New rule

/new-rule

Scaffold a new workflow rule. Use when you (or Claude) discover a behavior worth standardizing across projects.

Usage

/new-rule <kebab-name>

E.g.: /new-rule no-emoji-in-prose

Pre-flight

• Verify rules/<kebab-name>/ does not already exist (don't clobber)
• Confirm the rule isn't redundant with an existing one (check INVENTORY.md table)

Steps

1. Create directory:

   mkdir -p rules/<kebab-name>
   

2. Ask the user for:

   • One-line description (becomes description: frontmatter)
   • Scope: universal | personal | ui-project | research-pkg | static-site | optional
   • Rationale: 1-2 sentences on what bug this rule prevents / time it saves
   • Trigger condition: when does this rule kick in?

3. Write rules/<kebab-name>/RULE.md:

   ---
   name: <kebab-name>
   description: <one-line>
   scope: <scope>
   rationale: <why-this-rule-exists>
   ---
   
   # <kebab-name>
   
   > <one-line summary>
   
   ## Master TOC
   
   - [Rule](#rule)
   - [Why](#why)
   - [How to apply](#how-to-apply)
   - [Examples](#examples)
   - [Exceptions](#exceptions)
   
   ## Rule
   
   <imperative statement of the rule, with bullet points for clarity>
   
   ## Why
   
   <full rationale — what problem this prevents, what time it saves>
   
   ## How to apply
   
   <when this rule kicks in; edge cases; companion rules>
   
   ## Examples
   
   ✅ Good:
   <concrete scenario>
   
   ❌ Bad:
   <contrast scenario>
   
   ## Exceptions
   
   <when the rule doesn't apply, or when to override>
   

4. Write rules/<kebab-name>/snippet.md — the drop-in version:

   ## <Rule Name>
   
   <Compact 3-7 line statement suitable for inclusion in a project's CLAUDE.md via @import>
   

5. Update rules/README.md — add a row to the rule index table.

6. Update INVENTORY.md AND INVENTORY.zh.md — add a row to the Rules section table.

7. Show the user the diff and ask for confirmation before committing.

Companion

• docs/CONTRIBUTING.md §"Adding a rule" — formal spec
• rules/README.md — index of all rules + scope tag definitions