creating-continue-packages

Overview

Continue uses markdown files with YAML frontmatter in .continuerules/*.md or YAML configuration in config.yaml. Rules are context-aware using glob patterns, regex matching, or always-applied globally.

CRITICAL: The name field is REQUIRED in frontmatter (unlike other formats where it's optional).

Quick Reference

Required Frontmatter

---
name: Rule display name (REQUIRED)
---

Optional Frontmatter

description: Description of when rule should be used
globs: "**/*.{ts,tsx}"  # String or array
regex: "^import .* from '.*';$"  # String or array
alwaysApply: true  # true, false, or undefined
version: "1.0.0"
schema: "v1"

AlwaysApply Semantics

| Value | Behavior | |-------|----------| | true | Always included, regardless of context | | false | Included if globs match OR agent decides based on description | | undefined (default) | Included if no globs exist OR globs match |

Creating Rules with Globs

Glob patterns match file paths:

---
name: Documentation Standards
globs: docs/**/*.{md,mdx}
alwaysApply: false
description: Standards for writing and maintaining documentation
---

# Documentation Standards

## Structure

- Follow consistent heading hierarchy starting with h2 (##)
- Include YAML frontmatter with title, description, and keywords
- Use descriptive alt text for images

## Writing Style

- Keep paragraphs concise and scannable
- Use code blocks with appropriate language tags
- Include cross-references to related documentation

Glob Patterns (String or Array)

# Single pattern (string)
globs: "**/*.{ts,tsx}"

# Multiple patterns (array)
globs:
  - "src/**/*.ts"
  - "tests/**/*.ts"

Creating Rules with Regex

Regex patterns match file content:

---
name: React Component Standards
regex: "^import React"
globs: "**/*.{tsx,jsx}"
alwaysApply: false
description: Standards for React component development
---

# React Component Standards

## Component Structure

- Use functional components with hooks
- Keep components under 200 lines
- Extract logic into custom hooks when appropriate
- Co-locate styles with components

## Examples

\`\`\`typescript
// Good: Focused component
function UserProfile({ userId }: Props) {
  const user = useUser(userId);
  return <div>{user.name}</div>;
}
\`\`\`

Regex Patterns (String or Array)

# Single pattern (string)
regex: "^import .* from '.*';$"

# Multiple patterns (array)
regex:
  - "^import .*"
  - "^export .*"

Creating Always-Applied Rules

Rules that apply to all files in the project:

---
name: Code Quality Standards
alwaysApply: true
---

# Code Quality Standards

These standards apply to all code in the project.

## General Principles

- Write self-documenting code
- Keep functions under 50 lines
- Use meaningful variable names
- Add comments only for complex logic

YAML Configuration Format

Alternative to markdown files in .continuerules/:

name: API Development Rules
version: 1.0.0
schema: v1

rules:
  - name: REST API Standards
    globs:
      - "src/api/**/*.ts"
      - "src/routes/**/*.ts"
    alwaysApply: false
    rule: >
      ## REST Conventions

      - Use semantic HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE)
      - Return appropriate status codes (200, 201, 400, 404, 500)
      - Include error messages in response body
      - Version APIs using URL paths (/api/v1/)

  - name: TypeScript Standards
    globs: "**/*.{ts,tsx}"
    regex: "^import.*typescript"
    alwaysApply: false
    rule: >
      ## Type Safety

      - Always define explicit types for function parameters
      - Avoid using `any` type
      - Use strict mode in tsconfig.json

Common Glob Patterns

globs:
  - "**/*.ts"           # All TypeScript files
  - "src/**/*.tsx"      # React components in src/
  - "**/*.{ts,tsx}"     # Multiple extensions
  - "tests/**/*"        # All files in tests/
  - "*.config.js"       # Config files in root
  - "docs/**/*.md"      # Documentation files

Common Mistakes

| Mistake | Fix | |---------|-----| | Missing name field | Name is REQUIRED in Continue frontmatter | | Using MDC format | Continue uses plain markdown, not MDC | | Complex frontmatter | Keep frontmatter minimal (name + optional fields) | | Mixing alwaysApply semantics | Understand true/false/undefined behavior |

When to Use Each Approach

alwaysApply: true - Core standards that influence all code generation:

• Workspace-wide standards
• Technology preferences
• Security policies
• Universal coding conventions

globs with alwaysApply: false - Domain-specific standards:

• Component patterns
• API design rules
• Testing approaches
• Deployment procedures

No globs (undefined alwaysApply) - Agent-decided relevance:

• Let agent determine when to include based on description
• Flexible application based on context

Content Format

Plain markdown after frontmatter:

• H1 title: Main heading
• H2/H3 sections: Organize content
• Lists: Rules and guidelines
• Code blocks: Examples with language tags
• Standard markdown: Bold, italic, links

Validation

Schema location: /Users/khaliqgant/Projects/prpm/app/packages/converters/schemas/continue.schema.json

Documentation: /Users/khaliqgant/Projects/prpm/app/packages/converters/docs/continue.md

Best Practices

1. Always include name: Required field, not optional
2. Be specific: Target actual patterns in your codebase
3. Include examples: Show real code from your project
4. Update regularly: Keep rules in sync with codebase changes
5. One concern per file: Split large rule sets into focused files
6. Understand alwaysApply: Choose true/false/undefined based on use case

Example: Complete Rule File

---
name: TypeScript Type Safety
description: Type safety standards for TypeScript code
globs:
  - "**/*.ts"
  - "**/*.tsx"
alwaysApply: false
---

# TypeScript Type Safety Standards

## Type Definitions

- Always define explicit types for function parameters
- Avoid using `any` type
- Use `unknown` instead of `any` for truly unknown types
- Define return types for public functions

## Examples

\`\`\`typescript
// ❌ Bad: Using any
function processData(data: any): any {
  return data.value;
}

// ✅ Good: Explicit types
interface DataInput {
  value: string;
}

function processData(data: DataInput): string {
  return data.value;
}
\`\`\`

## Type Guards

Use type guards for narrowing:

\`\`\`typescript
function isString(value: unknown): value is string {
  return typeof value === 'string';
}
\`\`\`

---

Remember: Continue REQUIRES name field in frontmatter. Use globs/regex for file matching. Understand alwaysApply semantics (true/false/undefined).