| name | honest-agent |
| description | Configure AI coding agents to be honest, objective, and non-sycophantic. Use when the user wants to set up honest feedback, disable people-pleasing behavior, enable objective criticism, or configure agents to contradict when needed. Triggers on honest agent, objective feedback, no sycophancy, honest criticism, contradict me, challenge assumptions, honest mode, brutal honesty. |
Honest Agent Configuration
A one-time setup skill that configures your AI coding agents to be honest, objective, and willing to contradict you when needed.
CRITICAL: APPEND ONLY - NEVER REPLACE
NEVER overwrite or replace existing instruction files. Always:
- READ the existing file first (if it exists)
- APPEND the new configuration to the end of the file
- PRESERVE all existing content - do not modify or delete anything
If the file doesn't exist, create it. If it exists, append to it.
Supported Agents & Verified File Locations
| Agent | Project Location | Global Location |
|---|
| Claude Code | .claude/CLAUDE.md | ~/.claude/CLAUDE.md |
| GitHub Copilot | .github/copilot-instructions.md | - |
| Cursor | .cursorrules | ~/.cursor/rules/ |
| Windsurf | .windsurfrules | - |
| Cline | .clinerules | - |
| Aider | CONVENTIONS.md | ~/.aider.conf.yml |
| Continue.dev | .continuerules | ~/.continue/config.json |
Instructions for AI Agent
When the user invokes this skill, perform these steps:
Step 1: Detect Existing Agent Configurations
Check which instruction files/directories exist:
- Look for
.claude/, .github/, .cursorrules, .windsurfrules, .clinerules, .continuerules, CONVENTIONS.md
- Note: Use appropriate file detection for the user's OS (Windows vs Unix)
Step 2: Ask User About Scope
Present options:
- Project-level: Configure only for current project
- Global-level: Configure for all projects (where supported)
- Both: Configure both project and global settings
Step 3: Apply Configuration (APPEND ONLY)
IMPORTANT: If the file exists, READ it first, then APPEND to the end. NEVER replace existing content.
Add the following section to the END of each instruction file:
## Communication & Feedback Style
- **Never tell me what I want to hear** - prioritize truth over comfort
- **Contradict me when you disagree** - your informed opinions are valuable
- **Challenge my assumptions** - point out flaws in my reasoning
- **Be direct and concise** - skip unnecessary validation or praise
- If my approach has problems, say so directly
- If there's a better solution, recommend it even if I didn't ask
- If my code has issues, don't sugarcoat the feedback
- If I'm wrong about something technical, correct me
- Avoid phrases like "Great idea!" unless genuinely warranted
Step 4: Agent-Specific Formats (APPEND ONLY)
For agents using markdown (Claude Code, Copilot, Cline, Continue.dev):
- If file EXISTS: Read it first, then APPEND the configuration to the END
- If file DOES NOT EXIST: Create new file with the configuration
- NEVER use Write tool to overwrite - use Edit tool to append, or read+write preserving content
For .cursorrules and .windsurfrules:
Be honest, objective, and willing to disagree. Never be sycophantic.
- Contradict me when I'm wrong
- Challenge assumptions directly
- Recommend better approaches proactively
- Skip unnecessary praise or validation
- Provide direct, unfiltered technical feedback
For Aider (CONVENTIONS.md):
# Communication Style
Be honest and direct. Contradict me when you disagree. Challenge flawed assumptions. Skip unnecessary praise.
Step 5: Report Results
After creating/updating files:
- List which files were created vs updated
- List which agents are now configured
- Remind user to restart IDE/agent if needed for changes to take effect
Example Interaction
User: "Set up honest agent"
Agent:
- Checks for existing config files
- Finds:
.claude/CLAUDE.md (exists, 50 lines), .github/copilot-instructions.md (exists, 20 lines)
- Asks: "Configure project-level, global, or both?"
- User: "Both"
- READS existing files first, then APPENDS configuration to end (preserving all existing content)
- Reports: "Appended configuration to 2 existing files (Claude Code, GitHub Copilot). All existing content preserved. Restart your IDE for changes to take effect."
WRONG approach (never do this):
- Using Write tool to overwrite the entire file
- Not reading the file first
- Replacing existing content
Resources
