/newrule is a slash command that lets you teach Cline your preferred way of working. It creates a markdown file in your .clinerules directory that acts like persistent instructions for how Cline should behave when helping with your projects.

Think of it as setting up house rules that Cline will always follow, so you don’t have to repeat your preferences in every conversation.

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Using the /newrule Slash Command

When you want Cline to consistently follow certain guidelines:

  • Type /newrule in the chat
  • Cline will help you create a structured rule file by asking about your preferences for:
    • Communication style (verbose vs. concise)
    • Development workflows
    • Coding standards
    • Project context
    • Any other specific guidelines
  • You’ll review the rule file before it’s created
  • Once approved, Cline creates a markdown file in your .clinerules directory that will automatically be loaded for future conversations

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Example

I used /newrule when I was fed up with repeating the same instructions on every new task. I had specific preferences for how I wanted my React components structured, which testing library to use, and even my preferred variable naming style.

Instead of typing these preferences each time, I just used /newrule and worked with Cline to create a detailed rule file. We built a markdown file that covered everything from code organization to my preference for functional components over class components.

Now whenever I chat with Cline about my React project, it automatically follows these guidelines without me having to remind it. The best part is that I can create different rule files for different projects, so Cline adapts to whatever codebase I’m working on.

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Inspiration

Here’s how I use /newrule to make my development smoother:

  • I created a rule file for each major project with specific architectural patterns and library preferences, so Cline always generates code that matches our existing codebase.

  • For my team’s shared projects, we have a common rule file that ensures consistent code style and documentation practices regardless of who’s using Cline.

  • When working with legacy code, I made a rule file that reminds Cline about the quirks and constraints of the old system, so it never suggests modern approaches that won’t integrate well.

  • I even have a personal rule file for my side projects with all my opinionated preferences - two-space indentation, arrow functions everywhere, and my exact folder structure requirements.