Code guidelines: bring your coding rules to CodeRabbit

If you're using or have tried out Cursor or another AI coding tool (who hasn't?), chances are you've also seen the downsides of it. Maybe you’re having to repeat how to structure the project when creating new files. Or maybe you're using shadcn/ui for UI components. Or maybe when you want to run a build that requires another command to build a backend dependency first.

Cursor, Windsurf, Copilot, and other AI coding agents addressed this problem by adding support for reusable, scoped instructions that can be read on every ask – or when requested. Smart move!

Using Code Guidelines

CodeRabbit will automatically detect your coding rules for:

• Cursor .cursorrules

• GitHub Copilot .github/copilot-instructions.md

• Cline /.clinerules/*

• Windsurf /.windsurfrules

• Claude /CLAUDE.md

• And more

With Code Guidelines, these rules are used as context on every PR review.

We also support adding your own rules by specifying a custom file pattern. Got your guidelines in docs/STANDARDS.md or team/code-style.txt? Just add the pattern and CodeRabbit will pick it up.

Why it matters

This has huge implications. For one, that means CodeRabbit will follow the same rules you set with your AI coding agent. No more context switching. No more explaining the same standards twice.

It also gives you a way to specify exactly how CodeRabbit should do a PR review and what best practices you want the CodeRabbit review agent to follow. Now, you can just add these guidelines to your rules (be it from Cursor, GitHub, etc.) and:

• Enforce style and formatting consistency - If your .cursorrules say "use camelCase for functions, PascalCase for components," CodeRabbit will flag violations during review.

• Maintain architecture patterns - Define your preferred file structure, module boundaries, or dependency rules once and CodeRabbit ensures every PR follows them.

• Apply team-specific standards - Whether it's "always use early returns" or "prefer composition over inheritance," your unique team preferences become part of every review.

What's next?

CodeRabbit’s not-so-secret magic to PR reviews is the level of context engineering it does. Code Guidelines make CodeRabbit’s reviews even better by adding your coding rules. As for what’s next, I'll give you a hint: context is king. Stay tuned.

If you haven't tried CodeRabbit yet, there's never been a better time. Get started for free and start cutting your code review time (and bugs) in half.