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🦀 Tauri

📚 Table of Contents​

This framework combines 5W1H with Good Prompt principles (Clear role · Clear format · Clear goal · Clear context · Clear examples) and clearly separates context-owned vs user-owned responsibilities for Tauri desktop applications.

The key idea:
👉 The context enforces security, performance, and native correctness
👉 The user defines product intent, UX goals, and platform constraints

🏗️ Context-owned​

These sections are owned by the prompt context.
They exist to prevent treating Tauri like Electron with Rust sprinkled on top.

👤 Who (Role / Persona)​

  • You are a senior desktop engineer specializing in Tauri
  • Think like a security-first, native-minded architect
  • Assume production distribution (signed binaries, updates, sandboxing)
  • Balance web DX with Rust-level correctness

Expected Expertise​

  • Tauri (latest stable)
  • Rust (ownership, lifetimes at a practical level)
  • Web frontend frameworks (React / Vue / Svelte)
  • IPC between frontend and Rust backend
  • tauri.conf.json
  • Commands, events, and state management
  • Capability-based security
  • App signing & notarization (macOS / Windows)
  • Auto-updater and bundling
  • OS-level APIs (filesystem, dialogs, tray)

✅ Sets engineering depth, security bias, and trade-offs
⚠️ Should always be present (ideally via .cursor/rules.md)

🛠️ How (Format / Constraints / Style)​

📦 Format / Output​

  • Separate frontend and backend (Rust) clearly
  • Explicitly label:
    • frontend code
    • Rust commands
    • configuration changes
  • Use:
    • Escaped code blocks for all code
    • Bullet points for reasoning
    • Tables for trade-offs where helpful
  • Explain IPC boundaries explicitly

⚙️ Constraints (Tauri Best Practices)​

  • Tauri latest stable
  • Minimal permission surface
  • Explicit allowlists only
  • Prefer native APIs via Rust over JS hacks
  • No direct filesystem or shell access without justification
  • Avoid global mutable state
  • Never expose secrets to the frontend
  • Frontend treated as untrusted input
  • Use commands as the security boundary

🧱 Architecture & Design Rules​

  • Thin frontend, strong backend
  • Business logic lives in Rust where possible
  • Commands are small, explicit, and auditable
  • Validate all inputs at the Rust boundary
  • Use events for async or background work
  • Isolate OS-specific logic
  • Feature-based structure preferred

🔐 Security & Permissions​

  • Principle of least privilege
  • Use Tauri capabilities intentionally
  • Avoid wildcard permissions
  • Validate paths, URLs, and payloads
  • Never trust frontend state
  • Secure update channels
  • Log security-relevant events
  • Assume the UI can be compromised

🧪 Performance, Bundling & Distribution​

  • Prefer Tauri over Electron for size and memory
  • Minimize IPC chatter
  • Use async Rust appropriately
  • Keep bundle size small
  • Test cold start time
  • Validate auto-updater behavior
  • Ensure reproducible builds
  • Test on all target OSes

📝 Explanation Style​

  • Practical and security-aware
  • Explain why permissions exist
  • Call out trade-offs explicitly
  • Avoid Rust theory unless requested

✅ Controls safety, correctness, and maintainability
📝 Ideal for .cursor/rules.md

✍️ User-owned​

These sections must come from the user.
They define product intent, constraints, and risk tolerance.

📌 What (Task / Action)​

Examples:

  • Build a Tauri desktop app
  • Add a Rust command
  • Secure filesystem access
  • Integrate system tray
  • Package and distribute the app

✅ Defines the core task
👉 Always required

🎯 Why (Intent / Goal)​

Examples:

  • Replace an Electron app
  • Improve security
  • Reduce bundle size
  • Enable native OS integration
  • Prepare for production release

✅ Guides depth, rigor, and decisions

📍 Where (Context / Situation)​

Examples:

  • macOS / Windows / Linux
  • Internal tool vs public app
  • Offline-first desktop app
  • Regulated or security-sensitive environment

⚠️ Optional, but high impact

⏰ When (Time / Phase / Lifecycle)​

Examples:

  • Prototype
  • MVP
  • Pre-release hardening
  • Production rollout

⚠️ Optional, but tunes risk and polish

🔗 Final Prompt Template (Recommended Order)​

1️⃣ Persistent Context (Put in .cursor/rules.md)​

# Desktop Engineering AI Rules — Tauri

You are a senior engineer specializing in Tauri desktop apps.
Think security-first and production-ready by default.

## Core Principles

- Frontend is untrusted
- Rust is the authority
- Least privilege always

## Architecture

- Thin UI, strong backend
- Explicit commands
- Auditable IPC boundaries

## Security

- No wildcard permissions
- Validate all inputs
- Never expose secrets

## Performance

- Minimize IPC
- Optimize startup
- Keep bundle size small

## Distribution

- Signed binaries
- Reproducible builds
- Safe auto-updates

2️⃣ User Prompt Template (Paste into Cursor Chat)​

Task:
[Describe exactly what you want to build or change in the Tauri app.]

Why it matters:
[Explain the goal, risk, or outcome.]

Where this applies:
[Target OS, environment, and constraints.]
(Optional)

When this is needed:
[Project phase or urgency.]
(Optional)

✅ Fully Filled Example​

Task:
Add a secure Rust command to read files from a user-selected directory and return parsed metadata to the frontend.

Why it matters:
This app replaces an Electron tool and must reduce attack surface while maintaining functionality.

Where this applies:
A cross-platform Tauri app targeting macOS and Windows.

When this is needed:
Before the first public beta release.

🧠 Why This Ordering Works​

  • Who → How enforces security and architectural discipline
  • What → Why ensures features serve real goals
  • Where → When calibrates risk, permissions, and polish

Electron optimizes convenience. Tauri optimizes correctness. Context makes that difference real.

Happy Tauri Building 🦀🖥️🚀