| name | repo-agent-context-audit |
| description | Audit and standardize a repository's agent-readable context, including AGENTS.md, CLAUDE.md, WARP.md, CONTRIBUTING.md, .agents/skills, and specs/ PRODUCT.md and TECH.md contracts. Use when asked to review, design, create, scaffold, or improve repo instructions, agent onboarding, spec workflows, or cross-repo agent-context conventions. |
Repo Agent Context Audit
Overview
Assess whether a repository has a small, usable agent context stack: a short top-level instruction file, task-specific skills, and behavior/implementation specs for substantial work. Default to a read-only audit and minimal recommendations; create or edit high-context files only when the user explicitly asks.
Default Standard
Prefer this three-layer shape:
AGENTS.md or repo-equivalent: 80-150 lines, top-level routing only..agents/skills/<task>/SKILL.md: reusable workflows for common fragile tasks.specs/<id>/PRODUCT.md and specs/<id>/TECH.md: checked-in contracts for substantial features.
Do not force this exact layout when a repo already has a coherent equivalent, such as WARP.md, CLAUDE.md, CONTRIBUTING.md, or framework-specific instruction files. Map existing files to the layers first, then fill only the real gaps.
Workflow
1. Discover
Run the read-only scanner when possible:
python3 scripts/scan_repo_context.py <repo-root>
Then inspect the important files directly. Always search before creating:
AGENTS.md, CLAUDE.md, WARP.md, .claude/instructions.mdCONTRIBUTING.md, README.md, .github/copilot-instructions.md.agents/skills/*/SKILL.mdspecs/**/{PRODUCT,product,TECH,tech}.md
If multiple instruction files overlap, record their scopes and precedence instead of merging them by default.
2. Classify
Classify the repo into one of these states:
- Healthy: short top-level guidance, task workflows, and specs are discoverable.
- Missing top-level router: useful docs exist but agents lack an entrypoint.
- Overloaded top-level file: one file mixes rules, workflows, architecture, and reference data.
- Specless complex repo: substantial work happens without PRODUCT/TECH contracts.
- Stale or divergent: instructions contradict code, scripts, or observed repo conventions.
- Unsafe to modify: high-context files are generated, externally owned, or conflict across scopes.
3. Score
Use the rubric in references/standards.md for:
- top-level routing quality
- progressive disclosure
- procedural workflows
- decision gates
- production examples
- spec quality
- validation mapping
- stale or conflicting guidance risk
4. Recommend
Lead with the smallest useful change. Good recommendations usually look like:
- Add a short
AGENTS.md that points to existing docs instead of duplicating them.
- Split a long top-level file into a router plus references or skills.
- Add
.agents/skills/write-product-spec and .agents/skills/write-tech-spec only if spec writing is repeated.
- Add
specs/<id>/PRODUCT.md and TECH.md templates only if the repo ships substantial features.
- Remove or rewrite stale instructions only after citing the conflict.
5. Scaffold Only On Request
When the user explicitly asks to create files, read references/templates.md and adapt the templates to the repo. Before editing:
- identify every
AGENTS.md or equivalent whose scope covers the target path
- preserve existing high-context files unless the user asked for a rewrite
- keep generated docs small
- include actual repo commands, paths, and test gates
- leave placeholders only when the repo truly lacks the fact
Decision Gates
| Case | Action |
|---|
| Small bugfix repo with README and clear tests | No spec system; maybe add a short AGENTS.md router |
| Repeated feature work with review churn | Add PRODUCT/TECH spec workflow |
Existing CLAUDE.md or WARP.md is good | Link it from AGENTS.md or leave it as the repo-equivalent |
| Multiple teams or nested packages | Use scoped nested AGENTS.md only where rules genuinely differ |
| High-context file over 200 lines | Split into top-level router plus referenced skills/docs |
| User asks for bulk normalization | Audit first; do not batch edit until 2-3 repos have been manually validated |
Operating Contract
Direct actions:
- Run read-only discovery, scoring, and scanner commands.
- Produce an audit report with cited files and smallest useful changes.
- Draft exact scaffold content when the user asks for proposed text.
Escalate before:
- Creating or editing
AGENTS.md, CLAUDE.md, WARP.md, hooks, settings, or generated docs.
- Rewriting existing repo instructions instead of adding a short router or pointer.
- Batch-normalizing multiple repositories.
Evidence-backed pushback:
- Challenge new skill/spec scaffolding when the repo is small, has no repeated workflow, or already has a coherent equivalent.
- Challenge edits when the only evidence is style preference rather than a real agent failure, review bottleneck, or missing workflow.
Feedback loop:
- Promote repeated audit findings into the target repo's router, a task skill, or a spec template.
- Keep this skill's rubric and templates updated when multiple repos expose the same false positive or missing decision gate.
Gotchas
- Do not treat every README as an agent instruction file. Top-level README files are usually entrypoints; nested README files are supporting evidence unless a repo explicitly routes agents there.
- Do not add
AGENTS.md just because it is missing. If CLAUDE.md, WARP.md, or CONTRIBUTING.md already works as a coherent router, recommend a pointer or no change.
- Do not create PRODUCT/TECH specs for small bugfix repos. Specs are for ambiguity, cross-module risk, and repeated review churn.
- Do not silently normalize naming across repos. First report drift such as
PRODUCT.md vs product.md, then ask before changing conventions.
- Do not edit high-context files during an audit. Scaffold only after the user asks to create or apply files.
Report Format
Return concise findings:
## Agent Context Audit
- state: <classification>
- top-level router: <present/missing/overloaded>
- reusable skills: <present/missing/not needed>
- specs: <present/missing/inconsistent/not needed>
- main risk: <one sentence>
## Smallest Useful Change
1. <change> - <why> - <estimated effort>
## Evidence
- <file>:<line> - <what it proves>
## Optional Scaffold
- <files to create or update, only if requested>
Resources
scripts/scan_repo_context.py: read-only repo scanner for high-context files, skills, and specs.references/standards.md: scoring rubric and design rules. Read for audits.references/templates.md: minimal AGENTS.md, PRODUCT.md, and TECH.md templates. Read only when scaffolding or proposing exact file contents.
