๐ฆ๐๐ผ๐ฝ ๐๐๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ผ๐ฑ๐ฒ. ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ ๐ฎ ๐ฅ๐๐น๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ถ๐น๐ฒ ๐๐ป๐๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ.
AI coding tools are fast. They write functions and fix bugs. But most developers use them wrong.
They give vague prompts like:
- Build me a dashboard.
- Fix this bug.
- Add authentication.
The AI returns a huge block of code. It looks good at first. Then you see the damage. It changed files you did not ask it to touch. It invented functions that do not exist. It ignored your project structure. It added complexity and skipped error handling.
The problem is not the AI. The problem is the lack of rules.
Stop asking AI to code. Start giving it boundaries.
Create a file in your project root. Name it AI_RULES.md or AGENTS.md. This file acts as onboarding documentation for your AI assistant.
A good rules file explains:
- Your project structure.
- Your coding style.
- Which files to avoid.
- How to handle errors and testing.
- Your security standards.
Do not use vague rules like "write clean code." That means nothing to a machine. Use specific rules instead:
- Do not modify unrelated files.
- Reuse existing components before creating new ones.
- Do not add new dependencies without asking.
- Follow the existing naming conventions.
When you use AI, change your workflow.
Read the rules first. Before asking for code, ask the AI to read your AI_RULES.md file.
Ask for a plan. Never let the AI jump straight into implementation. Ask it to explain its approach and list the files it will change. Fix a bad plan before it becomes bad code.
Break tasks down. If a task requires a massive change, it is too big. Small tasks lead to smaller, safer diffs.
Review like a human. Treat AI code like a pull request from a junior developer. It is fast but often confidently wrong. Check for:
- Unnecessary complexity.
- Missing edge cases.
- Duplicated logic.
- Security risks.
If you do not understand the code, do not merge it. AI makes you faster, but it does not remove your responsibility.
Use AI to handle boilerplate, explain logic, and write tests. But you remain the owner of the codebase.
Source: https://dev.to/thameemx/stop-asking-ai-to-code-give-it-a-rules-file-instead-2ca7