Constraining coding agents with repo files
What happened
On October 12, AI HOT described a method for constraining coding agents using only a repo's own files, splitting constraints into four kinds: instructions, path rules, capability config and checks. Each was added one at a time through the same ticket and retested to see what each file does. CLAUDE.md and .claude/rules/ give guidance, capability config limits available tools, and .claude/hooks/ can reject writes, sharing check logic with make gate in CI. The report separates guidance, tool limits and write checks.
Written by AI from the coverage · updated 1 hour ago
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- AI HOT · Tips & opinionsPickConstraining coding agents with only the repo files you already have
Repo constraints for coding agents fall into four kinds of files: instructions, path rules, capability config and checks. The author adds them one at a time on the same ticket and re-tests to see what each one does. CLAUDE.md and .claude/rules/ give guidance, capability config limits which tools are available, and .claude/hooks/ can reject writes, sharing check logic with CI's make gate.
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