Summary
Multiple AI coding tools require separate configuration files, leading to duplicated rules and drift between tools. Use symlinks to maintain a single source of truth for coding standards, patterns, and project context across Claude Code, Cursor, Aider, and other AI agents. Update once, apply everywhere.
The Problem
Teams using multiple AI coding tools (Claude Code, Cursor, Aider, etc.) must maintain separate configuration files (CLAUDE.md, .cursor/rules.md, .aider/AGENTS.md) with duplicated rules. Keeping these files synchronized is manual, error-prone, and leads to inconsistent AI behavior across tools. When rules diverge, different team members get different guidance depending on which tool they use.
The Solution
Create a master rules file and use symbolic links (symlinks) to reference it from each tool’s expected location. This creates a single source of truth that all AI tools read from. Updates to the master file immediately propagate to all tools without manual copying. For tool-specific features, use a base + extensions pattern to maintain shared rules while allowing customization.
