.cursorrules file: examples, generator and how to migrate
.cursorrules is the original Cursor rules format: a single plain-text or Markdown file at the root of your project with instructions for the AI. Cursor still reads it for backward compatibility, but new projects should use .cursor/rules/*.mdc files or AGENTS.md, which support scoping and work across tools.
Generate a .cursorrules (legacy) file
Where the file goes
.cursorrulesat the repository root.
How it works
- The whole file is included as context for Cursor chats in that project.
- There is no frontmatter and no file scoping.
Tips for a good .cursorrules (legacy)
- If you already have a
.cursorrules, split it into an always-apply.mdcrule plus glob-scoped.mdcfiles. - Or rename it to AGENTS.md so other tools can read it too.
Example: React + Vite + Tailwind CSS v4 + TanStack Query
.cursorrules
# Cursor rules - this project
You are an expert React + Vite, Tailwind CSS v4, TanStack Query engineer working on this codebase. Follow these rules.
## Project
A React + Vite + Tailwind CSS v4 + TanStack Query project.
Stack: React + Vite, Tailwind CSS v4, TanStack Query.
## Commands
- Dev server: `npm run dev`
- Build: `npm run build`
- Type-check: `npx tsc --noEmit`
- Lint: `npm run lint`
## Project structure
- Features live in `src/features/<name>/` with their components, hooks and tests together.
- Shared UI in `src/components/`, hooks in `src/hooks/`.
## How to work in this repo
- Read the relevant files before editing. Follow the patterns already in the codebase over these generic rules.
- Make the smallest change that solves the task. Do not refactor or reformat unrelated code.
- Before saying a task is done, run the type-check, lint and tests listed under Commands and fix what you broke.
- If requirements are ambiguous, ask one clear question instead of guessing.
- Never commit secrets, API keys or `.env` files. Use env vars and keep `.env.example` up to date.
- Do not add a new dependency when the standard library or an existing dependency already covers it.
- Ask before adding, removing or upgrading any dependency.
- Ask before changing database schemas, auth, payments or CI configuration.
- Never delete files, drop data or run destructive commands (`rm -rf`, `git push --force`, `DROP TABLE`) without explicit approval.
- Keep each change under ~200 changed lines where possible; split larger work into steps.
## React + Vite
- Function components and hooks only. No class components.
- Follow the Rules of Hooks: call hooks at the top level, never inside conditions or loops.
- Derive values during render instead of syncing them into state with `useEffect`.
- Every list item needs a stable `key` from the data, never the array index if the list can change order.
- Type component props with an exported `Props` type or interface. No `any`.
- Env vars must start with `VITE_` to reach the client, which also means they are public. Never put secrets in them.
- Lazy-load heavy routes with `React.lazy` and `Suspense`.
## Tailwind CSS v4
- Tailwind v4 is configured in CSS: `@import "tailwindcss";` plus `@theme { ... }` for design tokens. Do not create a `tailwind.config.js` unless the project already has one.
- Use theme tokens (colors, spacing) instead of arbitrary values like `w-[37px]`.
- Build responsive layouts mobile-first with `sm:`, `md:`, `lg:` prefixes.
- Extract repeated class lists into components, not `@apply` chains.
- Support dark mode with the `dark:` variant when the project uses it.
## TanStack Query
- All server data goes through `useQuery` / `useMutation`; do not copy query results into `useState`.
- Use array query keys built by a small key factory (e.g. `todoKeys.detail(id)`).
- Invalidate or update affected queries in `onSuccess` of every mutation.
- Wrap queries in custom hooks (`useTodos()`) instead of calling `useQuery` inline everywhere.
## Avoid
- Do not reach for global state for data that only one component tree uses.
## Reference docs
- [React docs](https://react.dev)
- [Vite docs](https://vite.dev/guide/)
- [Tailwind CSS docs](https://tailwindcss.com/docs)
- [TanStack Query docs](https://tanstack.com/query/latest)
FAQ
Is .cursorrules deprecated?
It is legacy. Cursor still reads it but recommends Project Rules in .cursor/rules or AGENTS.md.
Where can I find .cursorrules examples?
This site has one for every stack page, generated from maintained rule modules. Community collections such as awesome-cursorrules also exist but vary in quality and age.
.cursorrules (legacy) templates by stack
- Next.js (App Router) + Tailwind CSS v4 + shadcn/ui + Supabase + Zod validation .cursorrules (legacy)
- Next.js (App Router) + Tailwind CSS v4 .cursorrules (legacy)
- Next.js (App Router) + Tailwind CSS v4 + Prisma + Stripe payments + Zod validation .cursorrules (legacy)
- Next.js (App Router) + Tailwind CSS v4 + Drizzle ORM + Clerk auth + Zod validation .cursorrules (legacy)
- Next.js (App Router) + Tailwind CSS v4 + shadcn/ui + Vercel AI SDK + Zod validation .cursorrules (legacy)
- Next.js (App Router) + Tailwind CSS v4 + Supabase + Stripe payments + Zod validation + Vitest .cursorrules (legacy)
- Next.js (App Router) + Tailwind CSS v4 + Firebase .cursorrules (legacy)
- Next.js (App Router) + Tailwind CSS v4 + Vitest + Playwright E2E .cursorrules (legacy)
- React + Vite + Tailwind CSS v4 + TanStack Query + Vitest + Zod validation .cursorrules (legacy)
- React + Vite + Tailwind CSS v4 + Supabase + Zustand .cursorrules (legacy)
- React + Vite + Tailwind CSS v4 + Firebase + Vitest .cursorrules (legacy)
- Astro + Tailwind CSS v4 .cursorrules (legacy)
- SvelteKit (Svelte 5) + Tailwind CSS v4 + Supabase + Zod validation .cursorrules (legacy)
- SvelteKit (Svelte 5) + Tailwind CSS v4 + Drizzle ORM + Vitest .cursorrules (legacy)
- Nuxt (Vue 3) + Tailwind CSS v4 + Zod validation .cursorrules (legacy)
- Nuxt (Vue 3) + Tailwind CSS v4 + Supabase .cursorrules (legacy)
- Expo (React Native) + Supabase + Zod validation + Jest .cursorrules (legacy)
- Expo (React Native) + TanStack Query + Zustand + Jest .cursorrules (legacy)
- Node.js + Express + Prisma + Zod validation + Vitest + Docker .cursorrules (legacy)
- Node.js + Express + Drizzle ORM + Zod validation + Docker .cursorrules (legacy)
- Python + FastAPI + SQLAlchemy 2 + Alembic + pytest + Docker .cursorrules (legacy)
- Python + FastAPI + LLM / agent SDKs (Python) + pytest .cursorrules (legacy)
- Python + FastAPI + Supabase + pytest .cursorrules (legacy)
- Python (scripts, agents, libraries) + LLM / agent SDKs (Python) + pytest .cursorrules (legacy)
- Python + Django + pytest + Docker .cursorrules (legacy)
- Python + Django + Tailwind CSS v4 + pytest .cursorrules (legacy)
- Ruby on Rails + Tailwind CSS v4 + Docker .cursorrules (legacy)
- PHP + Laravel + Tailwind CSS v4 + Stripe payments .cursorrules (legacy)
- Go + Docker .cursorrules (legacy)
- Rust + Axum + Docker .cursorrules (legacy)
- Java + Spring Boot + Docker .cursorrules (legacy)
- Flutter (Dart) + Firebase .cursorrules (legacy)
- Flutter (Dart) + Supabase .cursorrules (legacy)
- Swift + SwiftUI .cursorrules (legacy)
- Unity (C#) .cursorrules (legacy)
- Godot 4 (GDScript) .cursorrules (legacy)
- Phaser (TypeScript web games) + Vitest .cursorrules (legacy)
- Chrome Extension (MV3) + Tailwind CSS v4 + Zustand + Vitest .cursorrules (legacy)
Official docs: Cursor rules docs. Last reviewed 2026-10-21.