Instruction file imported from pohlai88/afanda (.cursor/rules/01-rules-authoring.always.mdc). Copyright stays with the author.

Cursor Rules Authoring Law (Always Apply)

Purpose

Prevent spaghetti rules, duplication, contradictions, and bloat.

Required Architecture

• Exactly ONE global shared rule file:
  • .cursor/rules/00-global.always.mdc
• All other rules MUST be delta-only and scoped by globs.

Delta-Only Rule Standard

Every non-global rule MUST start with:

Applies on top of 00-global.always.mdc. Do NOT restate global rules.

Naming Convention (Mandatory)

{domain}.{topic}.delta.mdc

Examples:

• app.docs.delta.mdc
• api.auth.delta.mdc
• shared.utils.delta.mdc

Duplication Ban (Hard Rule)

• Never copy/paste rule text across rule files.
• Shared text belongs ONLY in 00-global.always.mdc.

No Bypass Rule

If you later introduce AGENTS.md (anywhere under .cursor/ or the repo), it MUST follow the same Global + Delta structure:

• shared rules belong ONLY in 00-global.always.mdc
• scoped guidance belongs in delta-only rule files

Enforcement (HARD RULE)

MANDATORY: Duplication is enforced by CI via jscpd on .cursor/rules/**/*.{mdc,md}.

REQUIRED: Before creating or modifying any rule file:

1. Check for existing similar rules in 00-global.always.mdc
2. If content exists globally → DO NOT duplicate, reference it instead
3. If content is new → determine if it belongs in global or delta
4. If shared across 2+ domains → MUST go in 00-global.always.mdc

FORBIDDEN:

• ❌ Copy/pasting rule text across rule files
• ❌ Restating global rules in delta files
• ❌ Creating duplicate content in multiple delta files

VERIFICATION: Any duplication must be removed by merging shared content into 00-global.always.mdc.