lint-rule-development

name	lint-rule-development
description	Step-by-step guide for creating and implementing lint rules in Biome's analyzer. Use when implementing rules like noVar, useConst, or any custom lint/assist rule, adding code actions to fix diagnostics, implementing semantic analysis for binding references, or adding configurable options to rules. Use when this capability is needed.
metadata	{"author":"biomejs"}

Purpose

Use this skill when creating new lint rules or assist actions for Biome. It provides scaffolding commands, implementation patterns, testing workflows, and documentation guidelines.

Prerequisites

1. Install required tools: just install-tools
2. Ensure cargo, just, and pnpm are available
3. Read crates/biome_analyze/CONTRIBUTING.md for in-depth concepts

Common Workflows

Create a New Lint Rule

Generate scaffolding for a JavaScript lint rule:

just new-js-lintrule useMyRuleName

For other languages:

just new-css-lintrule myRuleName
just new-json-lintrule myRuleName
just new-graphql-lintrule myRuleName

This creates a file in crates/biome_js_analyze/src/lint/nursery/use_my_rule_name.rs

Implement the Rule

Basic rule structure (generated by scaffolding):

use biome_analyze::{context::RuleContext, declare_lint_rule, Rule, RuleDiagnostic};
use biome_js_syntax::JsIdentifierBinding;
use biome_rowan::AstNode;

declare_lint_rule! {
    /// Disallows the use of prohibited identifiers.
    pub UseMyRuleName {
        version: "next",
        name: "useMyRuleName",
        language: "js",
        recommended: false,
    }
}

impl Rule for UseMyRuleName {
    type Query = Ast<JsIdentifierBinding>;
    type State = ();
    type Signals = Option<Self::State>;
    type Options = ();

    fn run(ctx: &RuleContext<Self>) -> Self::Signals {
        let binding = ctx.query();

        // Check if identifier matches your rule logic
        if binding.name_token().ok()?.text() == "prohibited_name" {
            return Some(());
        }

        None
    }

    fn diagnostic(ctx: &RuleContext<Self>, _state: &Self::State) -> Option<RuleDiagnostic> {
        let node = ctx.query();
        Some(
            RuleDiagnostic::new(
                rule_category!(),
                node.range(),
                markup! {
                    "Avoid using this identifier."
                },
            )
            .note(markup! {
                "This identifier is prohibited because..."
            }),
        )
    }
}

Using Semantic Model

For rules that need binding analysis:

use crate::services::semantic::Semantic;

impl Rule for MySemanticRule {
    type Query = Semantic<JsReferenceIdentifier>;

    fn run(ctx: &RuleContext<Self>) -> Self::Signals {
        let node = ctx.query();
        let model = ctx.model();

        // Check if binding is declared
        let binding = node.binding(model)?;

        // Get all references to this binding
        let all_refs = binding.all_references(model);

        // Get only read references
        let read_refs = binding.all_reads(model);

        // Get only write references
        let write_refs = binding.all_writes(model);

        Some(())
    }
}

Add Code Actions (Fixes)

To provide automatic fixes:

use biome_analyze::FixKind;

declare_lint_rule! {
    pub UseMyRuleName {
        version: "next",
        name: "useMyRuleName",
        language: "js",
        recommended: false,
        fix_kind: FixKind::Safe, // or FixKind::Unsafe
    }
}

impl Rule for UseMyRuleName {
    fn action(ctx: &RuleContext<Self>, _state: &Self::State) -> Option<JsRuleAction> {
        let node = ctx.query();
        let mut mutation = ctx.root().begin();

        // Example: Replace the node
        mutation.replace_node(
            node.clone(),
            make::js_identifier_binding(make::ident("replacement"))
        );

        Some(JsRuleAction::new(
            ctx.metadata().action_category(ctx.category(), ctx.group()),
            ctx.metadata().applicability(),
            markup! { "Use 'replacement' instead" }.to_owned(),
            mutation,
        ))
    }
}

Quick Testing

Use the quick test for rapid iteration:

// In crates/biome_js_analyze/tests/quick_test.rs
// Uncomment #[ignore] and modify:

const SOURCE: &str = r#"
const prohibited_name = 1;
"#;

let rule_filter = RuleFilter::Rule("nursery", "useMyRuleName");

Run the test:

cd crates/biome_js_analyze
cargo test quick_test -- --show-output

Create Snapshot Tests

Create test files in tests/specs/nursery/useMyRuleName/:

tests/specs/nursery/useMyRuleName/
├── invalid.js          # Code that triggers the rule
├── valid.js            # Code that doesn't trigger the rule
└── options.json        # Optional rule configuration

Every test file must start with a top-level comment declaring whether it expects diagnostics. The test runner enforces this — see the testing-codegen skill for full rules. The short version:

valid.js — comment is mandatory (test panics without it):

/* should not generate diagnostics */
const x = 1;
const y = 2;

invalid.js — comment is strongly recommended (also enforced when present):

/* should generate diagnostics */
const prohibited_name = 1;
const another_prohibited = 2;

Run snapshot tests:

just test-lintrule useMyRuleName

Review snapshots:

cargo insta review

Generate Analyzer Code

During development, use the lightweight codegen commands:

just gen-rules          # Updates rule registrations in *_analyze crates
just gen-configuration  # Updates configuration schemas

These generate enough code to compile and test your rule without errors.

For full codegen (migrations, schema, bindings, formatting), run:

just gen-analyzer

Note: The CI autofix job runs gen-analyzer automatically when you open a PR, so running it locally is optional.

Format and Lint

Before committing:

just f  # Format code
just l  # Lint code

Adding Configurable Options

When a rule needs user-configurable behavior, add options via the biome_rule_options crate. For the full reference (merge strategies, design guidelines, common patterns), see references/OPTIONS.md.

Quick workflow:

Step 1. Define the options type in biome_rule_options/src/<snake_case_rule_name>.rs:

use biome_deserialize_macros::{Deserializable, Merge};
use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};

#[derive(Debug, Default, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize, Deserializable, Merge)]
#[cfg_attr(feature = "schema", derive(schemars::JsonSchema))]
#[serde(rename_all = "camelCase", deny_unknown_fields, default)]
pub struct UseMyRuleNameOptions {
    #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
    pub behavior: Option<MyBehavior>,
}

Step 2. Wire it into the rule:

use biome_rule_options::use_my_rule_name::UseMyRuleNameOptions;

impl Rule for UseMyRuleName {
    type Options = UseMyRuleNameOptions;

    fn run(ctx: &RuleContext<Self>) -> Self::Signals {
        let options = ctx.options();
        let behavior = options.behavior.unwrap_or_default();
        // ...
    }
}

Step 3. Test with options.json in the test directory (see references/OPTIONS.md for examples).

Step 4. Run codegen: just gen-rules && just gen-configuration

Key rules:

• All fields must be Option<T> for config merging to work
• Use Box<[Box<str>]> instead of Vec<String> for collection fields
• Use #[derive(Merge)] for simple cases, implement Merge manually for collections
• Only add options when truly needed (conflicting community preferences, multiple valid interpretations)

Tips

• Rule naming: Use no* prefix for rules that forbid something (e.g., noVar), use* for rules that mandate something (e.g., useConst)
• Nursery group: All new rules start in the nursery group
• Semantic queries: Use Semantic<Node> query when you need binding/scope analysis
• Multiple signals: Return Vec<Self::State> or Box<[Self::State]> to emit multiple diagnostics
• Safe vs Unsafe fixes: Mark fixes as Unsafe if they could change program behavior
• Check for globals: Always verify if a variable is global before reporting it (use semantic model)
• Error recovery: When navigating CST, use .ok()? pattern to handle missing nodes gracefully
• Testing arrays: Use .jsonc files with arrays of code snippets for multiple test cases

Common Query Types

// Simple AST query
type Query = Ast<JsVariableDeclaration>;

// Semantic query (needs binding info)
type Query = Semantic<JsReferenceIdentifier>;

// Multiple node types (requires declare_node_union!)
declare_node_union! {
    pub AnyFunctionLike = AnyJsFunction | JsMethodObjectMember | JsMethodClassMember
}
type Query = Semantic<AnyFunctionLike>;

References

• Full guide: crates/biome_analyze/CONTRIBUTING.md
• Rule examples: crates/biome_js_analyze/src/lint/
• Semantic model: Search for Semantic< in existing rules
• Testing guide: Main CONTRIBUTING.md testing section

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