Windsurf — Rules
- File format
- Markdown
- Discovery paths
-
.windsurfrules,.windsurf/rules - Global install path
-
~/.codeium/windsurf - Syllago install method
- Symlink, Direct copy
- Symlink support
- Yes
- Native frontmatter fields
-
trigger,description,globs
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
trigger | Translated Conversion type: Translated Actively mapped to the target provider’s equivalent field during conversion. Learn more → | — | Rules select one of four activation modes (always_on, model_decision, glob, or manual) via frontmatter. |
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 → | activation_modes extension: always (unconditional), conditional (glob patterns), model (AI decides), manual (explicit toggle) |
auto_memory | Translated Conversion type: Translated Actively mapped to the target provider’s equivalent field during conversion. Learn more → | auto_generated_memories: Windsurf AI generates persistent memories stored in ~/.codeium/windsurf/memories/ as rule-like files |
cross_provider_recognition | Translated Conversion type: Translated Actively mapped to the target provider’s equivalent field during conversion. Learn more → | agents_md_auto_scoping: Windsurf reads both AGENTS.md and agents.md (case-insensitive) files from other providers and applies them with workspace-aware scoping |
hierarchical_loading | Translated Conversion type: Translated Actively mapped to the target provider’s equivalent field during conversion. Learn more → | rules_hierarchical_discovery: Windsurf discovers .windsurf/rules/ directories in the current workspace, all sub-directories, and parent directories up to the git root; rules from all levels are merged and deduplicated |
| AGENTS.md and agents.md: location-based auto-scoping without frontmatter | Not portable Conversion type: Not portable Unique to this provider — can’t be carried across providers. Learn more → | Both AGENTS.md and agents.md (case-insensitive) are recognized; root-level files are always-on while subdirectory files become auto-glob rules scoped to that subtree. |
| Auto-generated memories distinct from rules | Not portable Conversion type: Not portable Unique to this provider — can’t be carried across providers. Learn more → | Cascade auto-generates workspace-scoped memories during conversations, stored separately from user-authored Rules and not committed to git. |
| Global, workspace, and system rule scopes | Not portable Conversion type: Not portable Unique to this provider — can’t be carried across providers. Learn more → | Rules load from three user scopes plus an enterprise system scope, with per-scope character limits and OS-specific managed paths. |
| Multi-level hierarchical rules discovery | Not portable Conversion type: Not portable Unique to this provider — can’t be carried across providers. Learn more → | Windsurf searches for .windsurf/rules/ directories in the current workspace, all subdirectories, and parent directories up to the git root; rules from multiple locations are merged and deduplicated, displayed with shortest relative paths. |
Sources
| Source |
|---|
| https://docs.windsurf.com/windsurf/cascade/memories.md |
| https://docs.windsurf.com/windsurf/cascade/agents-md.md |