# Rule Dependency Graph

**Last Updated:** 2026-01-08

Visual representation of Cursor rule relationships and dependencies. This graph helps AI agents understand how rules interact and which rules apply together.

## Rule Hierarchy

```mermaid
graph TD
    Global[global.mdc<br/>Always Applied] --> AllRules[All Other Rules]
    
    AllRules --> PageTypeRules[Page-Type Rules]
    AllRules --> ComponentRules[Component Rules]
    AllRules --> SystemRules[System Rules]
    AllRules --> UtilityRules[Utility Rules]
    
    PageTypeRules --> ComparisonPages[comparison-pages-core.mdc<br/>comparison-pages-content.mdc]
    PageTypeRules --> ProductPages[product-pages.mdc]
    PageTypeRules --> IndustryPages[industry-pages.mdc]
    PageTypeRules --> ToolsPages[tools-pages-*.mdc<br/>9 rules]
    PageTypeRules --> TemplatesPages[templates-pages.mdc<br/>templates-cta.mdc]
    PageTypeRules --> OtherPages[download-pages.mdc<br/>webinar-pages.mdc<br/>pillar-pages.mdc<br/>static-pages.mdc<br/>homepage.mdc]
    
    ComponentRules --> BaseComponents[base-components.mdc<br/>HIGH PROTECTION]
    ComponentRules --> APIEndpoints[api-endpoints-core.mdc<br/>api-endpoints-security.mdc]
    
    SystemRules --> ShiftOpsBackend[shiftops-backend.mdc]
    SystemRules --> ShiftOpsFrontend[shiftops-frontend-core.mdc<br/>shiftops-frontend-qa.mdc]
    SystemRules --> LeadCapture[lead-capture.mdc]
    SystemRules --> ProductUpdates[product-updates.mdc]
    SystemRules --> ExcelGenerator[excel-template-generator.mdc]
    SystemRules --> BookingCalendars[booking-calendars.mdc]
    SystemRules --> FormTracking[form-tracking.mdc]
    SystemRules --> Testimonials[testimonials.mdc]
    
    UtilityRules --> SharedPatterns[shared-patterns.mdc<br/>Referenced by all]
    UtilityRules --> DateManagement[date-management.mdc]
    UtilityRules --> Performance[performance.mdc<br/>performance-monitoring.mdc]
    UtilityRules --> SEOStrategy[seo-strategy-2026.mdc<br/>seo-strategy-organic-goals.mdc<br/>seo-dashboard-admin.mdc<br/>dashboard.mdc]
    UtilityRules --> ContentClusters[content-clusters.mdc]
    UtilityRules --> GoalSetting[goal-setting-metrics.mdc]
    UtilityRules --> OtterlyAI[otterly-ai-monitoring.mdc]
    
    SharedPatterns -.->|Referenced by| PageTypeRules
    SharedPatterns -.->|Referenced by| ComponentRules
    
    ComparisonPages -.->|Uses| SharedPatterns
    ToolsPages -.->|Uses| SharedPatterns
    ProductPages -.->|Uses| SharedPatterns
    
    ShiftOpsBackend --> APIEndpoints
    ShiftOpsFrontend --> LeadCapture
    LeadCapture --> FormTracking
    ExcelGenerator --> APIEndpoints
```

## Rule Application Patterns

### Always Applied
- **global.mdc** - Applied to every task regardless of file type

### Page-Type Rules (Apply Based on File Pattern)
- **comparison-pages-core.mdc** + **comparison-pages-content.mdc** - `v2/pages/compare_*.php`
- **product-pages.mdc** - `v2/pages/product_*.php`
- **industry-pages.mdc** - `v2/pages/industry_*.php`
- **tools-pages-*.mdc** (9 rules) - `v2/pages/tools_*.php`
- **templates-pages.mdc** + **templates-cta.mdc** - `v2/pages/templates_*.php`
- **download-pages.mdc** - `v2/pages/download_*.php`
- **webinar-pages.mdc** - `v2/pages/webinar_*.php`
- **pillar-pages.mdc** - `v2/pages/pillar_*.php`
- **static-pages.mdc** - `v2/pages/static_*.php`
- **homepage.mdc** - `v2/pages/landingpage*.php`, `v2/pages/start*.php`

### Component Rules (Apply Based on File Pattern)
- **base-components.mdc** - `v2/base/*.php` (HIGH PROTECTION)
- **api-endpoints-core.mdc** + **api-endpoints-security.mdc** - `v2/api/*.php`

### System Rules (Apply Based on File Pattern)
- **shiftops-backend.mdc** - `v2/api/shiftops*.php`, `v2/config/shiftops-*.php`
- **shiftops-frontend-core.mdc** + **shiftops-frontend-qa.mdc** - `v2/pages/shiftops*.php`, `v2/js/shiftops*.js`
- **lead-capture.mdc** - `v2/components/lead-capture*.php`
- **product-updates.mdc** - `v2/pages/produkt_updates*.php`
- **excel-template-generator.mdc** - `v2/systems/excel-template-generator/**/*`
- **booking-calendars.mdc** - `v2/pages/*booking*.php`, `v2/pages/*calendar*.php`
- **form-tracking.mdc** - `v2/base/include_form*.php`, `v2/js/*form*.js`
- **testimonials.mdc** - `v2/data/testimonials/**/*.json`

### Utility Rules (Referenced or Applied Based on Context)
- **shared-patterns.mdc** - Referenced by all page-type rules for validation checklists
- **date-management.mdc** - Applied when working with dates in documentation or schemas
- **performance.mdc** - Applied when optimizing performance
- **performance-monitoring.mdc** - Applied when working with performance monitoring
- **seo-strategy-2026.mdc** - Applied when working with SEO strategy docs
- **content-clusters.mdc** - Applied when working with content clusters
- **goal-setting-metrics.mdc** - Applied when working with goal setting
- **otterly-ai-monitoring.mdc** - Applied when working with Otterly.ai monitoring

## Rule Combinations

### Common Combinations

**Comparison Pages:**
- `global.mdc` + `comparison-pages-core.mdc` + `comparison-pages-content.mdc` + `shared-patterns.mdc`

**Tools Pages:**
- `global.mdc` + `tools-pages-core-design.mdc` + `tools-pages-core-validation.mdc` + `tools-pages-schema.mdc` + `tools-pages-faq.mdc` + `shared-patterns.mdc`
- Additional rules may apply: `tools-pages-patterns-export.mdc`, `tools-pages-patterns-gated.mdc`, `tools-pages-reference.mdc`, `tools-pages-documentation.mdc`
- Special case: `tools-pages-alg1-calculator.mdc` for ALG 1 calculator

**ShiftOps:**
- `global.mdc` + `shiftops-backend.mdc` + `shiftops-frontend-core.mdc` + `shiftops-frontend-qa.mdc` + `api-endpoints-core.mdc` + `shared-patterns.mdc`

**API Endpoints:**
- `global.mdc` + `api-endpoints-core.mdc` + `api-endpoints-security.mdc` + `shared-patterns.mdc`

**Base Components (HIGH PROTECTION):**
- `global.mdc` + `base-components.mdc` + `shared-patterns.mdc`
- ⚠️ Requires explicit approval before editing

## Rule Precedence

1. **global.mdc** - Always applies first (baseline expectations)
2. **Scoped rules** - Apply based on file patterns (add specific requirements)
3. **shared-patterns.mdc** - Referenced by other rules (validation checklists)
4. **More specific rules** - Take precedence over general ones

## Finding the Right Rules

### By File Path

```
v2/pages/compare_*.php
→ global.mdc + comparison-pages-core.mdc + comparison-pages-content.mdc + shared-patterns.mdc

v2/pages/tools_*.php
→ global.mdc + tools-pages-*.mdc (multiple) + shared-patterns.mdc

v2/base/*.php
→ global.mdc + base-components.mdc (HIGH PROTECTION) + shared-patterns.mdc

v2/api/shiftops*.php
→ global.mdc + shiftops-backend.mdc + api-endpoints-core.mdc + shared-patterns.mdc
```

### By Task Type

**Creating a new comparison page:**
→ `comparison-pages-core.mdc` + `comparison-pages-content.mdc`

**Updating a tool calculator:**
→ `tools-pages-core-design.mdc` + `tools-pages-core-validation.mdc` + `tools-pages-schema.mdc`

**Working with ShiftOps:**
→ `shiftops-backend.mdc` + `shiftops-frontend-core.mdc` + `shiftops-frontend-qa.mdc`

**Editing base components:**
→ `base-components.mdc` (⚠️ HIGH PROTECTION - requires approval)

## Related Documentation

- **[Cursor Rules Index](.cursor/rules/README.md)** - Complete rule list
- **[Rule to Documentation Mapping](RULE_TO_DOC_MAPPING.md)** - Rule-to-doc mapping
- **[AI Agent Guide](AI_AGENT_GUIDE.md)** - Documentation discovery patterns
- **[Cursor Playbook](cursor-playbook.md)** - Complete workflow guide