diff --git a/src/CMakeLists.txt b/src/CMakeLists.txt
index b298abd..fbb0b8d 100644
--- a/src/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ LINK_DIRECTORIES(/opt/MESA/lib /usr/lib64)
 add_definitions(-D_GNU_SOURCE) 
 add_definitions(-fPIC)
 set(MAAT_SRC alignment.c json2iris.c maat_api.c rcu_hash.c maat_garbage_collection.c maat_config_monitor.c 
-    maat_rule.c maat_kv.c maat_ex_data.c maat_utils.c maat_command.c maat_redis_monitor.c maat_table.c 
+    maat_core.c maat_kv.c maat_ex_data.c maat_utils.c maat_command.c maat_redis_monitor.c maat_table.c 
     maat_compile.c maat_group.c maat_ip.c maat_flag.c maat_interval.c maat_expr.c maat_plugin.c 
     maat_ip_plugin.c maat_ipport_plugin.c maat_bool_plugin.c maat_fqdn_plugin.c maat_virtual.c maat_stat.c)
 
diff --git a/src/inc_internal/maat_compile.h b/src/inc_internal/maat_compile.h
index d4d5c51..e370eb8 100644
--- a/src/inc_internal/maat_compile.h
+++ b/src/inc_internal/maat_compile.h
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ extern "C"
 #include "rcu_hash.h"
 #include "maat.h"
 #include "maat_kv.h"
-#include "maat_rule.h"
+#include "maat_core.h"
 
 struct compile_schema;
 struct compile_runtime;
diff --git a/src/inc_internal/maat_rule.h b/src/inc_internal/maat_core.h
similarity index 99%
rename from src/inc_internal/maat_rule.h
rename to src/inc_internal/maat_core.h
index a2c1404..bdd42f7 100644
--- a/src/inc_internal/maat_rule.h
+++ b/src/inc_internal/maat_core.h
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 /*
 **********************************************************************************************
-*	File: maat_rule.h
+*	File: maat_core.h
 *   Description: maat rule entry
 *	Authors: Liu WenTan <liuwentan@geedgenetworks.com>
 *	Date:    2022-10-31
diff --git a/src/inc_internal/maat_expr.h b/src/inc_internal/maat_expr.h
index 383f350..df68ed8 100644
--- a/src/inc_internal/maat_expr.h
+++ b/src/inc_internal/maat_expr.h
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ extern "C"
 {
 #endif
 
-#include "maat_rule.h"
+#include "maat_core.h"
 #include "maat_table.h"
 #include "cJSON/cJSON.h"
 
diff --git a/src/inc_internal/maat_flag.h b/src/inc_internal/maat_flag.h
index 9b64064..e600db3 100644
--- a/src/inc_internal/maat_flag.h
+++ b/src/inc_internal/maat_flag.h
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ extern "C"
 
 #include <stdint.h>
 
-#include "maat_rule.h"
+#include "maat_core.h"
 #include "cJSON/cJSON.h"
 #include "maat_table.h"
 
diff --git a/src/inc_internal/maat_stat.h b/src/inc_internal/maat_stat.h
index 733cdc0..12964ea 100644
--- a/src/inc_internal/maat_stat.h
+++ b/src/inc_internal/maat_stat.h
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ extern "C"
 {
 #endif
 
-#include "maat_rule.h"
+#include "maat_core.h"
 
 struct maat_stat *maat_stat_new(const char *stat_file, size_t max_thread_num, 
                                 struct log_handle *logger);
diff --git a/src/json2iris.c b/src/json2iris.c
index f711c1d..d52b123 100644
--- a/src/json2iris.c
+++ b/src/json2iris.c
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 #include "cJSON/cJSON.h"
 #include "maat_kv.h"
 #include "maat_utils.h"
-#include "maat_rule.h"
+#include "maat_core.h"
 #include "uthash/uthash.h"
 #include "maat_redis_monitor.h"
 
diff --git a/src/maat_api.c b/src/maat_api.c
index b6b7ba0..7131359 100644
--- a/src/maat_api.c
+++ b/src/maat_api.c
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 #include "maat_utils.h"
 #include "json2iris.h"
 #include "maat.h"
-#include "maat_rule.h"
+#include "maat_core.h"
 #include "maat_kv.h"
 #include "maat_command.h"
 #include "maat_ex_data.h"
diff --git a/src/maat_bool_plugin.c b/src/maat_bool_plugin.c
index 6249b96..91efbf9 100644
--- a/src/maat_bool_plugin.c
+++ b/src/maat_bool_plugin.c
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 #include "maat_bool_plugin.h"
 #include "bool_matcher.h"
 #include "maat_utils.h"
-#include "maat_rule.h"
+#include "maat_core.h"
 #include "maat_garbage_collection.h"
 
 #define MODULE_BOOL_PLUGIN	 module_name_str("maat.bool_plugin")
diff --git a/src/maat_command.c b/src/maat_command.c
index c962dcc..ec6a588 100644
--- a/src/maat_command.c
+++ b/src/maat_command.c
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 
 #include "maat_utils.h"
 #include "maat_command.h"
-#include "maat_rule.h"
+#include "maat_core.h"
 #include "hiredis/hiredis.h"
 #include "maat_config_monitor.h"
 #include "maat_redis_monitor.h"
diff --git a/src/maat_config_monitor.c b/src/maat_config_monitor.c
index 2e83b83..4c6154c 100644
--- a/src/maat_config_monitor.c
+++ b/src/maat_config_monitor.c
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 #include <unistd.h>
 
 #include "maat_utils.h"
-#include "maat_rule.h"
+#include "maat_core.h"
 #include "json2iris.h"
 #include "maat_config_monitor.h"
 
diff --git a/src/maat_rule.c b/src/maat_core.c
similarity index 99%
rename from src/maat_rule.c
rename to src/maat_core.c
index d87c5e6..61ba777 100644
--- a/src/maat_rule.c
+++ b/src/maat_core.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /**********************************************************************************************
-*	File: maat_rule.c
+*	File: maat_core.c
 *   Description:
 *	Authors: Liu WenTan <liuwentan@geedgenetworks.com>
 *	Date:    2022-10-31
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 #include "json2iris.h"
 #include "log/log.h"
 #include "maat_utils.h"
-#include "maat_rule.h"
+#include "maat_core.h"
 #include "maat_config_monitor.h"
 #include "maat_redis_monitor.h"
 #include "maat_table.h"
diff --git a/src/maat_expr.c b/src/maat_expr.c
index 486cb82..af761d3 100644
--- a/src/maat_expr.c
+++ b/src/maat_expr.c
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 #include "maat_limits.h"
 #include "rcu_hash.h"
 #include "maat.h"
-#include "maat_rule.h"
+#include "maat_core.h"
 #include "maat_compile.h"
 #include "maat_group.h"
 #include "alignment.h"
diff --git a/src/maat_flag.c b/src/maat_flag.c
index 0781bdd..9707e09 100644
--- a/src/maat_flag.c
+++ b/src/maat_flag.c
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 #include "maat_flag.h"
 #include "flag_matcher.h"
 #include "maat_utils.h"
-#include "maat_rule.h"
+#include "maat_core.h"
 #include "log/log.h"
 #include "uthash/uthash.h"
 #include "rcu_hash.h"
diff --git a/src/maat_fqdn_plugin.c b/src/maat_fqdn_plugin.c
index d4e00a6..f5295c2 100644
--- a/src/maat_fqdn_plugin.c
+++ b/src/maat_fqdn_plugin.c
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 #include "maat_fqdn_plugin.h"
 #include "maat_utils.h"
 #include "maat_table.h"
-#include "maat_rule.h"
+#include "maat_core.h"
 #include "maat_garbage_collection.h"
 
 #define MODULE_FQDN_PLUGIN	 module_name_str("maat.bool_plugin")
diff --git a/src/maat_interval.c b/src/maat_interval.c
index b34a37a..afcfa7c 100644
--- a/src/maat_interval.c
+++ b/src/maat_interval.c
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 
 #include <assert.h>
 
-#include "maat_rule.h"
+#include "maat_core.h"
 #include "maat_utils.h"
 #include "rcu_hash.h"
 #include "alignment.h"
diff --git a/src/maat_ip.c b/src/maat_ip.c
index f9f993a..ad214e7 100644
--- a/src/maat_ip.c
+++ b/src/maat_ip.c
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 #include "maat_ex_data.h"
 #include "ip_matcher.h"
 #include "maat_ip.h"
-#include "maat_rule.h"
+#include "maat_core.h"
 #include "maat_compile.h"
 #include "alignment.h"
 #include "maat_garbage_collection.h"
diff --git a/src/maat_ip_plugin.c b/src/maat_ip_plugin.c
index 463b2bc..f38d6dd 100644
--- a/src/maat_ip_plugin.c
+++ b/src/maat_ip_plugin.c
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 #include "maat_utils.h"
 #include "maat_ip_plugin.h"
 #include "ip_matcher.h"
-#include "maat_rule.h"
+#include "maat_core.h"
 #include "maat_garbage_collection.h"
 
 #define MODULE_IP_PLUGIN	 module_name_str("maat.ip_plugin")
diff --git a/src/maat_ipport_plugin.c b/src/maat_ipport_plugin.c
index b953369..78eac34 100644
--- a/src/maat_ipport_plugin.c
+++ b/src/maat_ipport_plugin.c
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 #include "maat_ipport_plugin.h"
 #include "ipport_matcher.h"
 #include "interval_matcher.h"
-#include "maat_rule.h"
+#include "maat_core.h"
 #include "maat_garbage_collection.h"
 
 #define MODULE_IPPORT_PLUGIN	 module_name_str("maat.ipport_plugin")
diff --git a/src/maat_plugin.c b/src/maat_plugin.c
index 2f0d964..442dede 100644
--- a/src/maat_plugin.c
+++ b/src/maat_plugin.c
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 
 #include "log/log.h"
 #include "maat_utils.h"
-#include "maat_rule.h"
+#include "maat_core.h"
 #include "maat_plugin.h"
 #include "maat_limits.h"
 #include "maat_table.h"
diff --git a/src/maat_redis_monitor.c b/src/maat_redis_monitor.c
index 2f4a921..03cff77 100644
--- a/src/maat_redis_monitor.c
+++ b/src/maat_redis_monitor.c
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 #include "maat.h"
 #include "log/log.h"
 #include "maat_utils.h"
-#include "maat_rule.h"
+#include "maat_core.h"
 #include "maat_command.h"
 #include "hiredis/hiredis.h"
 #include "maat_config_monitor.h"
diff --git a/src/maat_table.c b/src/maat_table.c
index a8295c4..d907e6d 100644
--- a/src/maat_table.c
+++ b/src/maat_table.c
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 #include "log/log.h"
 #include "maat_utils.h"
 #include "maat_table.h"
-#include "maat_rule.h"
+#include "maat_core.h"
 #include "maat_kv.h"
 #include "maat_expr.h"
 #include "maat_ip.h"
diff --git a/src/maat_virtual.c b/src/maat_virtual.c
index b56ff97..e28525f 100644
--- a/src/maat_virtual.c
+++ b/src/maat_virtual.c
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 #include "maat_utils.h"
 #include "log/log.h"
 #include "alignment.h"
-#include "maat_rule.h"
+#include "maat_core.h"
 #include "maat_table.h"
 
 #define MODULE_VIRTUAL	 module_name_str("maat.virtual")
diff --git a/test/benchmark/benchmark_gtest.cpp b/test/benchmark/benchmark_gtest.cpp
index c216a5a..0beb692 100644
--- a/test/benchmark/benchmark_gtest.cpp
+++ b/test/benchmark/benchmark_gtest.cpp
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #include "maat.h"
 #include "log/log.h"
 #include "maat_utils.h"
-#include "maat_rule.h"
+#include "maat_core.h"
 #include "json2iris.h"
 #include "ip_matcher.h"
 #include "maat_table.h"
diff --git a/test/group_nesting/group_nesting_gtest.cpp b/test/group_nesting/group_nesting_gtest.cpp
index 4c53f05..be19bd2 100644
--- a/test/group_nesting/group_nesting_gtest.cpp
+++ b/test/group_nesting/group_nesting_gtest.cpp
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #include "maat.h"
 #include "log/log.h"
 #include "cJSON/cJSON.h"
-#include "maat_rule.h"
+#include "maat_core.h"
 #include "uthash/utarray.h"
 #include "maat_utils.h"
 #include "maat_command.h"
diff --git a/test/ipport_plugin/ipport_plugin_gtest.cpp b/test/ipport_plugin/ipport_plugin_gtest.cpp
index f367401..f3138da 100644
--- a/test/ipport_plugin/ipport_plugin_gtest.cpp
+++ b/test/ipport_plugin/ipport_plugin_gtest.cpp
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #include "maat.h"
 #include "log/log.h"
 #include "cJSON/cJSON.h"
-#include "maat_rule.h"
+#include "maat_core.h"
 #include "maat_utils.h"
 #include "log/log.h"
 #include "../test_utils.h"
diff --git a/test/maat_framework_gtest.cpp b/test/maat_framework_gtest.cpp
index 3401865..f666972 100644
--- a/test/maat_framework_gtest.cpp
+++ b/test/maat_framework_gtest.cpp
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 #include "test_utils.h"
 #include "maat.h"
-#include "maat_rule.h"
+#include "maat_core.h"
 #include "maat_utils.h"
 #include "maat_command.h"
 #include "ip_matcher.h"
diff --git a/test/maat_framework_perf_gtest.cpp b/test/maat_framework_perf_gtest.cpp
index 01ec464..fee8c9e 100644
--- a/test/maat_framework_perf_gtest.cpp
+++ b/test/maat_framework_perf_gtest.cpp
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 #include "test_utils.h"
 #include "log/log.h"
 #include "maat.h"
-#include "maat_rule.h"
+#include "maat_core.h"
 #include "maat_utils.h"
 #include "ip_matcher.h"
 #include "maat_command.h"
diff --git a/test/maat_input_mode_gtest.cpp b/test/maat_input_mode_gtest.cpp
index b6977ba..f9a1be9 100644
--- a/test/maat_input_mode_gtest.cpp
+++ b/test/maat_input_mode_gtest.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #include "maat.h"
 #include "maat_utils.h"
-#include "maat_rule.h"
+#include "maat_core.h"
 #include "json2iris.h"
 #include "test_utils.h"
 #include "maat_table.h"
diff --git a/test/test_utils.cpp b/test/test_utils.cpp
index 06224cf..7619566 100644
--- a/test/test_utils.cpp
+++ b/test/test_utils.cpp
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 #include "maat_redis_monitor.h"
 #include "maat_utils.h"
 #include "maat_table.h"
-#include "maat_rule.h"
+#include "maat_core.h"
 #include "maat_config_monitor.h"
 #include "json2iris.h"
 
diff --git a/tools/maat_redis_tool.cpp b/tools/maat_redis_tool.cpp
index 116aa80..f18c151 100644
--- a/tools/maat_redis_tool.cpp
+++ b/tools/maat_redis_tool.cpp
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 #include <sys/types.h>
 #include <sys/stat.h>
 
-#include "maat_rule.h"
+#include "maat_core.h"
 #include "maat_utils.h"
 #include "maat_command.h"
 #include "cJSON/cJSON.h"