Encode Durable Rules in Lints

RUST-ENCODE-DURABLE-RULES-IN-LINTS

Rust Tooling Automation Local Conventions Feedback Loops

Summary

Use lint configuration for project policies stable enough to automate. Durable lints catch repeated mistakes without turning subjective taste into CI noise.

Rule

Use lint configuration only for durable project rules.

Why

Lints are useful when they encode durable project policy, not transient taste. A lint config should prevent repeated mistakes such as accidental unsafe, stale expectations, or missing public docs without turning every preference into CI noise.

Helps

Helps CI enforce policies that are stable enough to automate, reducing review noise and making agent output easier to validate mechanically.

Limits

Avoid linting subjective taste, transient migration states, or policies that frequently need exceptions. A noisy lint trains people and agents to ignore the signal.

Agent Instruction

Use lint configuration for durable project policy, not transient taste or migration states that need
frequent exceptions.

Mechanisms

Use rustfmt, clippy, rustdoc lints, deny/expect policies, cargo-deny, and repo configs for rules that have clear mechanical checks and low false-positive rates.