/newrule Command

/newrule is a powerful slash command that helps you establish consistent development patterns with Bwat. It creates a structured markdown file in your .bwatrules directory that serves as persistent guidelines for how Bwat should assist with your projects.

Think of it as setting up your personal development playbook - Bwat will automatically reference these rules so you don't need to repeat your preferences in every interaction.

Using the /newrule Command

To create custom development guidelines:

1. Type /newrule in the chat interface
2. Bwat will guide you through creating a structured rule file by asking about:
   • Preferred communication style (detailed vs. concise)
   • Development methodologies
   • Coding conventions
   • Project-specific context
   • Any special requirements
3. Review and refine the proposed rule file
4. Once approved, Bwat saves it to your .bwatrules directory for automatic loading in future sessions

Practical Example

I used /newrule to eliminate repetitive instructions for my Vue projects. I had specific preferences for:

• Component structure
• State management approach
• Testing framework conventions
• Even my preferred ESLint configurations

Rather than restating these for every task, I collaborated with Bwat to create a comprehensive rule file. Now when I discuss my Vue projects, Bwat automatically follows these guidelines while maintaining flexibility for special cases.

Common Applications

Project-Specific Rules

Each major project gets its own rule file ensuring generated code matches existing architecture and patterns.

Team Standards

Shared rule files maintain consistent coding styles and documentation practices across team members.

Legacy System Guidelines

Special rule files help Bwat understand outdated system constraints and avoid suggesting incompatible modern solutions.

Personal Preferences

Individual rule files capture personal coding styles like indentation preferences, function syntax choices, and project structure requirements.

Key Benefits

• Consistency: Maintains uniform standards across all interactions
• Efficiency: Eliminates repetitive instructions
• Adaptability: Different rules for different projects/contexts
• Knowledge Retention: Captures institutional knowledge in code

This command exemplifies Bwat's ability to learn and adapt to your unique development ecosystem, becoming more valuable with each project.