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name: handling-commands description: Patterns for handling commands, validating input, and filtering messages in XMTP agents. Use when implementing slash commands, validators, or message filters. Triggers on command handling, input validation, or type guards. license: MIT metadata: author: xmtp version: "1.0.0"

XMTP commands and validation

Best practices for handling commands, validating input, and filtering messages.

When to apply

Reference these guidelines when:

• Implementing slash commands
• Validating hex strings and addresses
• Filtering message types
• Using type guards instead of type assertions

Rule categories by priority

Priority	Category	Impact	Prefix
1	Validators	CRITICAL	validators-
2	Filters	HIGH	filters-
3	Type Guards	HIGH	guards-

Quick reference

Validators (CRITICAL)

• validators-hex - Use validHex() for hex string validation
• validators-address - Validate Ethereum addresses

Filters (HIGH)

• filters-message-types - Filter by message type
• filters-sender - Filter out self-messages
• filters-content - Check for defined content

Type Guards (HIGH)

• guards-codec - Use usesCodec() instead of type assertions
• guards-content-type - Use filter helpers for type safety

How to use

Read individual rule files for detailed explanations:

rules/validators-hex.md
rules/filters-message-types.md
rules/guards-codec.md