# Concepts

> Understand configurations, checks, findings, settings, levels, and scopes.

| Term           | Meaning                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| -------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Configuration  | The checks, tool files, and rules for one language, framework, library, platform, or topic, such as `python`. The [configuration reference](/reference/configurations/) lists them.                                                                                                                 |
| Check          | A tool check runs a tool, such as ESLint. A built-in check runs code in gspot. A [command check](/configure/command-checks/) runs your own command.                                                                                                                                                 |
| Check ID       | `<configuration>/<name>`, such as `python/ruff`. `--only`, `gspot ignore`, and `gspot explain` take it. A command check takes its `name` as its ID.                                                                                                                                                 |
| Finding        | One result of a check: a message, often with a file, line, column, lint rule, and help.                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| Lint rule      | One instruction for a linter, such as `no-console`.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| Rules          | Markdown for coding agents, under `.gspot/configurations/<group>/<configuration>/rules/` and listed in `AGENTS.md`. See [Coding agents](/use/coding-agents/).                                                                                                                                       |
| Settings       | The values in `gspot.toml`. See [gspot.toml](/configure/gspot-toml/).                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| Level          | `recommended` or `all`. See [Levels](#levels).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| Stage          | When a check runs. `commit` checks run in the pre-commit hook. `push` checks run with the commit checks in the pre-push hook, in CI, and in `gspot check`. `message` checks run in the commit-msg hook. `manual` checks run only when `--only` names them, and in the CI job on the default branch. |
| Scope          | A folder with its own configurations and settings. See [Monorepos](/configure/monorepos/).                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| Generated file | A file that gspot writes from your settings. See [Generated files](/reference/generated-files/).                                                                                                                                                                                                    |

## Levels

| Level                   | What it checks                                                                                                                                                                 | Shipped checks | Tools it adds               |
| ----------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | -------------- | --------------------------- |
| `recommended` (default) | Bugs, security and accessibility problems, type errors, formatting, and misuse of declared frameworks and libraries. Choose it for an existing codebase or a first run.        | 104            | —                           |
| `all`                   | Also naming, wording, code structure, doc comments, declaration order, duplication, API style, and complexity. Choose it for a new repository or one that coding agents write. | 127            | commitlint, jscpd, syncpack |

The counts cover every shipped configuration. Your repository runs only its selected and applicable checks.

To change the level and install any extra tools:

```shell
gspot set level all
gspot install
```

Run `gspot set level recommended` to return to the default level.