Rules

---
name: rules
description: 'Quick lookup into working rules. Use when user says "/aria-cowork:rules", "/aria-cowork:rules 22", "/aria-cowork:rules dependencies", "look up rule about...", "what rule covers...", or references a specific rule number. (Cowork variant — namespaced-only.)'
argument-hint: '[number or keyword]'
---

# /rules — Quick Rule Lookup

Look up rules from both the plugin's `working-rules.md` and the user's optional `user-rules.md`.

## Runtime Gate (per ADR-094)

**Canonical resolution:** This is the Claude Cowork variant — namespaced-only. When both `plugin-claude-code` and `plugin-claude-cowork` are loaded in the same session (most common in Claude Desktop), bare `/rules` resolves to aria-knowledge's variant — Code is the canonical owner of all 24 dual-port skills per ADR-094 §Part 1. To reach this skill, use the namespaced form: `/aria-cowork:rules`. Do NOT match bare `/rules` — that belongs to aria-knowledge.

**Before Step 0 — runtime self-correction.** Check whether the `Bash` tool is available in this session. If `Bash` IS available (you are running in Claude Code or another runtime with shell access), this invocation reached the wrong variant for the runtime. **Do not ask — redirect.** Announce it in one line, then use the `Skill` tool to invoke `rules` with the same arguments the user provided, and do not run this skill's steps:

> ↪️ **Redirecting to `/rules` — you invoked the aria-cowork variant, but you are running in Claude Code or another runtime with shell access.**
>
> Behavior is largely the same in both runtimes; for the Code-native variant, use `/rules` (the aria-knowledge canonical).

⛔ **The redirect is unconditional** — every mode including `auto`, and no opt-out. Reaching this variant under that condition is always a mis-invocation, so there is nothing for the user to decide. Design record: `docs/superpowers/specs/2026-08-28-runtime-gate-auto-redirect-design.md` (D2 auto-redirect, D3 no escape hatch, D6 announce-don't-swap-silently).

If `Bash` is NOT available (normal Cowork runtime), proceed to Step 0.

## Step 0: Resolve config

The default knowledge folder is `~/Projects/knowledge/` (expand `~` to your home directory's absolute path). Read `<knowledge_folder>/aria-config.md` and extract `knowledge_folder`. If `aria-config.md` doesn't exist, stop: *"aria-cowork is not configured. Run `/aria-setup` to get started."*

Set two rules file paths (using `<knowledge_folder>` since file reads happen during this Cowork session):
- **Plugin rules:** `<knowledge_folder>/rules/working-rules.md`
- **User rules:** `<knowledge_folder>/rules/user-rules.md` (optional — may not exist if the user hasn't added custom rules)

If the plugin rules file doesn't exist, stop: *"No `working-rules.md` found in your knowledge folder. Run `/aria-setup` to repair the structure."*

If the user rules file doesn't exist, proceed with plugin rules only — this is the normal state for users who haven't added any custom rules.

**Note for Phase 1:** Rule 22 (change-decision framework) and Rule 23 (file-edit discipline) reference Code-side mechanics (Edit/Write tool gating) that don't apply in Cowork. They surface as-is in v0.1.0; Phase 2+ adds a `cowork_relevant: true|false` flag in rule frontmatter for filtering. See [ADR-004](../../../knowledge/projects/aria-cowork/decisions/004-hook-replacement-strategy.md) for the design.

## Step 1: Parse argument

Check what argument was provided:
- **No argument:** go to Step 2 (index mode).
- **Number with optional U prefix** (e.g., `22`, `U1`): go to Step 3 (lookup by identifier).
- **Keyword** (e.g., `dependencies`): go to Step 4 (search mode).

## Step 2: Index mode

Read both files. Extract all rule headings (lines matching `### N. [title]` or `### UN. [title]`). Output a grouped list:

```
## Working Rules Index

### Plugin Rules (working-rules.md)
1. Scope tasks tightly, but keep the whole system in view
2. Let errors guide where you add context
...

### Your Rules (user-rules.md)
U1. Always run the linter locally before committing
U2. Test data lives in test/fixtures/, not scattered next to tests
...
```

If `user-rules.md` doesn't exist, omit the "Your Rules" section entirely. If `user-rules.md` exists but contains no `### U` rules, note: *"(Your Rules file exists but has no rules yet.)"*

## Step 3: Lookup by identifier

Read both files (plugin rules always, user rules if present). Find the heading matching the requested identifier:
- **Plain number** (e.g., `22`) → search both files for `### 22.` AND `### U22.`
- **U-prefixed** (e.g., `U1`) → search `user-rules.md` for `### U1.`

For each match, extract the full rule text (heading through next heading or section end) and present it with a clear source label:

```
## Plugin Rule 22 — Follow the change decision framework
[full rule text]
```

or

```
## User Rule U1 — Always run the linter locally before committing
[full rule text]
```

**Collision handling:** If the same plain number matches in both files (e.g., user's `### 30.` collides with plugin's `### 30.`), present BOTH and warn:
> *"Number collision: Rule 30 exists in both `working-rules.md` and `user-rules.md`. Consider renaming the user version with a `U` prefix to avoid this — see `user-rules.md` naming convention."*

If no match in either file: *"Rule [identifier] not found. Plugin has rules 1-[max plugin]; `user-rules.md` has [list of user rule identifiers, or 'no custom rules' if file missing/empty]. Run `/aria-cowork:rules` to see the full index."*

**Examples lookup (since v0.3.0 — parity with aria-knowledge v2.14.2+):** After returning the rule body, also check for a user-authored example in `<knowledge_folder>/rules/user-examples.md`.

If `user-examples.md` exists, search for a heading matching `## Rule N` (where N is the requested plain-number identifier — examples currently target plugin rules only, not user rules). If found, extract the example body (heading through next `## Rule` heading or end of file) and append it to the output as a separate section:

```
## Plugin Rule 25 — Check secondary impact on every change
[full rule text]

---

## Example (from your user-examples.md)

## Rule 25 — Check secondary impact
[example body — Before / After / etc.]
```

If `user-examples.md` doesn't exist, or exists but has no matching `## Rule N` heading, omit the example section silently. This is the normal state for users who haven't authored examples for that rule yet.

Multiple examples for the same rule (e.g., two `## Rule 25` headings) are all returned in document order, separated by `---`.

## Step 4: Search mode

Read both files. Search rule titles and bodies for the keyword. Return all matching rules with their full text, grouped by source:

```
## Search results for '[keyword]'

### Plugin Rules
[matching rules from working-rules.md]

### Your Rules
[matching rules from user-rules.md]
```

If no matches in either: *"No rules match '[keyword]'. Run `/aria-cowork:rules` to see the full index."*

If matches in only one file, omit the empty section heading.