What Gets Created
Running mxcli init (or mxcli new, which runs init automatically) creates the following directory structure in your Mendix project.
Universal Files (All Tools)
These files are shared by all AI tools:
your-mendix-project/
├── AGENTS.md # Comprehensive AI assistant guide
├── .ai-context/
│ ├── skills/ # MDL pattern guides
│ │ ├── write-microflows.md # Microflow syntax and patterns
│ │ ├── create-page.md # Page/widget syntax reference
│ │ ├── alter-page.md # ALTER PAGE in-place modifications
│ │ ├── overview-pages.md # CRUD page patterns
│ │ ├── master-detail-pages.md # Master-detail page patterns
│ │ ├── generate-domain-model.md # Entity/Association syntax
│ │ ├── check-syntax.md # Pre-flight validation checklist
│ │ ├── organize-project.md # Folders, MOVE, project structure
│ │ ├── manage-security.md # Roles, access control, GRANT/REVOKE
│ │ ├── manage-navigation.md # Navigation profiles, menus
│ │ ├── demo-data.md # Database/import/demo data
│ │ ├── xpath-constraints.md # XPath syntax in WHERE clauses
│ │ ├── database-connections.md # External database connections
│ │ ├── test-microflows.md # Test annotations and Docker setup
│ │ └── patterns-data-processing.md # Delta merge, batch processing
│ └── examples/ # Example MDL scripts
├── mxcli # CLI executable (copied)
└── .devcontainer/ # Dev container configuration
├── devcontainer.json
└── Dockerfile
Tool-Specific Files
Claude Code
.claude/
├── settings.json # Claude Code project settings
├── commands/ # Slash commands for Claude
│ └── mendix/ # Mendix-specific commands
└── lint-rules/ # Starlark lint rules
CLAUDE.md # Project context for Claude
Cursor
.cursorrules # Compact MDL reference and command guide
Continue.dev
.continue/
└── config.json # Custom commands and slash commands
Windsurf
.windsurfrules # MDL rules for Codeium's AI
Aider
.aider.conf.yml # YAML configuration for Aider
Dev Container Contents
The .devcontainer/ provides a sandboxed environment with:
| Component | Purpose |
|---|---|
| mxcli | Mendix CLI binary |
| MxBuild / mx | Project validation and building (auto-downloaded on first use) |
| JDK 21 (Adoptium) | Required by MxBuild |
| Docker-in-Docker | Running Mendix apps locally with mxcli docker |
| Node.js | Playwright testing support |
| PostgreSQL client | Database connectivity |
| Claude Code | AI coding assistant (auto-installed on container creation) |
Key paths inside the container:
~/.mxcli/mxbuild/{version}/modeler/mx # mx check / mx build
~/.mxcli/runtime/{version}/ # Mendix runtime (auto-downloaded)
./mxcli # Project-local mxcli binary
Skills Overview
The skill files in .ai-context/skills/ teach AI assistants how to generate correct MDL. Each skill covers a specific topic:
| Skill File | What It Teaches |
|---|---|
write-microflows.md | Microflow syntax, common mistakes, validation checklist |
create-page.md | Page/widget syntax reference |
overview-pages.md | CRUD page patterns (data grids, search, buttons) |
generate-domain-model.md | Entity, attribute, association, enumeration syntax |
manage-security.md | Module roles, user roles, GRANT/REVOKE patterns |
demo-data.md | Mendix ID system, association storage, data insertion |
check-syntax.md | Pre-flight validation checklist before execution |
AI assistants are instructed to read the relevant skill file before generating MDL for that topic.