Roo Code — Rules
- File format
- Markdown
- Discovery paths
-
.roo/rules,.roo/rules-code,.roo/rules-architect,.roo/rules-ask,.roo/rules-debug,.roo/rules-orchestrator,.roorules,~/.roo/rules - Syllago install method
- Project scope, Direct copy
- Symlink support
- Yes
Features
How each feature converts to syllago's canonical format. See format conversion for what these statuses mean.
Fields
Native frontmatter or config fields this provider exposes. The first column is the provider's own field name; the canonical key column links to syllago's cross-provider equivalent.
| Provider field | Conversion | Canonical key | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
.roo/rules-<mode>/ | Translated Conversion type: Translated Actively mapped to the target provider’s equivalent field during conversion. Learn more → | — | Per-mode directories (.roo/rules-code/, .roo/rules-architect/, .roo/rules-ask/, .roo/rules-debug/, .roo/rules-orchestrator/, and one per custom mode slug) scope rule files to a specific mode so only active-mode rules enter context. |
.clinerules/ | Preserved Conversion type: Preserved Syntax survives conversion but the target provider may not interpret it. Learn more → | — | Roo Code reads .clinerules/ directories from its Cline ancestry when no .roo/rules/ directory is present so existing Cline rule sets continue to work. |
.roo/rules/ | Preserved Conversion type: Preserved Syntax survives conversion but the target provider may not interpret it. Learn more → | — | Files under .roo/rules/ apply to every mode and are concatenated into system context regardless of the currently active mode. |
.roorules | Preserved Conversion type: Preserved Syntax survives conversion but the target provider may not interpret it. Learn more → | — | Single-file .roorules at the project root is honored for backward compatibility with pre-directory rule conventions. |
Other features
Behaviors, conventions, and capabilities that aren't tied to a single named field — things like path-based activation, discovery rules, and lifecycle behavior.
| Feature | Conversion | Summary |
|---|---|---|
activation_mode | Translated Conversion type: Translated Actively mapped to the target provider’s equivalent field during conversion. Learn more → | mode_partitioned_activation: rule files in mode-specific directories (.roo/rules-<mode-slug>/) activate only when that mode is active; files in .roo/rules/ activate for all modes |
cross_provider_recognition | Translated Conversion type: Translated Actively mapped to the target provider’s equivalent field during conversion. Learn more → | legacy_clinerules_fallback: Roo Code reads .clinerules/ as a backward-compatibility fallback when native .roo/rules/ is absent |
hierarchical_loading | Translated Conversion type: Translated Actively mapped to the target provider’s equivalent field during conversion. Learn more → | mode_scoped_loading: files under .roo/rules/ load universally; files under .roo/rules-<mode>/ load conditionally based on the active mode |
Sources
| Source |
|---|
| https://raw.githubusercontent.com/RooVetGit/Roo-Code/main/.roo/rules/rules.md |
| https://raw.githubusercontent.com/RooVetGit/Roo-Code/main/.roo/rules-code/use-safeWriteJson.md |