SOP 003: Rules Configuration

Fresh

Field	Value
SOP ID	SOP-003
Version	1.0
Status	Active
Source	docs.warp.dev/agent-platform/capabilities/rules

Overview

Rules are reusable guidelines that inform how agents respond to your prompts. They ensure agents follow your coding standards, project conventions, and personal preferences.

Rule Types

Type	Scope	Storage	Best For
Global Rules	All projects	Warp settings	Coding standards, workspace-wide guidelines
Project Rules	Current project	AGENTS.md in repo	Project-specific workflows, team standards

Procedure

Step 1: Create Global Rules

From Warp Drive:

1. Open Warp Drive: CMD+\ (macOS) or CTRL+SHIFT+\ (Windows/Linux)
2. Navigate to Personal > Rules > Global
3. Add rules with optional name and description

From Slash Commands:

• Type /add-rule in Agent or Auto mode

Example global rules:

• "Always use TypeScript strict mode"
• "Prefer functional components over class components"
• "Use snake_case for database column names"

Step 2: Create Project Rules

Using /init command:

1. Navigate to your project directory
2. Type /init in Agent or Auto mode
3. Warp generates an AGENTS.md file with initial context

Manually:

Create AGENTS.md in your project root:

# Project Rules

## Code Style
- Use ESLint with Airbnb config
- Prefer const over let
- Maximum line length: 100 characters

## Architecture
- Follow MVC pattern
- All API routes in src/routes/
- Database queries in src/models/

## Testing
- Write unit tests for all utility functions
- Use Jest with React Testing Library
- Minimum 80% code coverage

WARNING

The filename must be ALL CAPS: AGENTS.md, not agents.md or Agents.md.

Step 3: Add Subdirectory Rules

For monorepos or large projects, add rules to subdirectories:

project/
  api/
    AGENTS.md      # API-specific rules
  ui/
    AGENTS.md      # UI-specific rules
  AGENTS.md        # Project-wide rules

Step 4: Understand Rules Precedence

Step 5: Verify Rules Are Applied

When agents use rules, they appear under References in the conversation or are marked as "derived from a specific rule."

Compatible Rule Files

Warp supports linking these existing rule files to AGENTS.md:

File	Tool
WARP.md	Warp (legacy)
CLAUDE.md	Claude Code
.cursorrules	Cursor
AGENT.md	Generic
GEMINI.md	Gemini
.clinerules	Cline
.windsurfrules	Windsurf
.github/copilot-instructions.md	GitHub Copilot

Accessing Rules

Method	Path
Warp Drive	Personal > Rules
Command Palette	Search "Open AI Rules"
Settings	Settings > AI > Knowledge > Manage Rules
macOS Menu	AI > Open Rules
Slash Command	/open-project-rules

Verification Checklist

• [ ] Global rules visible in Warp Drive > Personal > Rules > Global
• [ ] AGENTS.md file exists in project root (ALL CAPS)
• [ ] Agent responses reflect rule guidelines
• [ ] Subdirectory rules override root rules correctly

Troubleshooting

Issue	Solution
Rules not applied	Check filename is ALL CAPS: AGENTS.md
Wrong rules loaded	Verify current working directory with pwd
Rules conflict	Check precedence: subdirectory > root > global

See Also

• SOP 002: Skills Setup
• SOP 004: Cloud Agents Setup