15 production-ready config templates for every major AI coding tool. All verified against 2026 documentation. Click to expand, copy to clipboard, drop into your project.
Anthropic's CLI agent. Uses CLAUDE.md for project memory, .claude/ for skills, commands, hooks, and permissions.
AI-native code editor. Uses .cursor/rules/ folder with .mdc files (Markdown Context) for modular, glob-filtered rules.
GitHub's AI pair programmer in VS Code. Uses .github/copilot-instructions.md for project-wide rules and .github/instructions/ for path-specific overrides.
Google's AI coding tools. Gemini CLI for terminal workflows, Antigravity for IDE agent sessions. Both read GEMINI.md for context.
Agentic IDE powered by Cascade. Uses .windsurfrules (legacy) or .windsurf/rules/ folder for modular configs. Keep rules under 6,000 characters to avoid truncation.
| Feature | Claude Code | Cursor | Copilot | Gemini CLI | Windsurf |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Project file | CLAUDE.md | .cursor/rules/*.mdc | .github/copilot-instructions.md | GEMINI.md | .windsurfrules |
| Global file | ~/.claude/CLAUDE.md | Settings > Rules | Chat Customizations | ~/.gemini/GEMINI.md | ~/.windsurf/rules/ |
| Scoped rules | .claude/skills/ | globs in .mdc | .github/instructions/ | — | .windsurf/rules/ |
| Rules / overflow | .claude/rules/ | Multiple .mdc files | Multiple .instructions.md | — | .windsurf/rules/ |
| Hooks / Auto-run | PreToolUse / PostToolUse | — | — | — | — |
| Custom commands | .claude/commands/ | — | — | — | — |
| Permission control | allow / ask / deny | — | — | allow / deny | — |
| Max recommended size | ~200 lines | ~6K chars per .mdc | Concise | ~200 lines | ~6K chars |
AI coding assistants like Claude Code, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, and Windsurf are powerful — but only when they understand your project. Without a CLAUDE.md, .cursorrules, or copilot-instructions.md file, these tools generate generic code that may not match your stack, naming conventions, architecture patterns, or security requirements.
Configuration files act as "onboarding documents" for your AI assistant. They tell the tool what tech stack you use, which patterns to follow, what to avoid, and how to handle edge cases. The result: fewer corrections, faster iteration, and code that matches your team's standards from the first suggestion.
This toolkit provides 15 production-ready templates verified against the latest 2026 documentation for each tool. Every template is copy-paste ready — expand the card, click copy, and drop it into your project root. No sign-up, no paywall, no AI-generated fluff. Just real configs that work.