Intent Layer

Hierarchical AGENTS.md infrastructure so agents navigate codebases like senior engineers.

Core Principle

Only ONE root context file. CLAUDE.md and AGENTS.md should NOT coexist at project root. Child AGENTS.md in subdirectories are encouraged for complex subsystems.

Workflow

1. Detect state
   scripts/detect_state.sh /path/to/project
   → Returns: none | partial | complete

2. Route
   none/partial → Initial setup (steps 3-5)
   complete     → Maintenance (step 6)

3. Measure [gate - show table first]
   scripts/analyze_structure.sh /path/to/project
   scripts/estimate_tokens.sh /path/to/each/source/dir

4. Decide
   No root file  → Ask: CLAUDE.md or AGENTS.md?
   Has root file → Add Intent Layer section + child nodes if needed

5. Execute
   Use references/templates.md for structure
   Use references/node-examples.md for real-world patterns
   Validate: one root, READ-FIRST directive, <4k tokens per node

6. Maintenance mode (when state=complete)
   Ask user:
   a) Audit nodes     → Use references/capture-protocol.md for SME questions
   b) Find candidates → Re-measure tokens, suggest new nodes
   c) Both

When to Create Child Nodes

| Signal | Action | |--------|--------| | >20k tokens in directory | Create AGENTS.md | | Responsibility shift | Create AGENTS.md | | Hidden contracts/invariants | Document in nearest ancestor | | Cross-cutting concern | Place at LCA |

Do NOT create for: every directory, simple utilities, test folders (unless complex).

Capture Questions

When documenting existing code, ask:

What does this area own? What's out of scope?
What invariants must never be violated?
What repeatedly confuses new engineers?
What patterns should always be followed?

Resources

Scripts:

scripts/detect_state.sh - Check Intent Layer state (none/partial/complete)
scripts/analyze_structure.sh - Find semantic boundaries
scripts/estimate_tokens.sh - Measure directory complexity

References:

references/templates.md - Root and child node templates
references/node-examples.md - Real-world examples
references/capture-protocol.md - SME interview protocol