What are AI Assistant Blueprints?

Understanding the core concept behind VDK Hub and how blueprints can transform your AI assistant experience.

The Basic Concept

AI assistant blueprints are pre-written instructions that teach your AI assistant how to work better with specific programming languages, frameworks, and development practices. Think of them as specialized training materials that make your AI assistant an expert in your particular tech stack.

Before and After: The Blueprint Difference

Without Blueprints:

You: "Create a React component for a user profile"

AI: Creates a basic component with outdated patterns, 
    inconsistent naming, no TypeScript, and generic styling.

With React + TypeScript Blueprints:

You: "Create a React component for a user profile"

AI: Creates a modern functional component with:
    ✓ Proper TypeScript interfaces
    ✓ Your project's naming conventions
    ✓ Consistent styling patterns
    ✓ Accessibility best practices
    ✓ Your preferred state management approach

How Blueprints Work

The AI Context Problem

By default, AI assistants have general programming knowledge but lack specific context about:

Your project's coding standards
Your chosen tech stack's best practices
Your team's preferred patterns and conventions
Your specific framework versions and configurations

How Blueprints Solve This

Blueprints provide specific, actionable context that tells your AI assistant:

What technologies you're using - Exact versions, configurations, and setups
How you prefer to write code - Naming conventions, file organization, patterns
What standards to follow - Style guides, best practices, team conventions
What to avoid - Common mistakes, deprecated patterns, anti-patterns

Example: Python Blueprint

A professional Python blueprint might include:

# Code Organization Rules
- Use type hints for all function parameters and return values
- Follow PEP 8 style guidelines strictly
- Organize imports: standard library, third-party, local
- Use dataclasses for simple data structures
- Prefer f-strings for string formatting

# Project Structure
- Use src/ layout for packages
- Place tests in tests/ directory mirroring src/
- Use pyproject.toml for project configuration
- Include type checking with mypy

# Error Handling
- Use specific exception types, not bare except
- Log errors with context using structured logging
- Validate inputs at function boundaries
- Use typing.Optional for potentially None values

Types of Blueprints

1. Language-Specific Blueprints

Focus on a particular programming language:

Python Blueprint:

PEP 8 compliance
Type hinting best practices
Package structure conventions
Testing patterns with pytest

JavaScript/TypeScript Blueprint:

Modern ES6+ syntax
TypeScript strict mode configuration
Module import/export patterns
Testing with Jest/Vitest

Go Blueprint:

Idiomatic Go patterns
Error handling conventions
Package organization
Testing and benchmarking

2. Framework Blueprints

Specialized for web frameworks and libraries:

React Blueprint:

Functional components with hooks
State management patterns
Component composition strategies
Performance optimization techniques

Next.js Blueprint:

App Router patterns
Server/Client component decisions
API route conventions
Deployment configurations

Django Blueprint:

Model-View-Template patterns
Database migration strategies
Authentication and permissions
Testing with Django test framework

3. Tool and Platform Blueprints

For development tools and platforms:

Docker Blueprint:

Multi-stage build patterns
Security best practices
Optimization strategies
Compose file conventions

AWS Blueprint:

Infrastructure as Code patterns
Security configurations
Cost optimization strategies
Monitoring and logging setup

4. Universal Blueprints

Work across multiple technologies:

Code Review Blueprint:

What to look for in reviews
Security considerations
Performance red flags
Documentation standards

Testing Blueprint:

Test-driven development patterns
Unit vs integration test strategies
Mock and stub best practices
Test organization conventions

API Design Blueprint:

RESTful API conventions
Error response formats
Authentication patterns
Documentation standards

Blueprint Anatomy

Core Components

Every blueprint typically contains:

1. Scope and Purpose

# React Component Blueprint
Purpose: Guide AI in creating modern, accessible React components
Scope: Functional components with TypeScript
Audience: Intermediate to advanced React developers

2. Rules and Guidelines

## Component Structure Rules
- Use functional components with TypeScript interfaces
- Define props interface above component
- Use descriptive component and prop names
- Include JSDoc comments for complex components

3. Code Examples

// Good: Proper component structure
interface UserProfileProps {
  userId: string;
  onEdit?: () => void;
}

export const UserProfile: React.FC<UserProfileProps> = ({ 
  userId, 
  onEdit 
}) => {
  // Component implementation
};

4. Anti-Patterns to Avoid

## Avoid These Patterns
- Class components for new code
- Inline styles without CSS-in-JS
- Direct DOM manipulation
- Mutating props directly

5. Integration Instructions

## Usage with AI Assistants
- Works with: Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf
- Installation: Copy to .claude/blueprints/ directory
- Testing: Ask for a "user profile component"