Why SKILL.md Files Cannot Enforce Coding Rules in AI Tools Like Cursor

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AI coding assistants like Cursor often ignore rules written in SKILL.md files because model attention is limited and recent tool outputs outweigh instructions seen earlier in a session. The model tends to prioritize completing the user's latest request over adhering to a rule file loaded at the start of a conversation. A more reliable approach pairs the skill file with a hard command layer — such as running tsc --noEmit or a test suite — that must pass before any output is declared production-ready. Unlike text instructions, a failing compiler or test command produces a concrete, undeniable signal that forces the agent to make corrections. The author recommends reserving hooks for deterministic tools like formatters, resetting chat threads between features, and always requesting that typecheck and test output be pasted at the end of each session.

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