What is a CLAUDE.md file and how does it work?

A CLAUDE.md file is a Markdown conventions file that Claude Code reads automatically when you start a session. It contains your project's folder structure, coding standards, naming conventions, and performance rules - so Claude writes consistent code from the first prompt. standarx generates this file for you in under 3 minutes with a guided wizard for React and Next.js projects.

How do I create cursor rules (.cursor/rules/*.mdc) for my project?

A .cursor/rules/*.mdc file tells Cursor's AI Composer exactly how to structure and write code for your project. With standarx, you select your framework (React or Next.js), choose a folder structure, toggle coding standards, and configure performance optimizations. The tool generates a clean .cursor/rules/*.mdc file you drop into your project root - Cursor reads it automatically.

Why does my AI coding assistant write messy or inconsistent code?

AI coding assistants like Claude Code, Cursor, and Codex produce inconsistent code because they don't know your project's specific conventions. Without explicit rules, the AI invents a different folder layout every time, mixes naming patterns, skips error handling, and ignores performance optimizations. The fix is giving your AI a conventions file (CLAUDE.md, .cursorrules, or AGENTS.md) that defines what "good" means for your stack. standarx generates these files automatically.

How do I stop AI from changing my folder structure every time?

AI coding agents change folder structures because they have no reference for your project's architecture. The solution is creating a rules file that explicitly defines your directory layout, what each folder is for, and how new files should be organized. standarx lets you configure a complete folder structure (with definitions for each directory), then generates a Markdown file your AI reads before writing any code - ensuring consistent structure across every session.

What coding standards should my AI agent follow for React and Next.js?

For React and Next.js projects, your AI agent should follow standards covering: named exports for components, TypeScript strict mode, proper error boundaries, semantic HTML, file size limits, import ordering, consistent naming conventions (PascalCase for components, camelCase for utilities), and accessibility (ARIA attributes, keyboard navigation). standarx provides a curated library of 30+ coding standards you can toggle on/off and customize, then generates a file your AI obeys.

What is "vibe coding" and how do I fix problems with it?

Vibe coding is when you build with AI tools (like Cursor or Claude Code) without setting explicit rules - you just "vibe" and let the AI decide everything. The problems: inconsistent folder structures, mixed coding patterns, missing optimizations, and unmaintainable code. The fix is giving your AI a conventions file before you start coding. standarx generates these files (CLAUDE.md, .cursorrules, AGENTS.md) so your AI follows consistent standards from line one - structured vibe coding.

How-To

AI Coding Standards in 2026 -The Definitive Guide

The gap between "AI writes some code" and "AI writes your code" is a rules file. Here is everything you need to close that gap.

Last updated: 2026-07-01

Why AI coding standards are different

Traditional coding standards live in ESLint configs, style guides, and PR review culture. They work because your teammates read the document once and apply it forever -with correction when they slip. AI agents have no persistent memory. Every session starts from zero. Without an explicit rules file that loads before code generation, your AI agent defaults to the most common patterns in its training data -which are generic, not yours.

The three files that matter

CLAUDE.md is read by Claude Code and Claude in IDEs. .cursor/rules/*.mdc is read by Cursor (the new .mdc format replaced the legacy .cursorrules). AGENTS.md is the cross-tool open standard read by Codex, Jules, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, and a growing list. If your team uses multiple tools, use AGENTS.md as the single source of truth and generate the others from it.

What makes a rules file effective

Concrete examples beat abstract principles. "Named exports only" is good. "Named exports only -never use default export for components (export function UserCard() {}, never export default UserCard)" is better. Keep files under 300 lines -agents deprioritize content in long files. Put critical rules first. Test your rules immediately after writing them -ask the agent to do something that would normally violate them and see if it complies.

The core conventions to encode

Start with the decisions that cause the most AI-generated code review pain: (1) Export style. (2) TypeScript strictness. (3) Folder structure and file placement. (4) Naming patterns for booleans, handlers, hooks. (5) State management boundaries. (6) What the agent must never do. These six categories eliminate the vast majority of AI convention violations.

Getting started today

The fastest path to results: look at your last week of code review where you corrected AI-generated code. Every comment you made is a missing rule. Write those corrections as explicit rules in a CLAUDE.md and test them. Within a day, your most common violations disappear.

CLAUDE.md -starter template

# [Project Name] -Agent Rules

## Stack
- [Your framework, language, styling, state, testing tools]

## Folder Structure
[Your annotated directory tree]

## Must Follow
1. [Your #1 most violated rule]
2. [Your #2 most violated rule]  
3. [Your #3 most violated rule]
[Continue for top 5-10 rules]

## Must Never Do
- [Your most common bad pattern]
- [Another frequent violation]

## Naming
- Files: kebab-case | Components: PascalCase | Hooks: useCamelCase
- Booleans: isX / hasX / canX
- Handlers: handleX | Prop callbacks: onX