AGENTS.md

1# Agent Instructions
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3<!-- HARNESS:BEGIN -->
4## Harness
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6Start with the requested outcome, then use the repository as the system of
7record. Read `docs/WORKFLOW.md` and only relevant product, design, plan, code,
8and validation material.
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10- Answers, explanations, reviews, diagnoses, plans, and status reports are
11  read-only. Inspect only what is needed and do not mutate repository or Harness
12  state.
13- For a bounded change, use an ephemeral plan: inspect the affected behavior and
14  proof, implement, and validate. No control-plane operation is required.
15- Create or update one file under `docs/plans/active/` when work spans sessions,
16  needs coordination, has meaningful dependencies, or requires recovery steps.
17  Move it to `docs/plans/completed/` only after validation.
18- Before editing, identify repository authority for each new externally
19  observable policy. If materially different choices remain open, stop before
20  edits; configurable defaults are not authority.
21- Report reusable agent friction. Change guidance, tools, runbooks, or validation
22  for that purpose only when explicitly asked to use `$improve-harness`.
23- Also pause when product intent remains ambiguous, recovery is difficult,
24  validation is weakened, or authority is insufficient.
25- Claim completion only with relevant executable or observable evidence. Report
26  the outcome, important changes, validation, and unresolved risks.
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28SQLite intake, story, trace, scoring, audit, and proposal commands are optional
29compatibility features. Use them only when explicitly requested or required by
30an external orchestrator.
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