Clear Skills Skill#

Overview#

Scans and removes AI agent rules/skills files from all major AI coding platforms on your machine. Supports 50+ platforms, covering both project-level and user-global scopes, running on Windows · macOS · Linux.

Core Features:

• ✅ Smart Scanning: Only removes files/directories that actually exist. Platforms not installed or without rules won't be shown or removed
• ✅ Self-Protection: By default, this skill (clear-skills) is protected and won't be cleared, allowing safe cleanup of other platforms
• ✅ Auto Backup: Automatically backs up to desktop before deletion, allowing recovery anytime
• ✅ Preview Mode: Use --dry-run to confirm which files will be deleted before actually removing them
• ✅ Flexible Control: Supports filtering by platform, scope, project directory, and more
• ✅ Pure Python: Uses only Python 3 standard library, no external dependencies required

All Supported Platforms:

Mainstream AI IDE#

Cursor · Windsurf(Codeium) · Cline · Trae IDE · Amazon Q · Continue.dev

Agent Framework / CLI#

Claude Code · Codex CLI · GitHub Copilot · Gemini CLI · Aider · OpenCode

Emerging AI Tools#

Amp · Goose · Kilo Code · Kiro (AWS) · Neovate · OpenHands · PI · Qoder · Roo Code · Zencoder

OpenClaw Ecosystem#

OpenClaw · QClaw · CoPaw · EasyClaw · ArkClaw · LobsterAI · HiClaw · AutoClaw · AntiClaw

Other AI Agents#

Manus · HappyCapy · QoderWork · Droid (Factory)

WorkBuddy#

WorkBuddy / CodeBuddy

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Usage#

Step 1: Confirm User Intent#

After receiving a cleanup request, confirm the following with the user (skip if already specified):

1. Cleanup Scope: Current project only ( project), global only ( global), or both ( all, default)?
2. Platform Scope: All platforms, or specific platforms only?
3. Backup: Back up to desktop by default. Users can disable with --no-backup (not recommended).

Step 2: Execute Script#

Call scripts/clear_agent_rules.py. This script uses pure Python 3 standard library only, no additional dependencies needed.

Quick Start Examples

bash

# Preview mode (recommended to see what will be deleted first)
python scripts/clear_agent_rules.py --dry-run

# Clear current project + global, all platforms, auto backup (default behavior)
# Note: This skill is protected by default and won't be cleared
python scripts/clear_agent_rules.py

Clear only specified platforms#

python scripts/clear_agent_rules.py --platforms cursor,claude,copilot

Clear only OpenClaw ecosystem (including QClaw, CoPaw, etc.)#

python scripts/clear_agent_rules.py --platforms openclaw,qclaw,copaw

Clear only QoderWork skills#

python scripts/clear_agent_rules.py --platforms qoderwork

Clear only current project rules#

python scripts/clear_agent_rules.py --mode project

Clear only global rules#

python scripts/clear_agent_rules.py --mode global

Specify project directory#

python scripts/clear_agent_rules.py --project /path/to/myproject

No backup (dangerous, use with caution)#

python scripts/clear_agent_rules.py --no-backup

Non-interactive execution (skip YES confirmation, suitable for scripts/CI)#

python scripts/clear_agent_rules.py --yes

Clear all WorkBuddy skills including this one (dangerous)#

python scripts/clear_agent_rules.py --mode global --include-self

text

### Advanced Usage

```bash
# Clear only AI IDE platforms (Cursor, Windsurf, Cline, etc.)
python scripts/clear_agent_rules.py --platforms cursor,windsurf,cline,trae,amazonq,continue

# Clear only CLI tools (Claude Code, Copilot, Aider, etc.)
python scripts/clear_agent_rules.py --platforms claude,copilot,aider,gemini,codex

# Clear only project-level rules for specific platforms
python scripts/clear_agent_rules.py --mode project --platforms cursor,copilot

# Scan specific project directory
python scripts/clear_agent_rules.py --project /path/to/specific/project

# Export scan results without deleting (for manual review)
python scripts/clear_agent_rules.py --dry-run > scan_results.txt

Note: On Windows, python command might be python3 or py, depending on your environment.

Parameter Reference

ParameterDescriptionDefault--mode``project / global / all``all``--projectProject root directory pathCurrent working directory--platformsSpecify platforms (comma-separated)all``--no-backupDisable backupDisabled (backup by default)--dry-runPreview mode, don't actually deleteDisabled--yesSkip YES confirmation promptDisabled--include-selfDon't protect this skill, will also clear clear-skills itselfDisabled (protected by default)

Available Platform Identifiers:

text

cursor, windsurf, cline, trae, amazonq, continue,
claude, codex, copilot, gemini, aider, opencode,
amp, goose, kilocode, kiro, neovate, openhands, pi, qoder,
roocode, zencoder, droid,
openclaw, qclaw, copaw, easyclaw, arkclaw, lobsterai,
hiclaw, autoclaw, anticlaw, manus, happycapy,
qoderwork,
workbuddy

---

Platform Rule File Reference#

For detailed paths, see references/platforms.md.

Project-Level Rules (relative to project root)#

CategoryPlatformMain Files/DirectoriesAI IDECursor.cursorrules, .cursor/rules/Windsurf.windsurfrules, .windsurf/rules/Cline.clinerules, .clinerules/Trae IDE.trae/project_rules.mdAmazon Q.amazonq/rules/Continue.dev.continuerc.json, .continue/rules/CLIClaude CodeCLAUDE.mdCodex CLIAGENTS.mdGitHub Copilot.github/copilot-instructions.mdGemini CLIGEMINI.mdAider.aider.conf.ymlOpenCodeAGENTS.md, CLAUDE.mdEmerging ToolsAmpAGENTS.mdGoose.goosehints, .goose/Kilo Code.kilocode/rules/Kiro (AWS).kiro/steering/, .kiro/NeovateAGENTS.mdOpenHandsconfig.toml, .openhands/PI.pi/settings.json, .pi/Qoder.qoder/rules/Roo Code.roo/rules/, .roorulesZencoder.zencoder/rules/Droid (Factory).droid/, AGENTS.mdOthersAntigravity.antigravity/rules.mdOpenClaw.openclaw/QoderWork.qoderwork/skills/WorkBuddy.workbuddy/skills/

Global-Level Rules (user home directory)#

CategoryPlatformPathAI IDECursor~/.cursor/rules/Cline~/Documents/Cline/Rules/Trae IDE~/.trae/user_rules.mdContinue.dev~/.continue/CLIClaude Code~/.claude/Gemini CLI~/.gemini/GEMINI.mdAider~/.aider.conf.ymlOpenCode~/.config/opencode/Emerging ToolsAmp~/.factory/AGENTS.mdGoose~/.config/goose/Kilo Code~/.kilocode/rules/Kiro (AWS)~/.kiro/Neovate~/.neovate/AGENTS.mdOpenHands~/.openhands/PI~/.pi/agent/settings.jsonRoo Code~/.roo/rules/Droid (Factory)~/.factory/OpenClaw EcosystemOpenClaw/QClaw etc.~/.openclaw/CoPaw~/.copaw/OthersManus~/.manus/HappyCapy~/.happycapy/QoderWork~/.qoderwork/skills/WorkBuddy~/.workbuddy/skills/NoteQoder/ZencoderProject-level only, no global config

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Safety Mechanisms#

• Default Backup: Backs up all files to desktop before deletion ( ~/Desktop/agent-rules-backup-timestamp/), allowing recovery anytime.

• Preview Mode: Use --dry-run to confirm which files will be deleted before actually executing.

• Confirmation Prompt: Requires manual YES confirmation by default to prevent accidental operations.

• Self-Protection (Enabled by Default):

  • When running --mode global or --mode all, this skill (clear-skills) is protected by default and won't be cleared.
  • This allows safe cleanup of other platforms' rules without worrying about deleting the tool itself.
  • If you truly need to delete this skill, use --include-self to disable self-protection.

• Smart Scanning: The script only scans and deletes files/directories that actually exist. If certain platforms are not installed on your system or their rule files don't exist, those empty targets won't be shown or deleted.

---

FAQ#

Q: Will this delete my project code? A: No. This tool only removes AI agent rule/skill files (e.g., .cursorrules, CLAUDE.md, .workbuddy/skills/). Your source code and other files are completely safe.

Q: Can I recover deleted files? A: Yes. All files are automatically backed up to your desktop before deletion. You can manually copy them back if needed.

Q: What if I only want to clear one platform? A: Use the --platforms parameter to specify which platforms to clean. Example: python scripts/clear_agent_rules.py --platforms cursor,copilot

Q: Why doesn't this skill get deleted when I clear global rules? A: This is an intentional self-protection feature. The skill needs to exist to be able to clear itself. Use --include-self if you really want to delete it too.

Q: Does this work on Windows/macOS/Linux? A: Yes. The script uses pure Python and handles all three operating systems automatically.

Q: Can I run this in a CI/CD pipeline? A: Yes. Use --yes --no-backup flags for non-interactive execution. Use with caution in automated environments.

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Troubleshooting#

Permission Denied Errors

• If you encounter permission errors, try running the script with appropriate permissions (e.g., administrator/root)
• On Windows, some directories may require elevated privileges

Large Backup Size

• If the backup is too large, use --no-backup (not recommended) or manually manage backup location
• Consider cleaning up old backup folders from your desktop

Platform Not Found

• If a platform isn't detected, it means the platform isn't installed or has no rule files
• This is normal behavior—the script only targets existing files