feat: add global/local scope option to Mode Writer mode

- Updated mode-writer fileRegex to allow writing to any XML/YAML files
- Added scope selection as first step in mode creation workflow
- Updated workflow to handle different file paths for global vs local modes
- Created new instruction file for global mode path guidance
- Fixes #5972

.roo/rules-mode-writer/1_mode_creation_workflow.xml

@@ -6,6 +6,31 @@
 
   <detailed_steps>
     <step number="1">
+      <title>Choose Mode Scope</title>
+      <description>
+        Determine whether the mode should be global (available in all projects) or local (specific to current project)
+      </description>
+      <actions>
+        <action>Ask user to choose between global and local scope</action>
+        <action>Store the choice to determine file paths throughout the workflow</action>
+      </actions>
+      <example>
+        <ask_followup_question>
+          <question>Should this be a global mode (available in all projects) or a local mode (only for this project)?</question>
+          <follow_up>
+            <suggest>Global mode - available in all projects</suggest>
+            <suggest>Local mode - only for this project</suggest>
+          </follow_up>
+        </ask_followup_question>
+      </example>
+      <important_note>
+        The user's choice here determines where all files will be written:
+        - Global: Uses the system's global settings directory
+        - Local: Uses the current project's .roomodes and .roo/ directories
+      </important_note>
+    </step>
+
+    <step number="2">
       <title>Gather Requirements</title>
       <description>
         Understand what the user wants the mode to accomplish
@@ -29,7 +54,7 @@
       </example>
     </step>
 
-    <step number="2">
+    <step number="3">
       <title>Design Mode Configuration</title>
       <description>
         Create the mode definition with all required fields
@@ -46,7 +71,7 @@
         <field name="roleDefinition">
           <description>Detailed description of the mode's role and expertise</description>
           <best_practice>
-            Start with "You are Roo Code, a [specialist type]..."
+            Start with "You are Roo, a [specialist type]..."
             List specific areas of expertise
             Mention key technologies or methodologies
           </best_practice>
@@ -69,13 +94,36 @@
         </field>
       </recommended_fields>
       <important_note>
-        Do not include customInstructions in the .roomodes configuration.
+        Do not include customInstructions in the mode configuration.
         All detailed instructions should be placed in XML files within
-        the .roo/rules-[mode-slug]/ directory instead.
+        the appropriate rules directory instead.
       </important_note>
     </step>
 
-    <step number="3">
+    <step number="4">
+      <title>Write Mode Configuration</title>
+      <description>
+        Save the mode configuration to the appropriate location based on scope
+      </description>
+      <scope_based_paths>
+        <global_mode>
+          <description>For global modes, write to the system's custom_modes.yaml file</description>
+          <path_logic>
+            Use the SYSTEM INFORMATION context to get the Home Directory,
+            then construct the path to the global settings directory.
+            The exact path varies by OS but follows patterns like:
+            - Windows: C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\Code\User\globalStorage\rooveterinaryinc.roo-cline\settings\custom_modes.yaml
+            - macOS/Linux: ~/.config/Code/User/globalStorage/rooveterinaryinc.roo-cline/settings/custom_modes.yaml
+          </path_logic>
+        </global_mode>
+        <local_mode>
+          <description>For local modes, write to the project's .roomodes file</description>
+          <path>.roomodes</path>
+        </local_mode>
+      </scope_based_paths>
+    </step>
+
+    <step number="5">
       <title>Implement File Restrictions</title>
       <description>
         Configure appropriate file access permissions
@@ -98,11 +146,21 @@ groups:
       </guidelines>
     </step>
 
-    <step number="4">
+    <step number="6">
       <title>Create XML Instruction Files</title>
       <description>
-        Design structured instruction files in .roo/rules-[mode-slug]/
+        Design structured instruction files in the appropriate rules directory
       </description>
+      <scope_based_directories>
+        <global_mode>
+          <description>For global modes, create rules in the global .roo directory</description>
+          <path_pattern>[global-settings-dir]/.roo/rules-[mode-slug]/</path_pattern>
+        </global_mode>
+        <local_mode>
+          <description>For local modes, create rules in the project's .roo directory</description>
+          <path_pattern>.roo/rules-[mode-slug]/</path_pattern>
+        </local_mode>
+      </scope_based_directories>
       <file_structure>
         <file name="1_workflow.xml">Main workflow and step-by-step processes</file>
         <file name="2_best_practices.xml">Guidelines and conventions</file>
@@ -118,7 +176,7 @@ groups:
       </xml_best_practices>
     </step>
 
-    <step number="5">
+    <step number="7">
       <title>Test and Refine</title>
       <description>
         Verify the mode works as intended
@@ -129,14 +187,18 @@ groups:
         <item>Instructions are clear and actionable</item>
         <item>Mode integrates well with Orchestrator</item>
         <item>All examples are accurate and helpful</item>
+        <item>For global modes: Verify the mode is available in other projects</item>
       </checklist>
     </step>
   </detailed_steps>
 
   <quick_reference>
-    <command>Create mode in .roomodes for project-specific modes</command>
-    <command>Create mode in global custom_modes.yaml for system-wide modes</command>
-    <command>Use list_files to verify .roo folder structure</command>
+    <command>Always ask for scope (global/local) before creating a mode</command>
+    <command>Global modes: Write to system's custom_modes.yaml file</command>
+    <command>Local modes: Write to project's .roomodes file</command>
+    <command>Global rules: Create in [global-settings-dir]/.roo/rules-[slug]/</command>
+    <command>Local rules: Create in project's .roo/rules-[slug]/</command>
+    <command>Use list_files to verify folder structure</command>
     <command>Test file regex patterns with search_files</command>
   </quick_reference>
 </mode_creation_workflow>

.roo/rules-mode-writer/7_global_mode_paths.xml

@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+<global_mode_path_guidance>
+  <overview>
+    This file provides specific guidance for creating global modes that are available across all projects.
+    Global modes require special handling of file paths that vary by operating system.
+  </overview>
+
+  <path_construction>
+    <description>
+      When creating a global mode, you need to construct the correct path to the global settings directory.
+      This path varies by operating system and must be determined from the SYSTEM INFORMATION context.
+    </description>
+    
+    <steps>
+      <step number="1">
+        <title>Get System Information</title>
+        <description>
+          Check the SYSTEM INFORMATION section for:
+          - Operating System (Windows, macOS, Linux)
+          - Home Directory path
+        </description>
+      </step>
+      
+      <step number="2">
+        <title>Construct Global Settings Path</title>
+        <os_specific_patterns>
+          <windows>
+            <pattern>C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\Code\User\globalStorage\rooveterinaryinc.roo-cline\settings\</pattern>
+            <example>C:\Users\VooDoo\AppData\Roaming\Code\User\globalStorage\rooveterinaryinc.roo-cline\settings\</example>
+            <custom_modes_file>custom_modes.yaml</custom_modes_file>
+          </windows>
+          <macos>
+            <pattern>~/.config/Code/User/globalStorage/rooveterinaryinc.roo-cline/settings/</pattern>
+            <example>/Users/username/.config/Code/User/globalStorage/rooveterinaryinc.roo-cline/settings/</example>
+            <custom_modes_file>custom_modes.yaml</custom_modes_file>
+          </macos>
+          <linux>
+            <pattern>~/.config/Code/User/globalStorage/rooveterinaryinc.roo-cline/settings/</pattern>
+            <example>/home/username/.config/Code/User/globalStorage/rooveterinaryinc.roo-cline/settings/</example>
+            <custom_modes_file>custom_modes.yaml</custom_modes_file>
+          </linux>
+        </os_specific_patterns>
+      </step>
+      
+      <step number="3">
+        <title>Create Global Rules Directory</title>
+        <description>
+          For global modes, the rules directory follows the same pattern but in a .roo subdirectory
+        </description>
+        <pattern>[global-settings-dir]/.roo/rules-[mode-slug]/</pattern>
+        <example>
+          Windows: C:\Users\VooDoo\AppData\Roaming\Code\User\globalStorage\rooveterinaryinc.roo-cline\settings\.roo\rules-api-dev\
+          macOS/Linux: ~/.config/Code/User/globalStorage/rooveterinaryinc.roo-cline/settings/.roo/rules-api-dev/
+        </example>
+      </step>
+    </steps>
+  </path_construction>
+
+  <implementation_example>
+    <scenario>Creating a global mode called "api-dev"</scenario>
+    <workflow>
+      <action>Read SYSTEM INFORMATION to determine OS and home directory</action>
+      <action>Construct the global custom_modes.yaml path based on OS</action>
+      <action>Read existing custom_modes.yaml content (if it exists)</action>
+      <action>Add the new mode configuration to the customModes array</action>
+      <action>Write the updated content back to custom_modes.yaml</action>
+      <action>Create the global rules directory at [global-settings-dir]/.roo/rules-api-dev/</action>
+      <action>Write XML instruction files to the global rules directory</action>
+    </workflow>
+  </implementation_example>
+
+  <important_notes>
+    <note priority="high">
+      Always use absolute paths when working with global mode files.
+      The write_to_file tool will automatically create parent directories if they don't exist.
+    </note>
+    <note priority="high">
+      The Mode Writer mode now has permission to write to any .yaml or .xml file,
+      which enables it to write to the global custom_modes.yaml file.
+    </note>
+    <note priority="medium">
+      When reading the global custom_modes.yaml file, handle the case where it might not exist yet.
+      The file should be created with an empty customModes array if it doesn't exist.
+    </note>
+  </important_notes>
+
+  <testing_global_modes>
+    <description>
+      After creating a global mode, verify it works correctly
+    </description>
+    <checklist>
+      <item>The mode appears in the mode list in the current project</item>
+      <item>Switch to a different project and verify the mode appears there too</item>
+      <item>The global rules are loaded correctly from the global .roo directory</item>
+      <item>The mode's file restrictions work as expected</item>
+    </checklist>
+  </testing_global_modes>
+</global_mode_path_guidance>

.roomodes

@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ customModes:
     groups:
       - read
       - - edit
-        - fileRegex: (\.roomodes$|\.roo/.*\.xml$|\.yaml$)
+        - fileRegex: (\.roomodes$|.*\.xml$|.*\.yaml$)
           description: Mode configuration files and XML instructions
       - command
       - mcp