# Create Rule

Create Cursor rules for persistent AI guidance.

- Repository: https://github.com/coco-research/coco (797 stars)
- Category: AI and agents
- License: see repository
- Last updated: 2026-11-01
- Runs scripts: no, instructions only

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add coco-research/coco --skill create-rule -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add coco-research/coco --skill create-rule -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add coco-research/coco --skill create-rule -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add coco-research/coco --skill create-rule -g -a gemini-cli -y`

## Description

Create Cursor rules for persistent AI guidance. Use when the user wants to create a rule, add coding standards, set up project conventions, configure file-specific patterns, create RULE.md files, or asks about .cursor/rules/ or AGENTS.md.

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

# Creating Cursor Rules

Create project rules in `.cursor/rules/` to provide persistent context for the AI agent.

## Gather Requirements

Before creating a rule, determine:

1. **Purpose**: What should this rule enforce or teach?
2. **Scope**: Should it always apply, or only for specific files?
3. **File patterns**: If file-specific, which glob patterns?

### Inferring from Context

If you have previous conversation context, infer rules from what was discussed. You can create multiple rules if the conversation covers distinct topics or patterns. Don't ask redundant questions if the context already provides the answers.

### Required Questions

If the user hasn't specified scope, ask:
- "Should this rule always apply, or only when working with specific files?"

If they mentioned specific files and haven't provided concrete patterns, ask:
- "Which file patterns should this rule apply to?" (e.g., `**/*.ts`, `backend/**/*.py`)

It's very important that we get clarity on the file patterns.

Use the AskQuestion tool when available to gather this efficiently.

---

## Rule File Format

Rules are `.mdc` files in `.cursor/rules/` with YAML frontmatter:

```
.cursor/rules/
  typescript-standards.mdc
  react-patterns.mdc
  api-conventions.mdc
```

### File Structure

```markdown
---
description: Brief description of what this rule does
globs: **/*.ts  # File pattern for file-specific rules
alwaysApply: false  # Set to true if rule should always apply
---

# Rule Title

Your rule content here...
```

### Frontmatter Fields

| Field | Type | Description |
|-------|------|-------------|
| `description` | string | What the rule does (shown in rule picker) |
| `globs` | string | File pattern - rule applies when matching files are open |
| `alwaysApply` | boolean | If true, applies to every session |

---

## Rule Configurations

### Always Apply

For universal standards that should apply to every conversation:

The rest: https://github.com/coco-research/coco/blob/HEAD/adapters/cursor/skills/create-rule/SKILL.md