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Universal .cursorrules

A battle-tested AI config for Cursor, Windsurf, or any agent that reads project rules. Sets coding standards, forbidden patterns, and response format.

15-20 min|Advanced
BuildStrategicDeveloper
Prompt Template
# Project Rules for AI-Assisted Coding
# Save as: .cursorrules (Cursor) or .windsurfrules (Windsurf) or CLAUDE.md (Claude Code)

## Project Context
- Project: [your project name]
- Stack: [e.g., Next.js 15, TypeScript, Tailwind CSS v4, Supabase]
- Architecture: [e.g., App Router, Server Components, Drizzle ORM]
- Hosting: [e.g., Vercel, Railway, Fly.io]

## Coding Standards
- Language: TypeScript strict mode. Never use `any`.
- Styling: Tailwind utility classes only. No inline styles. No CSS modules.
- Components: Functional components only. No class components.
- State: Server-first. Default to server components. Add "use client" only for interactivity.
- Data: Server components fetch data directly. Client components use server actions.
- Files: kebab-case for filenames, PascalCase for components.
- Imports: Use path aliases (@/components, @/lib). No relative paths beyond one level (../).

## Response Format
- Lead with the code change, then explain.
- Show complete file content for new files.
- Show only the changed function/block for edits.
- Never add comments that restate what the code does.
- Never generate TODO or placeholder comments.

## Forbidden Patterns
- No `var`. Use `const` by default, `let` only when reassigning.
- No `enum`. Use `as const` objects or union types.
- No wrapper components for single-use cases.
- No try/catch without a specific recovery strategy.
- No new package installs without stating why + checking bundle size.
- No placeholder or lorem ipsum content.
- No `console.log` left in production code.

## Testing
- Test business logic, not UI rendering.
- Use the testing framework already in the project.
- Test behavior and outcomes, not implementation details.

## When Unsure
- Ask before making architectural decisions.
- Propose 2-3 options with trade-offs instead of picking one silently.
- If a change touches more than 3 files, outline the plan before coding.

The AI reads this before every task, so it never asks you to repeat your stack choices or invent its own conventions. One-time investment, permanent payoff.

At the start of any project. Save as .cursorrules, .windsurfrules, or CLAUDE.md depending on your tool.

Universal .cursorrules | Library | Modern Vibe Coding