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