continuedev/continue · error · Error

Only rule files can be deleted

Error message

Only rule files can be deleted

What it means

The file/delete message handler in core.ts only permits deleting files that are colocated rules files or Continue config-related URIs; anything else throws 'Only rule files can be deleted'. This is a security guard preventing the extension from deleting arbitrary files.

Source

Thrown at core/core.ts:412

      try {
        await createNewGlobalRuleFile(this.ide, msg.data?.baseFilename);
        walkDirCache.invalidate();
        await this.configHandler.reloadConfig(
          "Global rule created (config/addGlobalRule message)",
        );
      } catch (error) {
        throw error;
      }
    });

    on("config/deleteRule", async (msg) => {
      try {
        const filepath = msg.data.filepath;
        if (
          !isColocatedRulesFile(filepath) &&
          !isContinueConfigRelatedUri(filepath)
        ) {
          throw new Error("Only rule files can be deleted");
        }
        const fileExists = await this.ide.fileExists(filepath);
        if (fileExists) {
          await this.ide.removeFile(filepath);
          walkDirCache.invalidate();
          await this.configHandler.reloadConfig(
            "Rule file deleted (config/deleteRule message)",
          );
        }
      } catch (error) {
        console.error("Failed to delete rule file:", error);
        throw error;
      }
    });

    on("config/openProfile", async (msg) => {
      await this.configHandler.openConfigProfile(msg.data.profileId);
    });

View on GitHub (pinned to 5522c6f44c)

Solutions

1. Only send delete requests for rule files under the recognized rules directories or Continue config URIs
2. Update the extension/client to matching versions so path formats agree
3. To delete other files, use the IDE's own file APIs, not this message channel

import { isColocatedRulesFile, isContinueConfigRelatedUri } from 'core/index';
if (!isColocatedRulesFile(fp) && !isContinueConfigRelatedUri(fp)) {
  throw new Error('Refusing to delete non-rule file');
}

function isDeletablePath(fp: string): boolean {
  return isColocatedRulesFile(fp) || isContinueConfigRelatedUri(fp);
}

When it happens

Trigger: A frontend request to core with type 'file/delete' whose filepath is neither a colocated rules file (e.g. .continue/rules/*.md) nor a continue-config-related URI.

Common situations: Frontend code or an old client version sends deletions for arbitrary paths; a stale build sending config paths in a format the URI check no longer recognizes.

Related errors

• Table name must be in format schema.table_name, got ${tableN
• No chat model selected
• Failed to load config
• FindAndReplaceMissingOldString
• FindAndReplaceMissingNewString

AI-assisted analysis of continuedev/continue@5522c6f44c (2026-08-27). Data as JSON: /api/errors/39699869f2082e01. Report an issue: GitHub.