Load rules only when files match with .claude/rules

The problem

Stuffing frontend, backend, and infra rules into one CLAUDE.md taxes every session, even for unrelated work.

The hack

Split specialized guidance into `.claude/rules/` with path globs so instructions enter context only when relevant.

Why it works

Path-scoped rules keep the root CLAUDE.md lean while still applying the right conventions at the right time.

Setup

1. Create `.claude/rules/` in the repo. 2. Add focused markdown files (e.g. `frontend.md`, `migrations.md`) with path frontmatter or documented path scoping. 3. Leave only always-on facts in root CLAUDE.md. 4. Touch a matching file in a session and confirm via `/memory` that the rule loaded.

Additional details

Source