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ADR-00005: Use AGENTS.md for shared AI guidelines

Status flow: Proposed → Accepted → Reviewed → Approved (or Rejected), or Not Required. A superseded ADR keeps its file; only its status changes to Superseded by NNNNN.

Governance bodyStatusLast update
CTN Project TeamApproved2026-05-29
CTN Technical Advisory BoardNot Required2026-07-08
CTN Steering CommitteeNot Required2026-07-08
BDI Conformance TeamNot Required2026-07-08
BDI Framework TeamNot Required2026-07-08

As the project increasingly uses multiple AI-assisted development tools (e.g., an AI agent, Claude Code, Cursor), there is a risk of fragmented instructions and inconsistent coding patterns. We previously chose CLAUDE.md as a shared file, but AGENTS.md has emerged as a more tool-agnostic, industry-supported standard stewarded by the Agentic AI Foundation.

Option 1: Continue using CLAUDE.md as primary

Section titled “Option 1: Continue using CLAUDE.md as primary”
  • Description: Keep CLAUDE.md as the source of truth.
  • Pros: Already implemented.
  • Cons: Naming is biased towards one tool (Claude); may not be automatically recognized by other agents.

Option 2: Adopt AGENTS.md as the primary shared file

Section titled “Option 2: Adopt AGENTS.md as the primary shared file”
  • Description: Use AGENTS.md (a growing open standard) as the central repository of AI instructions and project context. Other tool-specific files (like CLAUDE.md) reference this file.
  • Pros: Tool-agnostic; follows emerging industry standards; supported by multiple AI vendors (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Cursor); readable by humans and all AI agents.
  • Cons: Requires minor migration from existing setup.

Chosen option: Option 2: Adopt AGENTS.md as the primary shared file.

  • Standardization: AGENTS.md is an open format stewarded by the Agentic AI Foundation, making it the most future-proof choice for cross-tool compatibility.
  • Clarity: It clearly separates human-centric documentation (README.md) from agent-centric instructions (AGENTS.md).
  • Scalability: Supports hierarchical nesting for large repositories and monorepos.
  • Positive: Single, tool-agnostic source of truth for AI context; easier onboarding for any new AI tools; consistent application of project standards.
  • Negative: Tool-specific config files (e.g. agent-specific guideline files or CLAUDE.md) still exist but act as pointers to AGENTS.md to ensure compatibility with tools that have fixed defaults.
  1. Phase 1: Create AGENTS.md at the project root with core project context, tech stack, and AI best practices.
  2. Phase 2: Update CLAUDE.md to point to AGENTS.md.
  3. Phase 3: Update an AI agent guidelines to reference AGENTS.md.
  • Security review completed
  • Performance impact assessed
  • Integration impact evaluated
  • [ X ] Documentation updated
  • [ X ] Stakeholder approval obtained (via chat)
  • AGENTS.md
  • CLAUDE.md
  • docs/arc42/12-glossary/ctn-glossary.md
  • docs/arc42/09-decisions/00001-record-architecture-decisions.md
DateStatusNotes
2026-05-28ApprovedInitial adoption of AGENTS.md standard

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