Config Sync — 16 AI Tools, 1 Source#

Reads .claude/rules/ (or CLAUDE.md) as canonical source and generates native config files for every major AI coding assistant.

Problem#

Each AI coding tool uses a different config file:

• Claude Code → CLAUDE.md + .claude/rules/*.md
• Codex CLI → AGENTS.md
• Gemini CLI → GEMINI.md
• Cursor → .cursor/rules/*.mdc
• GitHub Copilot → .github/copilot-instructions.md
• Windsurf → .windsurf/rules/*.md
• Cline/Roo → .clinerules/*.md
• Aider → CONVENTIONS.md
• Kiro → .kiro/steering/*.md
• Amazon Q → .amazonq/rules/*.md
• Goose → .goosehints
• Trae AI → .trae/rules/*.md
• Zed → .rules
• Amp/OpenCode/Warp → AGENTS.md (shared)

Maintaining 16 files for the same instructions is absurd. Config-sync fixes it.

How It Works#

1. Source of truth: .claude/rules/*.md (most expressive format — supports glob patterns, frontmatter conditions, always/attached/triggered modes)
2. Fallback source: CLAUDE.md at repo root if .claude/rules/ doesn't exist
3. Transform: Concatenates all rule files, strips Claude-specific frontmatter, generates each format
4. Output: Only generates configs for tools you select (or all by default)

Usage#

Generate all configs#

bash

python3 ~/.openclaw/skills/config-sync/scripts/config-sync.py /path/to/repo

Generate specific tools only#

bash

python3 ~/.openclaw/skills/config-sync/scripts/config-sync.py /path/to/repo --tools codex,gemini,cursor

Preview without writing#

bash

python3 ~/.openclaw/skills/config-sync/scripts/config-sync.py /path/to/repo --dry-run

Init from existing CLAUDE.md#

bash

python3 ~/.openclaw/skills/config-sync/scripts/config-sync.py /path/to/repo --init

This creates .claude/rules/ from your existing CLAUDE.md as the canonical source.

Supported Tools#

ToolOutput FileNotesClaude Code.claude/rules/*.md (source, not generated)Already the canonical formatCodex CLIAGENTS.mdFlat markdown, no frontmatterGemini CLIGEMINI.mdFlat markdownCursor.cursor/rules/config-sync.mdcMDC format with description + globsGitHub Copilot.github/copilot-instructions.mdFlat markdownWindsurf.windsurf/rules/config-sync.mdFlat markdownCline/Roo.clinerules/config-sync.mdFlat markdownAiderCONVENTIONS.mdFlat markdown, concise styleKiro.kiro/steering/config-sync.mdFlat markdownAmazon Q.amazonq/rules/config-sync.mdFlat markdownGoose.goosehintsLine-per-rule, no markdownTrae AI.trae/rules/config-sync.mdFlat markdownZed.rulesFlat markdown

Transformation Rules#

Stripped from source#

• YAML frontmatter (--- blocks) — tool-specific, not portable
• alwaysApply: true/false — Claude Code specific
• Glob patterns in frontmatter — converted to natural language headers

Added to each output#

• Header comment: <!-- Generated by config-sync. Edit source at .claude/rules/ -->
• Tool-specific header if needed (e.g., MDC frontmatter for Cursor)

Format adaptations#

• Goose ( .goosehints): Each rule becomes one line, no markdown
• Cursor ( .mdc): Gets MDC frontmatter with description and globs: **
• Aider ( CONVENTIONS.md): Condensed to bullet points, no long explanations
• AGENTS.md: Standard markdown, used by Codex/Amp/OpenCode/Warp (4 tools, 1 file)

Workflow#

1. Edit .claude/rules/*.md (your canonical source)
2. Run config-sync to generate all other formats
3. Commit all generated files together
4. Repeat when rules change

Auto-detect installed tools#

The script checks for:

• .cursor/ directory → Cursor installed
• .github/copilot-instructions.md exists → Copilot in use
• .windsurf/ → Windsurf installed
• .clinerules/ → Cline installed
• .kiro/ → Kiro installed
• .amazonq/ → Amazon Q installed
• .trae/ → Trae installed
• AGENTS.md exists → Codex/Amp/OpenCode in use
• GEMINI.md exists → Gemini CLI in use

If --tools is not specified, generates all formats (belt-and-suspenders approach).

Philosophy#

One source of truth. Many outputs. Like a compiler: write once in the richest language, emit to every target.