Refine rule
Always-loaded files pay their cost every session; prune hardest here. Apply agent-copy; Read it first if not already loaded. Checks specific to rule and memory files:
- Right file for the audience. Harness-agnostic guidance in AGENTS.md; harness-specific mechanics in that harness's file (CLAUDE.md,
.cursor/rules/*.mdc). Cursor rules scope by glob; prefer a scoped rule over an always-apply one. - When a skill covers the topic, the memory file keeps one pointer line. Restated bullets drift from the skill.
- Delete what context will supply. "When working on X, do Y" is suspect: Y is often self-evident inside X, visible in the files being edited or surfaced by typecheck, lint, or tests. Can be found ≠ will be encountered; facts in obscure corners stay written down.
- Under 50 lines per section. Longer is sediment.
- Verify every fact. Paths, model names, and tool flags rot silently in files nothing typechecks.