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154 changes: 116 additions & 38 deletions .gemini/commands/strict-development-rules.md
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# Gemini CLI Strict Development Rules

These rules apply strictly to all code modifications and additions within the Gemini CLI project.
These rules apply strictly to all code modifications and additions within the
Gemini CLI project.

## Testing Guidelines

* **Async/Await**: Always use `waitFor` from `packages/cli/src/test-utils/async.ts` instead of `vi.waitFor` for all `waitFor` calls within `packages/cli`. NEVER use fixed waits (e.g., `await delay(100)`). Always use `waitFor` with a predicate to ensure tests are stable and fast. Using the wrong `waitFor` can result in flaky tests and `act` warnings.
* **React Testing**: Use `act` to wrap all blocks in tests that change component state. Use `render` or `renderWithProviders` from `packages/cli/src/test-utils/render.tsx` instead of `render` from `ink-testing-library` directly. This prevents spurious `act` warnings. If test cases specify providers directly, consider whether the existing `renderWithProviders` should be modified.
* **Snapshots**: Use `toMatchSnapshot` to verify that rendering works as expected rather than matching against the raw content of the output. When modifying snapshots, verify the changes are intentional and do not hide underlying bugs.
* **Parameterized Tests**: Use parameterized tests where it reduces duplicated lines. Give the parameters explicit types to ensure the tests are type-safe.
* **Mocks Management**:
* Mock critical dependencies (`fs`, `os`, `child_process`) ONLY at the top of the file. Ideally, avoid mocking these dependencies altogether.
* Reuse existing mocks and fakes rather than creating new ones.
* Avoid mocking the file system whenever possible. If using the real file system is too difficult, consider writing an integration test instead.
* Always call `vi.restoreAllMocks()` in `afterEach` to prevent test pollution.
* Use `vi.useFakeTimers()` for tests involving time-based logic to avoid flakiness.
* **Typing in Tests**: Avoid using `any` in tests; prefer proper types or `unknown` with narrowing.
- **Async/Await**: Always use `waitFor` from
`packages/cli/src/test-utils/async.ts` instead of `vi.waitFor` for all
`waitFor` calls within `packages/cli`. NEVER use fixed waits (e.g.,
`await delay(100)`). Always use `waitFor` with a predicate to ensure tests are
stable and fast. Using the wrong `waitFor` can result in flaky tests and `act`
warnings.
- **React Testing**: Use `act` to wrap all blocks in tests that change component
state. Use `render` or `renderWithProviders` from
`packages/cli/src/test-utils/render.tsx` instead of `render` from
`ink-testing-library` directly. This prevents spurious `act` warnings. If test
cases specify providers directly, consider whether the existing
`renderWithProviders` should be modified.
- **Snapshots**: Use `toMatchSnapshot` to verify that rendering works as
expected rather than matching against the raw content of the output. When
modifying snapshots, verify the changes are intentional and do not hide
underlying bugs.
- **Parameterized Tests**: Use parameterized tests where it reduces duplicated
lines. Give the parameters explicit types to ensure the tests are type-safe.
- **Mocks Management**:
- Mock critical dependencies (`fs`, `os`, `child_process`) ONLY at the top of
the file. Ideally, avoid mocking these dependencies altogether.
- Reuse existing mocks and fakes rather than creating new ones.
- Avoid mocking the file system whenever possible. If using the real file
system is too difficult, consider writing an integration test instead.
- Always call `vi.restoreAllMocks()` in `afterEach` to prevent test pollution.
- Use `vi.useFakeTimers()` for tests involving time-based logic to avoid
flakiness.
- **Typing in Tests**: Avoid using `any` in tests; prefer proper types or
`unknown` with narrowing.

## React Guidelines (`packages/cli`)

* **`setState` and Side Effects**: NEVER trigger side effects from within the body of a `setState` callback. Use a reducer or `useRef` if necessary. These cases have historically introduced multiple bugs; typically, they should be resolved using a reducer.
* **Rendering**: Do not introduce infinite rendering loops. Avoid synchronous file I/O in React components as it will hang the UI. Do not implement new logic for custom string measurement or string truncation. Use Ink layout instead, leveraging `ResizeObserver` as needed.
* **Keyboard Handling**: Keyboard handling MUST go through `useKeyPress.ts` from the Gemini CLI package rather than the standard ink library. This library supports reporting multiple keyboard events sequentially in the same React frame (critical for slow terminals). Handling this correctly often requires reducers to ensure multiple state updates are handled gracefully without overriding values. Refer to `text-buffer.ts` for a canonical example.
* **Logging**: Do not leave `console.log`, `console.warn`, or `console.error` in the code.
* **State & Effects**: Ensure state initialization is explicit (e.g., use `undefined` rather than `true` as a default if the state is truly unknown). Carefully manage `useEffect` dependencies. Prefer a reducer whenever practical. NEVER disable `react-hooks/exhaustive-deps`; fix the code to correctly declare dependencies instead.
* **Context & Props**: Avoid excessive property drilling. Leverage existing providers, extend them, or propose a new one if necessary. Only use providers for properties that are consistent across the entire application.
* **Code Structure**: Avoid complex `if` statements where `switch` statements could be used. Keep `AppContainer` minimal; refactor complex logic into React hooks. Evaluate whether business logic should be added to `hookSystem.ts` or integrated into `packages/core` rather than `packages/cli`.
- **`setState` and Side Effects**: NEVER trigger side effects from within the
body of a `setState` callback. Use a reducer or `useRef` if necessary. These
cases have historically introduced multiple bugs; typically, they should be
resolved using a reducer.
- **Rendering**: Do not introduce infinite rendering loops. Avoid synchronous
file I/O in React components as it will hang the UI. Do not implement new
logic for custom string measurement or string truncation. Use Ink layout
instead, leveraging `ResizeObserver` as needed.
- **Keyboard Handling**: Keyboard handling MUST go through `useKeyPress.ts` from
the Gemini CLI package rather than the standard ink library. This library
supports reporting multiple keyboard events sequentially in the same React
frame (critical for slow terminals). Handling this correctly often requires
reducers to ensure multiple state updates are handled gracefully without
overriding values. Refer to `text-buffer.ts` for a canonical example.
- **Logging**: Do not leave `console.log`, `console.warn`, or `console.error` in
the code.
- **State & Effects**: Ensure state initialization is explicit (e.g., use
`undefined` rather than `true` as a default if the state is truly unknown).
Carefully manage `useEffect` dependencies. Prefer a reducer whenever
practical. NEVER disable `react-hooks/exhaustive-deps`; fix the code to
correctly declare dependencies instead.
- **Context & Props**: Avoid excessive property drilling. Leverage existing
providers, extend them, or propose a new one if necessary. Only use providers
for properties that are consistent across the entire application.
- **Code Structure**: Avoid complex `if` statements where `switch` statements
could be used. Keep `AppContainer` minimal; refactor complex logic into React
hooks. Evaluate whether business logic should be added to `hookSystem.ts` or
integrated into `packages/core` rather than `packages/cli`.

## Core Guidelines (`packages/core`)

* **Services**: Implement services as classes with clear lifecycle management (e.g., `initialize()` methods). Services should be stateless where possible, or use the centralized `Storage` service for persistence.
* **Cross-Service Communication**: Prefer using the `coreEvents` bus (from `packages/core/src/utils/events.ts`) for asynchronous communication between services or to notify the UI of state changes. Avoid tight coupling between services.
* **Utilities**: Use `debugLogger` from `packages/core/src/utils/debugLogger.ts` for internal logging instead of `console`. Ensure all shell operations use `spawnAsync` from `packages/core/src/utils/shell-utils.ts` for consistent error handling and promise management. Handle filesystem errors gracefully using `isNodeError` from `packages/core/src/utils/errors.ts`.
* **Exports & Tooling**: Add new tools to `packages/core/src/tools/` and register them in `packages/core/src/tools/tool-registry.ts`. Export all new public services, utilities, and types from `packages/core/src/index.ts`.
- **Services**: Implement services as classes with clear lifecycle management
(e.g., `initialize()` methods). Services should be stateless where possible,
or use the centralized `Storage` service for persistence.
- **Cross-Service Communication**: Prefer using the `coreEvents` bus (from
`packages/core/src/utils/events.ts`) for asynchronous communication between
services or to notify the UI of state changes. Avoid tight coupling between
services.
- **Utilities**: Use `debugLogger` from `packages/core/src/utils/debugLogger.ts`
for internal logging instead of `console`. Ensure all shell operations use
`spawnAsync` from `packages/core/src/utils/shell-utils.ts` for consistent
error handling and promise management. Handle filesystem errors gracefully
using `isNodeError` from `packages/core/src/utils/errors.ts`.
- **Exports & Tooling**: Add new tools to `packages/core/src/tools/` and
register them in `packages/core/src/tools/tool-registry.ts`. Export all new
public services, utilities, and types from `packages/core/src/index.ts`.

## Architectural Audit (Package Boundaries)

* **Logic Placement**: Non-UI logic (e.g., model orchestration, tool implementation, git/filesystem operations) MUST reside in `packages/core`. `packages/cli` should ONLY contain UI/Ink components, command-line argument parsing, and user interaction logic.
* **Environment Isolation**: Core logic must not assume a TUI environment. Use the `ConfirmationBus` or `Output` abstractions for communicating with the user from Core.
* **Decoupling**: Actively look for opportunities to decouple services using `coreEvents`. If a service imports another just to notify it of a change, use an event instead.
- **Logic Placement**: Non-UI logic (e.g., model orchestration, tool
implementation, git/filesystem operations) MUST reside in `packages/core`.
`packages/cli` should ONLY contain UI/Ink components, command-line argument
parsing, and user interaction logic.
- **Environment Isolation**: Core logic must not assume a TUI environment. Use
the `ConfirmationBus` or `Output` abstractions for communicating with the user
from Core.
- **Decoupling**: Actively look for opportunities to decouple services using
`coreEvents`. If a service imports another just to notify it of a change, use
an event instead.

## General Gemini CLI Design Principles

* **Settings**: Use settings for user-configurable options rather than adding new command line arguments. Add new settings to `packages/cli/src/config/settingsSchema.ts`. If a setting has `showInDialog: true`, it MUST be documented in `docs/get-started/configuration.md`. Ensure `requiresRestart` is correctly set.
* **Logging**: Use `debugLogger` for rethrown errors to avoid duplicate logging.
* **Keyboard Shortcuts**: Define all new keyboard shortcuts in `packages/cli/src/config/keyBindings.ts` and document them in `docs/cli/keyboard-shortcuts.md`. Be careful of keybindings that require the `Meta` key, as only certain meta key shortcuts are supported on Mac. Avoid function keys and shortcuts commonly bound in VSCode.
- **Settings**: Use settings for user-configurable options rather than adding
new command line arguments. Add new settings to
`packages/cli/src/config/settingsSchema.ts`. If a setting has
`showInDialog: true`, it MUST be documented in
`docs/get-started/configuration.md`. Ensure `requiresRestart` is correctly
set.
- **Logging**: Use `debugLogger` for rethrown errors to avoid duplicate logging.
- **Keyboard Shortcuts**: Define all new keyboard shortcuts in
`packages/cli/src/config/keyBindings.ts` and document them in
`docs/cli/keyboard-shortcuts.md`. Be careful of keybindings that require the
`Meta` key, as only certain meta key shortcuts are supported on Mac. Avoid
function keys and shortcuts commonly bound in VSCode.

## TypeScript Best Practices

* Use `checkExhaustive` in the `default` clause of `switch` statements to ensure all cases are handled.
* Avoid using the non-null assertion operator (`!`) unless absolutely necessary.
* **STRICT TYPING**: Strictly forbid `any` and `unknown` in both CLI and Core packages. `unknown` is only allowed if it is immediately narrowed using type guards or Zod validation.
* NEVER disable `@typescript-eslint/no-floating-promises`.
* Avoid making types nullable unless strictly necessary, as it hurts readability.
- Use `checkExhaustive` in the `default` clause of `switch` statements to ensure
all cases are handled.
- Avoid using the non-null assertion operator (`!`) unless absolutely necessary.
- **STRICT TYPING**: Strictly forbid `any` and `unknown` in both CLI and Core
packages. `unknown` is only allowed if it is immediately narrowed using type
guards or Zod validation.
- NEVER disable `@typescript-eslint/no-floating-promises`.
- Avoid making types nullable unless strictly necessary, as it hurts
readability.

## TUI Best Practices

* **Terminal Compatibility**: Consider how changes might behave differently across terminals (e.g., VSCode terminal, SSH, Kitty, default Mac terminal, iTerm2, Windows terminal). If modifying keyboard handling, integrate deeply with existing files like `KeypressContext.tsx` and `terminalCapabilityManager.ts`.
* **iTerm**: Be aware that `ITERM_SESSION_ID` may be present when users run VSCode from within iTerm, even if the terminal is not iTerm.
- **Terminal Compatibility**: Consider how changes might behave differently
across terminals (e.g., VSCode terminal, SSH, Kitty, default Mac terminal,
iTerm2, Windows terminal). If modifying keyboard handling, integrate deeply
with existing files like `KeypressContext.tsx` and
`terminalCapabilityManager.ts`.
- **iTerm**: Be aware that `ITERM_SESSION_ID` may be present when users run
VSCode from within iTerm, even if the terminal is not iTerm.

## Code Cleanup

* **Refactoring**: Actively clean up code duplication, technical debt, and boilerplate ("AI Slop") when working in the codebase.
* **Prompts**: Be aware that changes can impact the prompts sent to Gemini CLI and affect overall quality.
- **Refactoring**: Actively clean up code duplication, technical debt, and
boilerplate ("AI Slop") when working in the codebase.
- **Prompts**: Be aware that changes can impact the prompts sent to Gemini CLI
and affect overall quality.
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