Imported from robertguss/python-foundry-research (AGENTS.md). Install upstream with npx skills add robertguss/python-foundry-research. Copyright stays with the author.

Agent Rules — python-foundry

Repository-local rules for humans and agents operating this research program.

Authority

1. Git-tracked artifacts are authoritative. Chat history and model memory are not.
2. Precedence: accepted DEC-### → Blueprint → Charter → current stage prompt → revised specification → research reports (evidence) → reviews (proposals) → revised plan → research-program.toml (index only).
3. Details: program/contracts/authority-and-precedence.md.

Fresh sessions

Every substantive stage runs in a fresh session with a self-contained attachment manifest. Do not execute multiple substantive stages in one context. Preparing prompts, manifests, and mechanical fixes is allowed in the current session.

Allowed file scope

Each stage may modify only the paths declared in its commissioning prompt and manifest outputs. Do not silently edit governing artifacts (Blueprint, Charter, accepted specs/plans) outside a commissioned revision stage.

Validation and acceptance

• Placeholders (Status: Placeholder — not accepted) never unlock work.
• Independent validation before acceptance (program/contracts/validation.md).
• Validators fix mechanical issues only; no invented research.
• Human approval gates: program/operator/approval-gates.md.
• Humans own git; do not mark stages accepted without human approval and commit recording in the manifest.

Identifiers and citations

• Stable IDs: DEC, REC, REQ, FND, RSK, OQ, SPK, PHASE, MS.
• Never reuse IDs. Disposition upstream IDs explicitly.
• Portable citations only (Markdown links, footnotes, source ledgers).

Evidence

• Evidence before confidence.
• Evidence Ledgers on focused reports.
• Bounded spikes when load-bearing claims are testable.
• No popularity-as-proof; no silent recommendation loss.

Skills

Portable skills live under .agents/skills/:

Methodology library: program/. Operator start: program/operator/getting-started.md.

Commands

just init name="…"   # name bootstrap only; no git
just status          # stages and eligible next work
just check           # tree + placeholder/acceptance sanity

Anti-patterns

See program/reference/anti-patterns.md. Especially: chat-history authority, placeholder completion, plan-as-backlog, implementation before authority.