10x Your CLAUDE.md

Agent rule files are configuration files that customize how AI coding assistants behave in your project. They let you define coding standards, preferred patterns, architectural decisions, and project-specific instructions. When you start a coding session, the AI reads these rules and follows them throughout your interaction.

Different AI coding tools use different file formats: CLAUDE.md for Claude Code, .cursorrules for Cursor, .windsurfrules for Windsurf, AGENTS.md for generic agents, and .github/copilot-instructions.md for GitHub Copilot. RuleBox helps you discover and share configurations for all of these formats in one place.

Download or copy the rule file and place it in your project's root directory with the correct filename for your AI tool. The assistant automatically reads it when you start a session, applying your custom instructions to every interaction. No additional setup or configuration is required.

Always review rule files before using them. While most configurations are helpful, you should verify the instructions align with your project's needs. Rule files are plain text markdown, making them easy to read and understand. Check for any instructions that seem unusual or overly permissive before applying them to your workflow.

CLAUDE.md is the rule file format for Claude Code, Anthropic's agentic coding tool that runs in your terminal. It's a markdown file where you write natural language instructions that Claude follows throughout your coding session. You can specify coding conventions, testing requirements, documentation standards, and more.

Sharing helps the community discover effective configurations for different tech stacks and use cases. Your carefully crafted TypeScript or Python setup might save someone hours of trial and error. In return, you might find the perfect configuration for your next project, learning from how others structure their AI coding workflows.

Good rule files are clear, specific, and focused on your actual workflow. Include your preferred coding style, common patterns in your stack, file organization preferences, testing conventions, and any project-specific context the AI needs. Avoid overly generic instructions that don't add value beyond the AI's default behavior.