One shared contract
Put build commands, architecture, testing, safety, and delivery rules in one canonical AGENTS.md.
Use AGENTS.md in Claude Code.
Paste your instructions. Get a CLAUDE.md import without uploading files.
Local onlyNo signupNo uploads
Start with your file
Keep existing Claude-only rules in comparison mode.
AGENTS.md0 lines
Start from scratchNo instruction files yet?
Open the dedicated AGENTS.md generator ↗Enter the project name and the commands your team already runs. We will generate an editable AGENTS.md plus the matching CLAUDE.md import locally.
Use an existing fileAlready have AGENTS.md or CLAUDE.md?
Upload or paste the file you already use. After choosing a source, paste or upload it in the matching editor above. We will generate the companion file and keep the shared rules in one place.
03 / REFERENCE
What each instruction file is for
They are both Markdown instruction files. The practical difference is who discovers them, how they compose, and how easily duplicated rules drift.
Set up AGENTS.md for Claude Code ↗Use the 18-point repository audit checklist ↗DecisionAGENTS.mdCLAUDE.md
Best roleCross-tool source of truthClaude-specific overlay
FormatPlain MarkdownPlain Markdown + @ imports
Project scopeRoot and nested filesRoot, local, and nested files
Team workflowCommit shared rulesImport shared rules; add exceptions
Main riskContext bloatDuplication and contradictory overlays
Thin tool overlays
Keep tool-specific preferences out of the common file. Import the contract, then add the smallest necessary exception.
Enforce real boundaries
Markdown guides behavior. Use permissions, hooks, tests, and branch protection for controls that cannot be optional.
06 / FAQ
Common questions
Should I use CLAUDE.md or AGENTS.md?
Use AGENTS.md for shared, tool-agnostic project instructions. Keep CLAUDE.md as a small Claude-specific overlay that imports AGENTS.md.
Can CLAUDE.md import AGENTS.md?
Yes. Put @AGENTS.md in CLAUDE.md, then add only Claude-specific instructions below it. Claude Code documents this as the cross-tool setup.
Is an import better than a symlink?
An import is the safest cross-platform default and allows Claude-specific additions. A symlink is useful when both files must remain byte-for-byte identical.
Does AgentsMD Checker upload my files?
No. The free checker runs entirely in your browser. Your instruction files are not sent to a server or stored by this site.
Can this prove that an AI agent will follow every rule?
No. Instruction files guide model behavior; they are not enforcement. Use permissions, hooks, tests, and branch protection for rules that must be guaranteed.
PROJECT RECORD
How this checker is maintained
The build log records the checker's own project rules, tested behavior, worked sample, product changes, and items that are still unverified.
Read the build log ↗Last reviewed September 12, 2026Your file contents never leave this browser.
File comparison, checks, and downloads run in your browser. We do not receive or store the contents of files used in the free checker.