Cline rules

1# Cline compatibility — rules pointer
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3> Cline reads rule files from `.clinerules/` (a directory of markdown files) or a single `.clinerules` file. This project's authoritative rules live in [`.hi/`](../.hi/) and per-directory `.hi/instruct.md` files. The files in this directory are pointers — they tell Cline where to look so its agent behaves the same way GitHub Copilot does in this repo.
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5## Project rules location
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7This project uses the **Depth-Priority Hierarchical AI-INSTRUCT V6** system. The rule files are **not** stored in `.clinerules/` — they are stored under `.hi/` and in per-directory `.hi/instruct.md` files. **The deepest `.hi/instruct.md` always wins.**
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9Before suggesting any change, read in this order:
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111. [`.github/copilot-instructions.md`](../.github/copilot-instructions.md) — meta: how the layering works.
122. [`.github/dev-specs.md`](../.github/dev-specs.md) — developer OS, shell, language versions, frameworks. Read at session start before suggesting commands or paths.
133. [`.hi/index.md`](../.hi/index.md) — master index of every instruction section.
144. [`.hi/instruct.md`](../.hi/instruct.md) — workspace-root authority.
155. `[current-directory]/.hi/instruct.md` and every ancestor — **the deepest is authoritative**, shallower files are background context only.
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17## Cross-cutting rules
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19| Topic | Canonical file |
20|-------|---------------|
21| Naming, file organization | [`.hi/conventions.md`](../.hi/conventions.md) |
22| Archive / never-delete / never-reset-db | [`.hi/maintenance.md`](../.hi/maintenance.md) |
23| Credentials, `.env`, `.gitignore` | [`.hi/credentials.md`](../.hi/credentials.md) |
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25## Do not
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27- Do not invent a new `.clinerules/*.md` file with project rules in it — those rules belong in the appropriate `.hi/` file. The `.clinerules/` directory is a pointer layer only.
28- Do not duplicate content from `.hi/` into Cline rules. If Cline needs context, add a one-line pointer here that links to the canonical file.
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30## MCP server
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32Cline configures MCP servers through its UI (Settings → MCP Servers → Add). Use the bundled [`pds-ai-instruct`](../.ai/mcp/README.md) server:
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34- **Command**: `python`
35- **Args**: `-m pds_mcp`
36- **Env**: `PDS_WORKSPACE=<absolute path to this workspace>`
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38Install once per clone: `cd .ai/mcp/python && pip install -e .` (or use the Node twin at `.ai/mcp/node/`).
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