloading tools via getbin.xyz object storage
+
+Each tool includes a `dropshell-tool-config.json` with aliases and setup scripts.
+
+## Publishing Requirements
+
+Publishing requires the `SOS_WRITE_TOKEN` environment variable for authentication to the object storage system.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/dropshell-tool/publish.sh b/dropshell-tool/publish.sh
index 0f24898..f10dc80 100755
--- a/dropshell-tool/publish.sh
+++ b/dropshell-tool/publish.sh
@@ -43,4 +43,4 @@ chmod +x "${SOS}"
 "${SOS}" upload "getbin.xyz" "${SCRIPT_DIR}/output/${PROJECT}" "${PROJECT}:latest-${ARCH}"
 
 # upload generic install script (ok if multiple times as we iterate through arch's)
-"${SOS}" upload "getbin.xyz" "${SCRIPT_DIR}/install.sh" "${PROJECT}-install:latest"
\ No newline at end of file
+"${SOS}" upload "getbin.xyz" "${SCRIPT_DIR}/install.sh" "${PROJECT}-install:latest"
diff --git a/dropshell-tool/src/GetbinClient.cpp b/dropshell-tool/src/GetbinClient.cpp
index 58155e4..a1f9ac8 100644
--- a/dropshell-tool/src/GetbinClient.cpp
+++ b/dropshell-tool/src/GetbinClient.cpp
@@ -84,7 +84,11 @@ bool GetbinClient::upload(const std::string& archivePath, std::string& outUrl, s
     
     client->sendRequest(req, [&](drogon::ReqResult result, const drogon::HttpResponsePtr& response) {
         if (result != drogon::ReqResult::Ok || !response) {
-            std::cerr << "[GetbinClient::upload] HTTP request failed (no response)." << std::endl;
+            std::cerr << "[GetbinClient::upload] HTTP /upload request failed (did not get OK response)." << std::endl;
+            if (response) {
+                std::cerr << response->getStatusCode() << std::endl;
+                std::cerr << response->getBody() << std::endl;
+            }
             return;
         }