Custom System Rules & .cursorrules
When vibe coding in local editors, you don't want to repeat styling constraints, routing directives, and security configurations in every prompt.
System Rules files (like .cursorrules) lock the AI editor into your project's architectural standards automatically.
---
Authoring an Effective Rules File
A rules configuration file is a permanent system prompt appended to all editor operations.
Structure of a Production .cursorrules file:
```json { "tech_stack": { "framework": "Next.js 16 (App Router)", "styling": "Vanilla CSS Modules", "database": "Firebase Firestore"
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},
"styling_rules": [
"Never write inline CSS.",
"Style variables must be imported from globals.css tokens.",
"Always specify container alignments for mobile views first."
],
"testing_playbook": [
"Execute npm run lint after file changes.",
"All API files must have matching integration test scripts."
]
}
``
---
Synchronization Across Editors
Ensure system rules files are committed directly to your repository:
- Cursor: uses .cursorrules
in the project root. - Windsurf: uses .windsurfrules
. - VS Code plugin agents: standard configuration profiles.
Checklist: Rules Authoring
- [ ] Add a .cursorrules` file containing your specific styling constraints.
- [ ] Explicitly state database interface rules inside the instructions.
- [ ] Incorporate lint execution rules inside developer playbook triggers.
- [ ] Exclude duplicate libraries imports rules.
- [ ] Commit rules files to repository version control.