We split this AGENTS.md into the rules it gives an agent

7 rules. About 1 is common, 6 are distinctive, and 0 are very specific to this project.

• ≈1

  Common · estimate

  Many files like this have a rule of this kind.

• ≈6

  Distinctive · estimate

  This author's own choices. Worth a look.

• 0

  Very specific

  Tied to their project's names, files or tools. Probably skip.

• Common
• Distinctive
• Very specific

1. Distinctive:

   Use the active workflows, actions, and validation scripts as the source of truth.

   line 3
2. Distinctive:

   Do not duplicate current matrices, runner labels, workflow counts, action versions, or required-check configuration in agent instructions.

   line 4
3. Distinctive:

   Read the relevant references before changing CI:

   line 7
4. Distinctive:

   When editing workflows or composite actions:

   line 18
5. Common:

   Treat fork-controlled code and metadata as untrusted, and never expose secrets to untrusted pull-request execution.

   line 22
6. Distinctive:

   Follow the documented cleanup pattern for persistent self-hosted runners.

   line 27
7. Distinctive:

   Run the narrowest relevant workflow linter and script tests before handoff.

   line 28

≈ “Common” is an estimate: at least 1 in 5 of the 36,368 AGENTS.md files we read have a rule of the same kind, not the same words. “Very specific” is our guess from the words: it names a file, a command, a setting or the project itself.

• Where files are headingNew AGENTS.md files have more rules about keeping secrets out of the code, and fewer about code style.

  Of the AGENTS.md files we read, the 28,693 first seen in the last six months, against the older ones: the kind of rule that gained most share, and the kind that lost most. About files like this in general, not this one, and an estimate, since a kind is a pattern in the words.

• In this repository56 other files it gives its agents.

  • AGENTS.mdAGENTS.md
  • CLAUDE.mdCLAUDE.md
  • .cursor/rules/agent-integrations.mdcCursor rule
  • .cursor/rules/cpp/string-api-conventions.mdcCursor rule
  • .cursor/rules/devops/main.mdcCursor rule
  • .cursor/rules/no-remote-code-execution.mdcCursor rule
  • .cursor/rules/qip-triage.mdcCursor rule
  • .cursor/rules/sdk/commit-and-pr-format.mdcCursor rule
  • .cursor/rules/sdk/error-handling.mdcCursor rule
  • .cursor/rules/sdk/first-class-product-parity.mdcCursor rule
  • .cursor/rules/sdk/main.mdcCursor rule
  • .cursor/rules/sdk/public-constants-contract.mdcCursor rule
  • .cursor/rules/sdk/request-lifecycle-primitives.mdcCursor rule
  • .cursor/rules/sdk/sdk-pod-packages.mdcCursor rule
  • .cursor/rules/sdk/skill-authoring-guidelines.mdcCursor rule
  • cpp-string-api-reviewSkill
  • qv-addon-changelogSkill
  • qv-addon-pr-createSkill
  • qv-addon-release-notesSkill
  • qv-agent-stack-syncSkill
  • qv-asana-syncSkill
  • qv-daily-work-updateSkill
  • qv-dev-diary-setupSkill
  • qv-dev-diarySkill
  • qv-devops-daily-updateSkill
  • qv-devops-pr-createSkill
  • qv-devops-pr-reviewSkill
  • qv-devops-pr-statusSkill
  • qv-devops-runner-queueSkill
  • qv-devops-why-my-pr-notSkill
  • qv-docs-solution-createSkill
  • qv-docs-updateSkill
  • qv-holepunch-devSkill
  • qv-merge-guard-wireSkill
  • qv-mobile-test-dispatchSkill
  • qv-notice-generateSkill
  • qv-pr-mineSkill
  • qv-pr-reviewSkill
  • qv-pr-testSkill
  • qv-qip-createSkill
  • qv-qip-reviewSkill
  • qv-qip-triageSkill
  • qv-quality-reportingSkill
  • qv-registry-autobase-patternsSkill
  • qv-release-trainSkill
  • qv-sdk-backmergeSkill
  • qv-sdk-changelogSkill
  • qv-sdk-e2e-createSkill
  • qv-sdk-inference-versionSkill
  • qv-sdk-pr-createSkill
  • qv-sdk-pr-statusSkill
  • qv-sdk-update-modelsSkill
  • qv-skill-listSkill
  • setupSkill
  • setupSkill
  • qv-nx-ciSkill