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Codex AGENTS.md

Official Codex project instruction file guidance.

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Reviewed 2026-07-21
Official documentation
Primary source reviewed

Source type: official-docs. License: not stated or not applicable. The linked source supports the visible capability notes but does not prove production suitability.

Open evidence source
Inference or recommendation
Verify before production

Confirm current maintenance, permissions, data handling, license obligations, failure behavior, and a human approval gate in your own environment.

Practical fit

AGENTS.md is useful for durable project facts that should survive across tasks: build commands, validation expectations, directory ownership, and actions an agent must not take. It should reduce repeated explanation without becoming a history dump.

Treat the file as maintained operational documentation. A short accurate instruction is more valuable than a comprehensive file whose commands and structure no longer match the repository.

How to evaluate it

Can every command in the file be run successfully today?
Does each rule affect repeated work rather than one temporary task?
Are forbidden actions and completion checks specific enough to review?

Example decision

A TypeScript repository can document pnpm as the package manager, name lint/test/build commands, identify generated folders, and forbid deleting tests or changing lockfiles without need. A one-off bug description belongs in the task, not AGENTS.md.

Verify before you adopt it

Check the official precedence and discovery rules for AGENTS.md.
Run every documented command after editing the file.
Remove stale paths and temporary project history during regular reviews.

Source review note

We reviewed the primary source on July 21, 2026. Product behavior, pricing, licenses, and maintenance status can change, so check the linked source before adopting it.

Best for

Durable project rules
Validation commands
Coding conventions

Not for

Long historical notes
Stale instructions

Risk notes

Long or stale instruction files can confuse agents.