> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://platform.stepfun.ai/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Project instructions

Project instructions record development conventions, verification commands, and operational limits. Step Code includes discovered instructions in the context it uses to work on the project.

## Create project instructions

1. Create `AGENTS.md` at the project root, or update the existing file without replacing unrelated instructions.
2. Add rules appropriate for the repository. For example:

```markdown theme={"theme":{"light":"light-plus","dark":"dark-plus"}}
# Project instructions

- Read the build configuration and test commands before changing code.
- Add tests for behavior changes and report which checks actually ran.
- Do not connect to production databases or run production migrations.
- Keep credentials and private configuration out of commits.
```

3. Run `/reload` in Step Code or restart to load the changes.

You can also run `/init` to generate instructions from the project. Review its commands, paths, and constraints before saving. To check discovery, ask the model which project instructions apply to a task and compare its references with the file.

## Discovery and precedence

| Scope | Location |
| - | - |
| Global | `~/.stepcode/agent/AGENTS.md` |
| Project | Instruction files in the current directory and its parents |

In each directory, Step Code selects the first existing file in this order:

1. `AGENTS.override.md`
2. `AGENTS.md`
3. `CLAUDE.md`

Discovery walks up to the filesystem root. Keep shared team rules in project files and personal preferences in the global file. `--no-context-files` disables automatic discovery; see [The step command](https://platform.stepfun.ai/docs/en/step-code/reference/cli.md).

## Reuse existing instructions

Existing `CLAUDE.md` files can remain in place. Check that their tool names, commands, paths, and model requirements apply to Step Code. See [Migrating from other tools](https://platform.stepfun.ai/docs/en/step-code/guides/migration.md) for importing other resources.

Instructions describe how to work. Configure [Permissions and safety](https://platform.stepfun.ai/docs/en/step-code/guides/permissions.md) separately to control tool approval and project resource loading. For reusable tasks, see [Agent Skills](https://platform.stepfun.ai/docs/en/step-code/customization/skills.md). Role definitions belong in [Agents and subagents](https://platform.stepfun.ai/docs/en/step-code/customization/agents.md).


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