Re:Show HN: Turn .cursorrules / repo guidelines into GitHub ...
by hkonte on Wednesday March 11, 2026 @12:11AM
(#47331672)
The gap you're closing is interesting. One upstream problem I see: the quality of .cursorrules and agent guidelines files varies enormously. A flat paragraph of rules is much harder to parse into deterministic validators than guidelines written in discrete named blocks. "Only modify files in src/" is easy to enforce. A 500-word paragraph that mixes role, context, and constraints is not.
The more structured the input, the better your rule extraction pipeline can work. I built github.com/Nyrok/flompt for the input side of this, decomposing prompts into 12 typed semantic blocks that compile to Claude-optimized XML. The constraints and examples blocks in particular would map well to your validator format.
Maintainers are increasingly dealing with large volumes of low-context PRs, especially as AI coding tools make it easier to generate changes without the surrounding intent.
Many repos already define contribution expectations in places like .cursorrules, CONTRIBUTING.md, or internal guidelines but those rules rarely translate into something enforceable during review.
We built Watchflow to bridge that gap: an open-source GitHub check that translates repository guidelines into enforceable validation logic that runs on every PR.
The model is intentionally hybrid:
- ~95% deterministic validators (fast, predictable, pure Python)
- Optional LLM checks for semantic cases like description / diff alignment
- LLM layer fails open so merges never block on model issues
Example rules:
- Require a linked issue
- Require CODEOWNERS review
- Block PRs above a LOC threshold
- Ensure PR descriptions align with code changes
- Validate contribution patterns defined in .cursorrules or agent guidelines
The goal is to close the loop between repository intent -> code diff -> enforceable governance.
Repo: https://github.com/warestack/watchflow
If there are review patterns you’re seeing that aren’t covered yet, happy to turn them into new validators!