agents-md

name	agents-md
description	ALWAYS use this when the request matches Agents MD: This skill should be used when the user asks to "create AGENTS.md", "update AGENTS.md", "maintain agent docs", "set up CLAUDE.md", or needs to keep agent instructions concise.

Maintaining AGENTS.md

Selective Reading Rule

Start with:

• references/senior-master-standard.md
• references/usage-routing.md
• references/quality-checklist.md

Then load only the inherited docs, scripts, assets, or examples that match the user's actual task.

AGENTS.md is the canonical agent-facing documentation. Keep it minimal—agents are capable and don't need hand-holding. Target under 60 lines; never exceed 100. Instruction-following quality degrades as document length increases.

When to Use

• The user asks to create, update, or audit AGENTS.md or CLAUDE.md.
• The project needs concise, high-signal agent instructions derived from the actual toolchain and repo layout.
• Existing agent documentation is too long, duplicated, or drifting away from real project conventions.

File Setup

1. Create AGENTS.md at project root
2. Create symlink: ln -s AGENTS.md CLAUDE.md

Before Writing

Analyze the project to understand what belongs in the file:

1. Package manager — Check for lock files (pnpm-lock.yaml, yarn.lock, package-lock.json, uv.lock, poetry.lock)
2. Linter/formatter configs — Look for .eslintrc, biome.json, ruff.toml, .prettierrc, etc. (don't duplicate these in AGENTS.md)
3. CI/build commands — Check Makefile, package.json scripts, CI configs for canonical commands
4. Monorepo indicators — Check for pnpm-workspace.yaml, nx.json, Cargo workspace, or subdirectory package.json files
5. Existing conventions — Check for existing CONTRIBUTING.md, docs/, or README patterns

Writing Rules

• Headers + bullets — No paragraphs
• Code blocks — For commands and templates
• Reference, don't embed — Point to existing docs: "See CONTRIBUTING.md for setup" or "Follow patterns in src/api/routes/"
• No filler — No intros, conclusions, or pleasantries
• Trust capabilities — Omit obvious context
• Prefer file-scoped commands — Per-file test/lint/typecheck commands over project-wide builds
• Don't duplicate linters — Code style lives in linter configs, not AGENTS.md

Required Sections

Package Manager

Which tool and key commands only:

## Package Manager
Use **pnpm**: `pnpm install`, `pnpm dev`, `pnpm test`

File-Scoped Commands

Per-file commands are faster and cheaper than full project builds. Always include when available:

## File-Scoped Commands
| Task | Command |
|------|---------|
| Typecheck | `pnpm tsc --noEmit path/to/file.ts` |
| Lint | `pnpm eslint path/to/file.ts` |
| Test | `pnpm jest path/to/file.test.ts` |

Commit Attribution

Always include this section. Agents should use their own identity:

## Commit Attribution
AI commits MUST include:

Co-Authored-By: (the agent model's name and attribution byline)

Example: `Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 4 <[e-mail]>`

Key Conventions

Project-specific patterns agents must follow. Keep brief.

Optional Sections

Add only if truly needed:

• API route patterns (show template, not explanation)
• CLI commands (table format)
• File naming conventions
• Project structure hints (point to critical files, flag legacy code to avoid)
• Monorepo overrides (subdirectory AGENTS.md files override root)

Anti-Patterns

Omit these:

• "Welcome to..." or "This document explains..."
• "You should..." or "Remember to..."
• Linter/formatter rules already in config files (.eslintrc, biome.json, ruff.toml)
• Listing installed skills or plugins (agents discover these automatically)
• Full project-wide build commands when file-scoped alternatives exist
• Obvious instructions ("run tests", "write clean code")
• Explanations of why (just say what)
• Long prose paragraphs

Example Structure

# Agent Instructions

## Package Manager
Use **pnpm**: `pnpm install`, `pnpm dev`

## Commit Attribution
AI commits MUST include:

Co-Authored-By: (the agent model's name and attribution byline)

## File-Scoped Commands
| Task | Command |
|------|---------|
| Typecheck | `pnpm tsc --noEmit path/to/file.ts` |
| Lint | `pnpm eslint path/to/file.ts` |
| Test | `pnpm jest path/to/file.test.ts` |

## API Routes
[Template code block]

## CLI
| Command | Description |
|---------|-------------|
| `pnpm cli sync` | Sync data |

Limitations

• Use this skill only when the task clearly matches the scope described above.
• Do not treat the output as a substitute for environment-specific validation, testing, or expert review.
• Stop and ask for clarification if required inputs, permissions, safety boundaries, or success criteria are missing.