# astro

A Copilot rule that sets Astro 7 conventions: islands architecture, the Content Layer API, TypeScript, and server-first rendering by default.

- rule · `type=rule` · GitHub Copilot · ★ 40418
- Author: github · official GitHub repository
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/github/awesome-copilot/tree/HEAD/instructions/astro.instructions.md
- Updated: 2026-10-23
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/rules/astro

## What it does

The file tells Copilot how to build Astro 7.x sites for content-heavy projects: blogs, docs, marketing pages. It lays out server rendering by default, selective hydration, Content Collections for Markdown and MDX, and types generated into `.astro/types.d.ts`.

Specifics are covered too. Collections get defined in `src/content.config.ts` with `glob()` and `file()`, `z` is imported from `astro/zod`, server islands use `server:defer`, mutations go through typed Actions in `src/actions/index.ts`, and per-visitor state lives in `Astro.session`. There is a section on `<ClientRouter />` from `astro:transitions`, plus a warning that the compiler errors on unclosed tags and will not fix bad nesting for you.

The rule applies to files matching `**/*.astro`, `**/*.ts`, `**/*.js`, `**/*.md`, `**/*.mdx`. Server islands and sessions need an SSR adapter configured, so those parts do nothing without one. Examples target Astro 7.x, and some APIs differ on older versions.

## Install

### GitHub Copilot (native platform)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/instructions/astro.instructions.md` — The applyTo field sets which files it applies to

### Claude Code

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.claude/rules/astro.md` — The paths frontmatter field limits the files: move applyTo from the source into paths

### Codex

**AGENTS.md**
- Codex reads AGENTS.md: paste the rule text there

### Cursor

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/rules/astro.mdc` — Frontmatter: description, globs, alwaysApply. Move applyTo from the source into globs, or the rule will not attach on its own

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/rules/astro.md`

### Cline

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.clinerules/astro.md`

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/github/awesome-copilot/tree/HEAD/instructions/astro.instructions.md

## When to use it
- explain islands architecture to Copilot
- type content collections through the Content Layer API
- wire up a server island with fallback content
- replace ad-hoc API routes with typed Actions
- keep client-side JavaScript at zero where it is not needed

## Example prompts
- add a blog collection in src/content.config.ts with title, pubDate and tags
- make the Avatar component a server island with a loading fallback
- move the newsletter form handler into an Action with email validation

## Source text · astro.instructions.md · MIT

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: db1304a6da66e63d.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE db1304a6da66e63d
````text
---
description: 'Astro 7 development standards and best practices for content-driven websites'
applyTo: '**/*.astro, **/*.ts, **/*.js, **/*.md, **/*.mdx'
---

# Astro Development Instructions

Instructions for building high-quality Astro applications following the content-driven, server-first architecture with modern best practices.

> [!NOTE]
> Examples and APIs in this guide target Astro 7.x.

## Project Context
- Astro 7.x with Islands Architecture and the Content Layer API
- TypeScript for type safety and better DX with auto-generated types
- Content-driven websites (blogs, marketing, e-commerce, documentation)
- Server-first rendering with selective client-side hydration
- Support for multiple UI frameworks (React, Vue, Svelte, Solid, etc.)
- Static site generation (SSG) by default with optional server-side rendering (SSR)

## Development Standards

### Architecture
- Embrace the Islands Architecture: server-render by default, hydrate selectively
- Organize content with Content Collections for type-safe Markdown/MDX management
- Structure projects by feature or content type for scalability
- Use component-based architecture with clear separation of concerns
- Implement progressive enhancement patterns
- Follow Multi-Page App (MPA) approach over Single-Page App (SPA) patterns

### TypeScript Integration
- Extend Astro's base config in `tsconfig.json`:
```json
{
  "extends": "astro/tsconfigs/base",
  "include": [".astro/types.d.ts", "**/*"],
  "exclude": ["dist"]
}
```
- Types are auto-generated in `.astro/types.d.ts`; run `astro sync` after changing collections or config
- Define component props with TypeScript interfaces
- Leverage auto-generated types for content collections and the Content Layer API

### Component Design
- Use `.astro` components for static, server-rendered content
- Import framework components (React, Vue, Svelte) only when interactivity is needed
- Follow Astro's component script structure: frontmatter at top, template below
- Use meaningful component names following PascalCase convention
- Keep components focused and composable
- Implement proper prop validation and default values
- Write valid, fully-closed HTML: the compiler errors on unclosed tags and does not auto-correct invalid nesting (e.g. block elements inside `<p>`)

### Content Collections
- Define collections in `src/content.config.ts` with the Content Layer API
- Use built-in loaders: `glob()` for file-based content, `file()` for a single data file
- Import `z` from `astro/zod` (not from `astro:content`) and prefer top-level Zod helpers such as `z.email()` and `z.url()`
- Query content with type-safe `getCollection()` and `getEntry()`
- Example collection definition:
```typescript
import { defineCollection } from 'astro:content';
import { z } from 'astro/zod';
import { glob } from 'astro/loaders';

const blog = defineCollection({
  loader: glob({ pattern: '**/*.md', base: './src/content/blog' }),
  schema: z.object({
    title: z.string(),
    pubDate: z.date(),
    tags: z.array(z.string()).optional(),
  }),
});

export const collections = { blog };
```

### View Transitions & Client-Side Routing
- Enable with the `<ClientRouter />` component in your layout `<head>`
- Import from `astro:transitions`: `import { ClientRouter } from 'astro:transitions'`
- Provides SPA-like navigation without full page reloads
- Customize transition animations with CSS and view-transition-name
- Maintain state across page navigations with persistent islands
- Use `transition:persist` directive to preserve component state

### Performance Optimization
- Default to zero JavaScript - only add interactivity where needed
````
END THIRD-PARTY FILE db1304a6da66e63d

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First 3653 of 7710 bytes. © github · MIT · https://github.com/github/awesome-copilot/tree/HEAD/instructions/astro.instructions.md

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