_conventions · openai — Codex command: what it does, how to install
Defines a repeatable layout for Vercel project commands, from preflight checks to verification. It is intended for command authors and maintainers.
~/.codex/prompts/_conventions.mdWhat _conventions does
_conventions sets the required shape of a command used with Vercel projects. The preflight stage checks .vercel/project.json, confirms that vercel is on PATH, reviews Git state, and identifies the target package in a monorepo. Before execution, the agent states its plan, lists commands or MCP calls, and asks for approval when an operation can affect production.
Read operations should go through the Vercel MCP server first; the CLI handles writes or cases MCP does not cover. Available commands should request JSON output, while environment variable values stay out of the response. Afterward, the agent reads the state again, compares changes where possible, and reports the action, status, and key details.
This file is a meta-document because its name starts with _. It is excluded from plugin.json, so users cannot invoke it as a slash command. Command files under commands/ use the .md suffix, require YAML frontmatter with description, and are checked by scripts/validate.ts.
What it helps with
- check project prerequisites before execution
- outline MCP and CLI calls in advance
- request approval for production-impacting actions
- verify state after a change
- validate a command file’s required sections
Example prompts for the agent
- Review
commands/deploy.mdagainst_conventionsand add any missing sections. - Before changing the Vercel project, run the preflight checks, show the plan, and ask for confirmation before a production operation.
- Use
scripts/validate.tsto check whether the command file follows_conventions.
How to install _conventions
Manually: put the files in place
~/.codex/prompts/_conventions.mdCall it with /prompts:_conventions. Codex marks this format deprecated in favour of skills
Manually: put the files in place
.claude/commands/_conventions.mdCall it with /_conventions. For all projects use ~/.claude/commands/
Manually: put the files in place
.github/prompts/_conventions.prompt.mdManually: put the files in place
.gemini/commands/_conventions.tomlGemini stores commands as TOML: the prompt text goes into the prompt field
Questions about _conventions
How do I install _conventions in Codex?
Place the file at ~/.codex/prompts/_conventions.md.
What does the _conventions command do?
It defines a command workflow covering preflight, planning, execution, verification, a result block, and next steps. It also sets file frontmatter and validation requirements.
Can users invoke _conventions as a slash command?
No. Files beginning with _ are treated as meta-documents, left out of plugin.json, and not exposed as user-invocable commands.
Source text
_conventions.md · Apache-2.0
# Command Conventions Every slash command in this plugin follows a consistent structure so that the AI agent produces reliable, verifiable results. When authoring or updating a command file, include **all** of the sections below. ## Required Sections ### 1. Preflight Check prerequisites before doing any work: - **Project linked?** — Verify `.vercel/project.json` exists. If not, guide the user through `vercel link`. - **CLI available?** — Confirm `vercel` CLI is on PATH. - **Repo state** — Note uncommitted changes, dirty working tree, or detached HEAD when relevant. - **Scope** — Detect monorepo (e.g., `turbo.json` or `pnpm-workspace.yaml`) and confirm which package is targeted. Preflight failures should produce clear, actionable guidance — never silently skip. ### 2. Plan Before executing, state what will happen: - List the commands or MCP calls that will run. - Flag destructive or production-impacting operations and require explicit user confirmation. - If multiple strategies exist (MCP-first vs CLI-fallback), state which path was chosen and why. ### 3. Commands The operational core. Follow these conventions: - **MCP-first, CLI-fallback** — Prefer the Vercel MCP server for reads; use CLI for writes or when MCP lacks coverage. - **Structured output** — Request `--format=json` where available; parse and present results in a readable summary. - **No secrets in output** — Never echo environment variable values. Show names and metadata only. - **Confirmation for destructive ops** — Production deploys, env removal, cache purge, and domain changes require an explicit "yes" from the user. ### 4. Verification After execution, confirm the outcome: - Re-read state (e.g., `vercel ls`, `vercel env ls`) to confirm the operation took effect. - Compare before/after where possible (e.g., deployment count, env var count). - Surface errors or warnings from command output. ### 5. Summary Present a concise result block: ``` ## Result - **Action**: what was done - **Status**: success | partial | failed - **Details**: key output (URL, counts, config changes) ``` ### 6. Next Steps Suggest logical follow-ups: - After deploy → check logs, inspect build, verify preview URL. - After env change → pull to local, redeploy if production. - After status → fix any flagged issues, run deploy if stale. ## File Naming - Command files live in `commands/` and end in `.md`. - Files prefixed with `_` (like this one) are meta-documents, not slash commands. They are excluded from `plugin.json` enumeration and not presented as user-invocable commands. ## Frontmatter Every command file must include YAML frontmatter with at least a `description` field: ```yaml --- description: One-line summary of what the command does. --- ``` ## Validation `scripts/validate.ts` enforces these conventions. Every non-underscore command file is checked for the required sections: Preflight, Plan, Commands, Verification, Summary, Next Steps.
© Vercel Labs · Apache-2.0 · openai/plugins
Similar slash commands
Everything for Cloud: AWS, Azure, GCP →_conventions by other authors comes first.