Usage Rules

Usage Rules Search

Comprehensive search for Elixir and Erlang package usage rules and best practices, following a cascading strategy to find the most relevant coding conventions and patterns.

When to use this skill

Use this skill when you need to:

• Look up coding conventions for a Hex package
• Find best practices and recommended patterns
• See good/bad code examples for proper usage
• Understand common mistakes to avoid
• Learn package-specific idioms and conventions
• Get context-aware recommendations for implementation

Search strategy

This skill implements a cascading search that prioritizes local and contextual information:

1. Local dependencies - Search installed packages in deps/ directory for usage-rules.md
2. Fetched cache - Check previously fetched usage rules in .usage-rules/
3. Progressive fetch - Automatically fetch package and extract usage-rules.md if missing
4. Context-aware extraction - Extract relevant sections based on coding context
5. Fallback - Note when package doesn't provide usage rules, suggest alternatives

Instructions

Step 1: Identify the package and context

Extract the package name and identify the coding context from the user's question.

Package name examples:

• "Ash best practices" → Package: ash
• "Phoenix LiveView patterns" → Package: phoenix_live_view
• "How to use Ecto properly?" → Package: ecto

Context keywords:

• Querying: "query", "filter", "search", "find", "list"
• Error handling: "error", "validation", "exception", "handle"
• Actions: "create", "update", "delete", "action", "change"
• Relationships: "relationship", "association", "belongs_to", "has_many"
• Testing: "test", "testing", "mock", "fixture"
• Authorization: "authorization", "permissions", "policy", "access"
• Structure: "structure", "organization", "architecture", "setup"

Step 2: Search local dependencies

Use the Glob and Grep tools to search the deps/ directory for usage rules:

1. Find the package directory with usage-rules.md:

   Use Glob: pattern="deps/<package_name>/usage-rules.md"
   

   If no results, the package isn't installed locally or doesn't provide usage rules. Skip to Step 3.

2. Check for sub-rules (advanced packages may have specialized rules):

   Use Glob: pattern="deps/<package_name>/usage-rules/*.md"
   

3. Search for relevant sections based on context keywords:

   Use Grep: pattern="^## (Querying|Error Handling|Actions)", path="deps/<package_name>/usage-rules.md", output_mode="content", -n=true
   

   This finds section headings with line numbers.

4. Extract relevant sections:

   Use Grep: pattern="^## Error Handling", path="deps/<package_name>/usage-rules.md", output_mode="content", -A=50
   

   Use -A flag to get section content (adjust number based on typical section length).

5. Read the complete file if needed for broader context:

   Use Read: file_path="deps/<package_name>/usage-rules.md"
   

Step 3: Check fetched cache and fetch if needed

If the package wasn't found in deps/, check for previously fetched usage rules, or fetch them now.

3.1: Check fetched cache

Use the Glob tool to check if usage rules were previously fetched:

Use Glob: pattern=".usage-rules/<package_name>-*/usage-rules.md"

If found, search the cached rules using the same patterns as Step 2 (sections 3-5).

3.2: Determine version to fetch

If no cached rules found, determine which version to fetch:

1. Check mix.lock for locked version:

   Use Bash: grep '"<package_name>"' mix.lock | grep -oE '[0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+'
   

2. Check mix.exs for version constraint:

   Use Bash: grep -E '\{:<package_name>' mix.exs | grep -oE '[0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+'
   

3. Get latest version from hex.pm:

   Use Bash: curl -s "https://hex.pm/api/packages/<package_name>" | jq -r '.releases[0].version'
   

4. If version ambiguous, use AskUserQuestion to prompt:

   Question: "Package '<package_name>' usage rules not found locally. Which version would you like to fetch?"
   Options:
   - "Latest (X.Y.Z)" - Fetch most recent release
   - "Project version (X.Y.Z)" - Use version from mix.exs/mix.lock (if available)
   - "Specific version" - User provides custom version in "Other" field
   - "Skip fetching" - Continue without usage rules
   

3.3: Fetch package and extract usage rules

Once version is determined, fetch the package and extract usage-rules.md:

# Create temp directory and fetch package
mkdir -p .usage-rules/.tmp
mix hex.package fetch <package_name> <version> --unpack --output .usage-rules/.tmp/<package_name>-<version>

# Check if usage-rules.md exists
if [ -f ".usage-rules/.tmp/<package_name>-<version>/usage-rules.md" ]; then
  # Create version-specific directory
  mkdir -p ".usage-rules/<package_name>-<version>"

  # Copy main usage rules file
  cp ".usage-rules/.tmp/<package_name>-<version>/usage-rules.md" ".usage-rules/<package_name>-<version>/"

  # Copy sub-rules if present
  if [ -d ".usage-rules/.tmp/<package_name>-<version>/usage-rules/" ]; then
    cp -r ".usage-rules/.tmp/<package_name>-<version>/usage-rules/" ".usage-rules/<package_name>-<version>/"
  fi

  echo "Usage rules cached in .usage-rules/<package_name>-<version>/"
else
  echo "Package does not provide usage-rules.md"
fi

# Clean up temp directory
rm -rf ".usage-rules/.tmp/<package_name>-<version>"

Storage location: .usage-rules/<package_name>-<version>/

If successful:

• Search the cached usage rules using patterns from Step 2
• Read relevant files with the Read tool

If package doesn't include usage-rules.md:

• Package may not have adopted usage rules convention
• Proceed to Step 5 (fallback suggestions)

3.4: Git ignore recommendation

Inform the user that fetched usage rules should be git-ignored. Suggest adding to .gitignore:

# Fetched usage rules
/.usage-rules/

This only needs to be mentioned once per session, and only if fetching actually occurred.

Step 4: Extract relevant sections based on context

Usage rules files can be large (1000+ lines). Extract only relevant sections to avoid context overload.

4.1: Find section headings

# Find all h2 section headings with line numbers
Use Grep: pattern="^## ", path=".usage-rules/<package>-<version>/usage-rules.md", output_mode="content", -n=true

This returns a list like:

7:## Understanding Ash
13:## Code Structure & Organization
21:## Code Interfaces
85:## Actions
120:## Querying Data

4.2: Match context to sections

Based on user's context keywords, identify relevant sections:

Context: "querying" → Look for sections containing:

• "Querying", "Query", "Filters", "Search", "Find"

Context: "error handling" → Look for sections containing:

• "Error", "Validation", "Exception", "Handle"

Context: "actions" → Look for sections containing:

• "Actions", "Create", "Update", "Delete", "CRUD"

4.3: Extract matched sections

# Extract specific section with content
Use Grep: pattern="^## Querying Data", path=".usage-rules/<package>-<version>/usage-rules.md", output_mode="content", -A=80

Adjust -A value based on typical section length:

• Small sections (< 50 lines): -A=50
• Medium sections (50-150 lines): -A=100
• Large sections (> 150 lines): -A=150 or read specific ranges

4.4: Include code examples

Look for code blocks within sections:

# Find code examples in section
Use Grep: pattern="```elixir|# GOOD|# BAD", path=".usage-rules/<package>-<version>/usage-rules.md", output_mode="content", -A=10

Code examples often include:

• Good patterns: Marked with # GOOD, # PREFERRED
• Bad patterns: Marked with # BAD, # AVOID, # WRONG
• Inline comments: Explanatory comments in code blocks

Step 5: Present usage rules

Format the output based on what was found.

Output format

When presenting results, organize them as follows:

If found in local dependencies:

Found usage rules for <package_name>:

**Location**: deps/<package_name>/usage-rules.md
**Version**: <version from mix.lock>

**Relevant Best Practices** (<section_name>):

<extracted section content with code examples>

---

**Full Rules**: deps/<package_name>/usage-rules.md

**Integration**: For API documentation, use the hex-docs-search skill.

If found in fetched cache:

Found cached usage rules for <package_name>:

**Version**: <version>
**Cache Location**: .usage-rules/<package>-<version>/usage-rules.md

**Relevant Best Practices** (<section_name>):

<extracted section content with code examples>

---

**Full Rules**: .usage-rules/<package>-<version>/usage-rules.md

**Note**: Rules are cached locally for offline access.

**Integration**: For API documentation, use the hex-docs-search skill.

If usage rules not available:

Package '<package_name>' does not provide usage-rules.md.

**Note**: Usage rules are a community-driven convention where packages provide
best practices in markdown format. Not all packages have adopted this yet.

**Alternatives**:
- Use hex-docs-search skill for API documentation and guides
- Check package README or official documentation
- Search for "<package_name> elixir best practices" online
- Look for community guides and blog posts

**Current packages with usage rules**:
- ash, ash_postgres, ash_json_api (Ash Framework ecosystem)
- igniter, spark, reactor (Build tools and engines)

**Help the ecosystem**: Encourage package maintainers to add usage-rules.md!

If user needs comprehensive guidance:

For comprehensive implementation guidance, use both:

1. **usage-rules skill** - Coding conventions and best practices
2. **hex-docs-search skill** - API documentation and function signatures

Combining both provides complete "how to implement correctly" guidance.

Examples

Example 1: Finding Ash querying best practices

User asks: "What are the best practices for querying data in Ash?"

Search process:

1. Extract package: ash
2. Identify context: "querying"
3. Check deps/ash/usage-rules.md (found)
4. Search for section: ## Querying Data
5. Extract section with code examples
6. Present best practices

Output:

Found usage rules for ash:

**Location**: deps/ash/usage-rules.md
**Version**: 3.5.20

**Relevant Best Practices** (Querying Data):

## Querying Data

### Common Query Operations

Prefer using code interface functions with the `query` option for filtering, sorting, and limiting:

```elixir
# PREFERRED - Use the query option
posts = MyApp.Blog.list_posts!(
  query: [
    filter: [status: :published],
    sort: [published_at: :desc],
    limit: 10
  ],
  load: [author: :profile]
)

# AVOID - Don't build queries manually outside domain
query = MyApp.Blog.Post
|> Ash.Query.filter(status: :published)
|> Ash.Query.sort(published_at: :desc)
posts = Ash.read!(query)

All query-related options go in the query parameter, not as separate arguments.

Full Rules: deps/ash/usage-rules.md

Integration: For Ecto.Query API documentation, use hex-docs-search skill.

### Example 2: Error handling conventions

**User asks**: "How should I handle errors in Phoenix LiveView?"

**Search process**:
1. Extract package: `phoenix_live_view`
2. Identify context: "error handling"
3. Check `deps/phoenix_live_view/usage-rules.md` (not found - LiveView doesn't provide usage rules yet)
4. Check `.usage-rules/phoenix_live_view-*/usage-rules.md` (not found)
5. Attempt fetch (package doesn't include usage-rules.md)
6. Provide fallback suggestions

**Output**:

Package 'phoenix_live_view' does not provide usage-rules.md.

Alternatives:

• Use hex-docs-search skill for Phoenix.LiveView API documentation
• Check Phoenix LiveView guides: https://hexdocs.pm/phoenix_live_view/
• Search for "phoenix liveview error handling best practices"

Note: Usage rules are a community convention. Help the ecosystem by encouraging package maintainers to add usage-rules.md files!

### Example 3: Unknown package with progressive fetch

**User asks**: "What are the best practices for using Spark DSL?"

**Search process**:
1. Extract package: `spark`
2. Identify context: general (no specific context)
3. Check `deps/spark/usage-rules.md` (not found)
4. Check `.usage-rules/spark-*/usage-rules.md` (not found)
5. Check mix.exs: `{:spark, "~> 2.0"}`
6. Get latest 2.x from hex.pm:
   ```bash
   curl -s "https://hex.pm/api/packages/spark" | jq -r '.releases[] | select(.version | startswith("2.")) | .version' | head -1
   # Returns: 2.2.24

7. Fetch package:

   mix hex.package fetch spark 2.2.24 --unpack --output .usage-rules/.tmp/spark-2.2.24
   

8. Extract usage-rules.md (found!)
9. Copy to cache: .usage-rules/spark-2.2.24/usage-rules.md
10. Clean up temp
11. Read and present usage rules

Output:

Found cached usage rules for spark:

**Version**: 2.2.24
**Cache Location**: .usage-rules/spark-2.2.24/usage-rules.md

**Relevant Best Practices** (Understanding Spark):

## Understanding Spark

Spark is a foundation for declarative DSLs in Elixir. It powers frameworks like Ash
by providing the infrastructure for building expressive, compile-time-validated DSLs.

### Key Concepts

- **Extensions**: Modules that add DSL sections to Spark DSLs
- **Sections**: Top-level DSL constructs (like `actions do ... end`)
- **Entities**: Individual items within sections (like `read :list`)
- **Options**: Configuration for entities

<...more content...>

---

**Full Rules**: .usage-rules/spark-2.2.24/usage-rules.md

**Note**: Rules are now cached locally for offline access.

**Recommendation**: Add `.usage-rules/` to your .gitignore.

Example 4: Cached rules (offline access)

User asks: "Show me Ash relationship best practices again"

Search process:

1. Extract package: ash
2. Identify context: "relationship"
3. Check deps/ash/usage-rules.md (not found - not in project)
4. Check .usage-rules/ash-*/usage-rules.md (found version 3.5.20!)
5. No fetch needed - use cached rules
6. Search for "## Relationships" section
7. Extract and present

Result: Fast, offline search without network requests. Works even when disconnected.

Example 5: Context-aware extraction

User asks: "Common mistakes with Ash actions?"

Search process:

1. Extract package: ash
2. Identify context: "actions" + "mistakes"
3. Find usage rules (local or cached)
4. Search for "## Actions" section
5. Also search for keywords: "mistake", "avoid", "wrong", "bad"
6. Extract relevant parts from multiple sections
7. Present consolidated best practices

Output:

Found usage rules for ash:

**Relevant Best Practices** (Actions - Common Mistakes):

## Actions

**AVOID** - Don't create generic CRUD actions:
```elixir
# BAD - Generic naming
create :create
update :update

PREFER - Create domain-specific actions:

# GOOD - Specific business operations
create :register_user
update :activate_account
update :suspend_for_violation

AVOID - Don't put business logic outside actions:

# BAD - Logic in controller
def create_post(conn, params) do
  {:ok, post} = Blog.create_post(params)
  # Business logic here
  send_notifications(post)
  update_stats()
end

PREFER - Put business logic in action changes:

# GOOD - Logic in action
create :publish_post do
  change after_action(fn _changeset, post ->
    send_notifications(post)
    update_stats()
    {:ok, post}
  end)
end

Full Rules: deps/ash/usage-rules.md

Tool usage summary

Use Claude's built-in tools in this order:

1. Glob - Find usage-rules.md files in deps/, .usage-rules/, and check for sub-rules
2. Grep - Search for section headings, context keywords, and code examples
3. Read - Read complete usage rules files when broader context needed
4. Bash - Fetch packages with mix hex.package, version resolution, extract and cache rules
5. AskUserQuestion - Prompt for version when ambiguous

Requirements: curl and jq (Linux/Mac native, use Git Bash or WSL on Windows)

Best practices

1. Start local: Always check local dependencies first - they match the version used in the project
2. Check cache before fetch: Look for previously fetched rules in .usage-rules/ before fetching
3. Context-aware extraction: Don't present entire file - extract relevant sections based on keywords
4. Show code examples: Always include good/bad pattern examples when available
5. Highlight patterns: Point out # GOOD vs # BAD comparisons explicitly
6. Link to source: Provide file path so users can explore complete rules
7. Note integration: Mention hex-docs-search for complementary API documentation
8. Git ignore reminder: Mention .gitignore addition once per session when fetching occurs
9. Offline capability: Once fetched, usage rules available without network access
10. Version awareness: Note which version is installed locally vs fetched from cache

Troubleshooting

Package not found in deps/

• Check .usage-rules/ for previously fetched rules
• If not cached, determine version and offer to fetch
• Check if package is in mix.exs dependencies (for version resolution)
• Verify package name spelling (convert Phoenix.LiveView → phoenix_live_view)

Package doesn't provide usage-rules.md

• This is expected - usage rules are a convention, not all packages have them
• Fallback to hex-docs-search for API documentation
• Suggest checking package README or guides
• Encourage package maintainers to add usage rules

Fetch failures

Package fetch fails:

• Verify package name spelling
• Check network connectivity
• Verify package exists on hex.pm
• Try web search as fallback

Extraction fails:

• Package was fetched but doesn't include usage-rules.md
• Clean up temp directory
• Note that package doesn't provide rules

Cache location issues

Fetched rules not found on repeat queries:

• Verify .usage-rules/ directory exists
• Check that fetch command completed successfully
• May need to re-fetch if directories were deleted
• Ensure temp cleanup didn't remove permanent cache

Section extraction challenges

Section too large:

• Increase -A value in Grep to get more content
• Or read complete file and extract programmatically
• Consider showing summary + offering full section

Multiple relevant sections:

• Extract multiple sections
• Present them in logical order
• Clearly label each section

No section matches context:

• Show "## Understanding [Package]" section as default
• List available sections for user to choose from
• Read complete file if user wants comprehensive overview

Version mismatches

Different version in deps/ vs cache:

• Prefer deps/ version (matches project)
• Note version difference if using cache
• Offer to fetch version matching project dependencies

Version specified doesn't exist:

• List available versions from hex.pm
• Prompt user to select valid version
• Fall back to latest if user unsure