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+# Shared AI Assistant Rules
+
+**These rules apply to ALL AI assistants working on this project (Cursor, Claude, GitHub Copilot, etc.)**
+
+## Git Commit Guidelines
+
+### Commit Structure
+- **Make small, focused commits** - one logical change per commit
+- **Never lump multiple unrelated changes** into a single commit
+- Each module fix should be its own commit
+- Each feature should be its own commit
+- Each bug fix should be its own commit
+
+### Commit Message Format
+```
+<type>: <short summary>
+
+<optional detailed description>
+```
+
+**Types:**
+- `fix`: Bug fixes
+- `feat`: New features
+- `refactor`: Code restructuring
+- `docs`: Documentation changes
+- `test`: Test additions or fixes
+- `chore`: Maintenance tasks
+
+**Rules:**
+- **Never use exclamation marks** in commit messages
+- Keep first line under 72 characters
+- Use imperative mood: "Fix bug" not "Fixed bug"
+- Be specific and descriptive
+- Reference issue numbers when applicable
+
+**Good Examples:**
+```
+Fix Module 06 optimizers AdamW gradient handling
+Add KV cache support for transformer inference
+Refactor attention masking to use standard conventions
+```
+
+**Bad Examples:**
+```
+Fix stuff!
+Update files
+Changes
+WIP
+```
+
+### What NOT to Commit
+- Generated files (`.ipynb` notebooks - they're auto-generated from `.py`)
+- `__pycache__/` directories
+- Build artifacts
+- Temporary files
+- IDE-specific configuration (`.vscode/`, `.idea/`)
+- AI assistant folders (`.cursor/`, `.claude/`, `.ai/`)
+
+## Code Quality
+
+### Critical Rules
+- **Test every change** before moving to the next task
+- **Run inline tests** immediately after defining them
+- **Never skip testing** - it catches issues early
+- **Check imports** - ensure all dependencies are available
+
+### Development Workflow
+1. Make a change
+2. Test the change
+3. Verify it works
+4. Commit (small, focused commit)
+5. Move to next change
+
+**Never:**
+- Make multiple changes without testing
+- Commit untested code
+- Bundle unrelated changes together
+
+## TinyTorch-Specific Rules
+
+### Module Development
+- All source code lives in `modules/source/XX_name/name_dev.py`
+- `.ipynb` files are generated - don't edit them directly
+- Use `tito export` to sync changes to the package
+- Test with `tito test <module_name>`
+
+### Testing Philosophy
+- **Inline tests** = component validation within modules
+- **`tests/` directory** = integration tests across modules
+- Every module must have passing inline tests
+- Integration tests verify modules work together
+
+### Code Organization
+- Avoid duplication - create shared utilities
+- Follow existing module structure
+- Maintain consistent formatting
+- Use the project's established patterns
+
+## Communication
+
+### With the User
+- Be direct and concise
+- Don't ask for permission for standard operations
+- Propose solutions, don't just describe problems
+- Show progress with concrete results
+
+### In Code
+- Write clear, educational comments
+- Explain non-obvious decisions
+- Document complex algorithms
+- Use meaningful variable names
+
+## Efficiency
+
+### Tool Usage
+- Use specialized tools over terminal commands when available
+- Make parallel tool calls when operations are independent
+- Read multiple files simultaneously when needed
+- Batch related operations
+
+### Problem Solving
+- **Be proactive** - fix issues when you find them
+- **Think critically** - challenge assumptions
+- **Consider edge cases** - don't just test happy paths
+- **Learn from errors** - patterns repeat
+
+## Quality Standards
+
+### Before Committing
+- [ ] All tests pass
+- [ ] No linter errors
+- [ ] Imports are correct
+- [ ] Code follows project style
+- [ ] Commit message is clear and specific
+- [ ] Only changed files are included
+
+### Before Marking Complete
+- [ ] Feature works as intended
+- [ ] Edge cases are handled
+- [ ] Documentation is updated
+- [ ] Tests are passing
+- [ ] No regressions introduced
+
+---
+
+**Remember:** Quality over speed. Small, tested, well-documented commits are better than large, untested, rushed ones.
+