AGENTS.md
Platforms & harness multiplexersAGENTS.md
AGENTS.md is a simple, open format for guiding coding agents: a README for agents holding build steps, tests and conventions.
- Open format (MIT)
- Plain Markdown
- Used by 60k+ repos
At a glance
AGENTS.md is in the directory but not on our ranked shortlists, and we have no traction figure for it yet.
Key facts
As of Nov 12, 2026
- Who it's for
- Maintainers who want one predictable file that every coding agent reads for project context.
- What does it do?
- A dedicated, predictable place to give AI coding agents context and instructions for your project: setup commands, code style, testing and PR instructions. It complements the README, which is written for humans.
- What does it cost?
- Free. It is an open format in a plain Markdown file, and the repo is MIT licensed.
- Where does it work?
- In any repository. Agents that support the format read the file from the project, and there is nothing to install.
- Who uses it?
- The site says over 60k open-source projects use it.
- Who makes it?
- The agentsmd GitHub organization, which also hosts the agents.md website.
Common questions
What is AGENTS.md?
AGENTS.md is a simple, open format for guiding coding agents: a README for agents holding build steps, tests and conventions.
Who is AGENTS.md for?
Maintainers who want one predictable file that every coding agent reads for project context.
How much does AGENTS.md cost?
Free. It is an open format in a plain Markdown file, and the repo is MIT licensed. Checked against the vendor's pages on Nov 12, 2026. Plans change often, so confirm before you decide.
Does AGENTS.md run locally or in the cloud?
AGENTS.md runs in the vendor's cloud. You use it through chat apps and an API.
What are alternatives to AGENTS.md?
See the Platforms & harness multiplexers shortlist for the other options.
Compare AGENTS.md
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