# Cursor Compatibility — rules pointer

> Cursor reads rule files from `.cursor/rules/*.mdc`. This project's authoritative rules live in [`.hi/`](../../.hi/) and per-directory `.hi/instruct.md` files. The .mdc files in this directory are pointers — they tell Cursor where to look so its agent behaves the same way GitHub Copilot does in this repo.

---
description: PDS Depth-Priority Hierarchical AI-INSTRUCT system — read these files before suggesting changes.
globs:
  - "**/*"
alwaysApply: true
---

# Project rules location

This project uses the **Depth-Priority Hierarchical AI-INSTRUCT V6** system. The rule files are **not** stored in `.cursor/rules/` — they are stored under `.hi/` and in per-directory `.hi/instruct.md` files. **The deepest `.hi/instruct.md` always wins.**

Before suggesting any change, read in this order:

1. [`.github/copilot-instructions.md`](../../.github/copilot-instructions.md) — meta: how the layering works.
2. [`.github/dev-specs.md`](../../.github/dev-specs.md) — developer OS, shell, language versions, frameworks. Read at session start before suggesting commands or paths.
3. [`.hi/index.md`](../../.hi/index.md) — master index of every instruction section.
4. [`.hi/instruct.md`](../../.hi/instruct.md) — workspace-root authority.
5. `[current-directory]/.hi/instruct.md` and every ancestor — **the deepest is authoritative**, shallower files are background context only.

## Cross-cutting rules

| Topic | Canonical file |
|-------|---------------|
| Naming, file organization | [`.hi/conventions.md`](../../.hi/conventions.md) |
| Archive / never-delete / never-reset-db | [`.hi/maintenance.md`](../../.hi/maintenance.md) |
| Credentials, `.env`, `.gitignore` | [`.hi/credentials.md`](../../.hi/credentials.md) |

## Do not

- Do not invent a new `.cursor/rules/*.mdc` file with project rules in it — those rules belong in the appropriate `.hi/` file. The `.cursor/rules/` directory is a pointer layer only.
- Do not duplicate content from `.hi/` into Cursor rules. If Cursor needs context, add a one-line pointer here that links to the canonical file.