rails-conventions
by ethos-linkrails-conventions is a practical Rails 8.x skill for building and reviewing production backend code. Use it to match local conventions for models, controllers, routes, Hotwire, jobs, APIs, testing, security, and performance. It is especially useful for backend development where the rails-conventions guide should follow the app’s existing patterns instead of generic defaults.
This skill scores 84/100, which means it is a solid directory listing for users who want Rails-specific agent guidance with less guesswork than a generic prompt. The repository shows a real production-oriented workflow, strong Rails 8 triggerability, and enough reference material to help agents act on conventions rather than inventing them, though users should still expect to inspect the target codebase manually.
- Explicit Rails 8 trigger guidance covering models, controllers, routes, Hotwire, jobs, APIs, performance, security, and testing.
- Substantial reference set (15 files) with topic-specific guidance, which supports progressive disclosure and reduces prompt ambiguity.
- Workflow emphasizes inspecting the existing codebase first and matching local conventions, which is useful for production maintenance work.
- No install command is included in SKILL.md, so adoption requires users to follow the repository/package instructions themselves.
- The skill is broad rather than deeply opinionated; some areas (for example background jobs and testing) may still need repo-specific judgment from the agent.
Overview of rails-conventions skill
What rails-conventions is
rails-conventions is a practical Rails 8.x skill for building and reviewing production code with the conventions already in your app. It helps an agent choose the right shape for models, controllers, routes, Hotwire, jobs, APIs, and tests instead of applying generic Rails advice that may not match the codebase.
Best fit for backend work
Use the rails-conventions skill when you need Rails 8 guidance for backend development, especially if the task touches Active Record, Active Job, routing, params, caching, security, or testing. It is strongest for teams that care about consistent architecture, readable Ruby, and small changes that fit an existing system.
What it optimizes for
The skill is designed to reduce guesswork before code is written. It pushes the agent to inspect the local app, follow existing patterns, and call out tradeoffs when a request could be solved in more than one way. That makes the rails-conventions guide useful for feature work, code review, and refactoring in live codebases.
How to Use rails-conventions skill
Install and trigger it
Use the rails-conventions install flow with the repo package name: npx skills add ethos-link/rails-conventions --skill rails-conventions. Trigger it when the prompt mentions Rails 8, refactoring a Rails backend, model/controller changes, background jobs, or production readiness. The rails-conventions skill is most useful when the task is specific enough to map to app structure, not just “make this better.”
Give it the right inputs
Start with the user goal, the Rails version, and the part of the app involved. A strong prompt looks like: “Add a user-facing export job in Rails 8, using the existing queue adapter, matching current controller and naming conventions, and add tests.” A weak prompt like “implement exports” leaves too much open, especially for routing, job backend choice, and response format.
Read the right files first
For best results, follow the repository’s scan order: Gemfile, config/application.rb, config/routes.rb, the active config/environments/*.rb, then representative files in app/models/, app/controllers/, and test/ or spec/. Also read references/01-baseline-rails-8.md, references/04-controllers-and-params.md, references/07-background-jobs-overview.md, and references/10-testing-strategy.md when the task touches those areas.
Workflow that produces better output
Ask the agent to identify current conventions first, then propose a plan before editing. For example: “Inspect the app’s route style, job adapter, and controller patterns, then propose the smallest change that fits them.” This works well with rails-conventions usage because the skill favors codebase alignment over new framework defaults.
rails-conventions skill FAQ
Is this only for Rails 8?
It is tuned for Rails 8.x and the Rails 8 default ecosystem, but it is still useful if your app is on the 8.x line with mixed legacy patterns. If your project is older and you are not ready to align with Rails 8 conventions, the skill may be less relevant than a plain Rails prompt.
How is it different from a normal prompt?
A normal prompt may produce correct Rails code, but rails-conventions adds installation-time guidance: scan the app first, preserve local conventions, and avoid assumptions about queue backends, serialization, or testing style. That usually means fewer rewrites after the first pass.
Is it beginner-friendly?
Yes, if the beginner already has a real Rails task and wants guardrails. It is not a teaching-only skill; it works best when you can name the feature, point to the relevant files, and accept that the answer may be “use the existing pattern, not a new one.”
When should I not use it?
Do not use rails-conventions for greenfield brainstorming that is intentionally framework-agnostic, or for tasks outside Rails backend development. It is also a poor fit if you want to standardize the codebase around a new architecture without first comparing it to existing app conventions.
How to Improve rails-conventions skill
Provide stronger context
The best improvements come from better app context, not longer prompts. Include the Rails version, queue adapter, test framework, and the files or feature area you want changed. If you already know the expected style, say so: “match existing RESTful routes and controller naming” is more useful than “make it idiomatic.”
Ask for convention checks explicitly
The skill works better when you request a local-convention review before implementation. Ask it to check naming, route shape, model boundaries, and test placement. This is especially important for rails-conventions for Backend Development, where the main risk is creating code that works but does not fit the app.
Watch for common failure modes
The most common miss is over-generalizing from Rails defaults instead of the repository’s own patterns. Another is skipping adapter-specific behavior for jobs or assuming one test framework. If the first output feels generic, ask for a second pass that cites the exact files, conventions, and tradeoffs used to justify the decision.
Iterate with concrete diffs
After the first answer, improve it by narrowing the scope: request one controller, one model, one route, or one job at a time. If the skill suggests multiple valid approaches, ask it to rank them by fit to the current codebase. That produces a tighter rails-conventions guide and usually better backend code on the next pass.