self-modifying-code

name	self-modifying-code
description	Tiers, checkpoints, and off-limits paths for an agent editing the app's own source. Use when designing UI for agent editability, deciding whether a file is safe for the agent to change, or when tempted to patch config, `.env`, or an `@agent-native/*` package. Do not load it for ordinary source edits.
scope	dev
metadata	{"internal":true}

Self-Modifying Code

Rule

The agent can edit the app's own source code — components, routes, styles, scripts. This is a feature, not a bug. Design your app expecting this.

Why

An agent-native app isn't just an app the agent can use — it's an app the agent can change. The agent can fix bugs, add features, adjust styles, and restructure code. This makes the agent a true collaborator, not just an operator.

Modification Taxonomy

Not all modifications are equal. Use this to decide what level of care is needed:

Tier	What	Examples	After modifying
1: Data	Files in data/	JSON state, generated content, markdown	Nothing — these are routine
2: Source	App code	Components, routes, styles, scripts	Run pnpm typecheck && pnpm lint