# Rule `agent-docs/` Template

Use this structure for Markdown files inside `agent-docs/` when the document's main job is to govern behavior: rules, policy, constraints, decision criteria, or workflow guidance.

## Minimum Required Shape

```md
# <Document Title>

<Opening statement: what this doc governs, when it applies, and that it must be followed in scope.>

## Applies To

- <specific task or document types>

## Does Not Apply To

- <out-of-scope task or document types>

## Authority

- <source of truth: owning doc, repository path, command, or code area>

## <Rule Section>

- <instructions>

## Edge Cases

- <exceptions, ambiguous cases, or branch conditions>

## Failure Modes

- <what usually goes wrong and how to recover>

## Checklist

- <validation questions>
```

## Required Sections

- `# <Document Title>`
- opening statement
- `## Applies To`
- `## Authority`
- at least one topic-specific rule section
- `## Checklist`

## Conditionally Required Sections

- `## Does Not Apply To` when scope boundaries are easy to misread or likely to overlap with sibling docs
- `## Edge Cases` when branch conditions or exceptions would otherwise be inferred
- `## Failure Modes` when maintainers need recovery guidance or common-mistake handling

## Notes

- Make the scope explicit.
- Keep the document responsible for one topic.
- Use semantic filenames and headings.
- Write for maintainers. State actions, constraints, and decision criteria directly.
- If the document references repository files, write repository-relative paths in backticks, not Markdown links or machine-local absolute filesystem paths.
- State the user or maintainer decision directly: what to do, what to avoid, and how to choose.
- Treat `Authority` as required. If no authority can be named, the rule is probably too vague or not ready to be canonicalized.
- Add `Edge Cases` and `Failure Modes` when the workflow is easy to misapply or the scope boundary is easy to misunderstand.
- Prefer linking to inventories, examples, or narrower child docs instead of embedding long registries inline.