A set of clean code rules you can drop into any AI coding assistant.
It covers the fundamentals: naming, structure, DRY, encapsulation, testing, version control, and a few others.
The rules are specific enough to be useful (not just “write clean code”).
Works well as a Cursor rule or system prompt.
Paste it into your editor’s AI config and it’ll shape every code suggestion to follow these standards.
Prompt
# Clean Code Guidelines
## Constants Over Magic Numbers
- Replace hard-coded values with named constants
- Use descriptive constant names that explain the value's purpose
- Keep constants at the top of the file or in a dedicated constants file
## Meaningful Names
- Variables, functions, and classes should reveal their purpose
- Names should explain why something exists and how it's used
- Avoid abbreviations unless they're universally understood
## Smart Comments
- Don't comment on what the code does - make the code self-documenting
- Use comments to explain why something is done a certain way
- Document APIs, complex algorithms, and non-obvious side effects
## Single Responsibility
- Each function should do exactly one thing
- Functions should be small and focused
- If a function needs a comment to explain what it does, it should be split
## DRY (Don't Repeat Yourself)
- Extract repeated code into reusable functions
- Share common logic through proper abstraction
- Maintain single sources of truth
## Clean Structure
- Keep related code together
- Organize code in a logical hierarchy
- Use consistent file and folder naming conventions
## Encapsulation
- Hide implementation details
- Expose clear interfaces
- Move nested conditionals into well-named functions
## Code Quality Maintenance
- Refactor continuously
- Fix technical debt early
- Leave code cleaner than you found it
## Testing
- Write tests before fixing bugs
- Keep tests readable and maintainable
- Test edge cases and error conditions
## Version Control
- Write clear commit messages
- Make small, focused commits
- Use meaningful branch names