Abstract: Described is a system and method for modifying a user-interface by applying a policy that is defined by an external party. The policy modifies the user-interface based on a user's context within the user-interface and prevents the user from performing certain actions. For example, in a software development environment, the user-interface is a user-interface provided by the software development environment and the certain actions that are prevented include adding inappropriate code to an application being developed in the software development environment. The policy may cause the software development environment to disable a menu that is associated with the inappropriate code. The policy may also modify the software development environment in a manner such that the developer is provided with active guidance if undesirable code is added to the application. The active guidance includes text being displayed that explains a reason for preventing the undesirable code within the application.