Architecture

Nice Code keeps the review path small and explicit. Rust owns discovery, parsing, rules, reports, and exit decisions. Node.js runs the user-facing launcher; Bun supports development, testing, and TypeScript utilities.

flowchart LR
    Guidance[Sources and patterns] --> Engine[Rust analysis engine]
    Project[Target project] --> Engine
    Engine --> Findings[Deterministic findings]
    Engine --> Native[Native project tools]
    Native --> Reports[Report and exit decision]
    Findings --> Reports
    Launcher[Node-compatible launcher] --> Engine
    Reports --> Text[Human terminal output]
    Reports --> Agent[Agent format / JSON]
    Reports --> Sarif[SARIF for CI]

The review path is:

1. Public guidance is recorded in the source registry.
2. Adapted principles become independent patterns.
3. Lightweight checks cover gaps that local tools do not already own.
4. In --ci mode, the engine runs available native project tools and retains their status.
5. Results are consumed locally, by a commit hook, by an agent, or in CI.

The checker detects the project ecosystem and scans changed files by default. Full scans, baselines, and audits are deliberate operations.