AGENTS.md
AI Protocols · Free
Open convention for giving coding agents build, test, and style instructions
At a glance
- Made by
- Agentic AI Foundation (under the Linux Foundation)
- Korean
- None (English and a few others only)
- Open source
- MIT
- GitHub
- 24,906 stars · MIT
What is AGENTS.md?
AGENTS.md is a "README for agents": a Markdown file in a set location that holds the context and instructions an AI coding agent needs to work on a project. It is separate from the human-facing README and holds agent-specific details such as build steps, tests, and coding rules. It is written in standard Markdown with no required fields, and in large monorepos you can place nested files in each subproject, with the closest file taking precedence. It is compatible with many coding agents including Codex, Jules, Cursor, Aider, and Gemini CLI, and is currently managed by the Agentic AI Foundation under the Linux Foundation.
- A Markdown file in a set location that holds instructions for agents
- Standard Markdown format with no required fields
- Nested AGENTS.md files for monorepos (closest file takes precedence)
- The agent runs the test commands you listed and fixes failures
- Compatible with many coding agents and tools (Codex, Jules, Cursor, Aider, etc.)
- Setup guides for Aider and Gemini CLI
Who uses AGENTS.md and for what
- Writing build and test commands and code style in the repository so AI coding agents follow them
- Providing custom instructions per subproject in large monorepos
Pricing
Open source (free, standard/specification)
Released free as open standards/protocols, implementations distributed as open source
Estimate based on AI knowledge - please verify on the official site
AI tools similar to AGENTS.md (alternatives)
AGENTS.md vs. alternatives at a glance
| AI | Pricing | Combos on the map | Connected tools | Free | Cheapest monthly | Korean |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AGENTS.md | Free | 0 | 4 | — | — | No |
| A2A | Free + paid | 0 | 4 | — | — | Yes |
| ACP | Free + paid | 0 | 4 | — | — | No |
| ANP | Free + paid | 0 | 4 | — | — | No |
| AP2 | Free + paid | 0 | 4 | — | — | Yes |
0 of these 5 tools have a free plan.
Combo and connection counts are based on the relationships recorded on AI Galaxy Map (2026-10-26); they are not a quality ranking.
AGENTS.md on AI Galaxy Map
- One of 9 AI tools in the AI Protocols field.
- Connected to 4 other tools — #1 in its field.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use AGENTS.md for free?
Open source (free, standard/specification). Prices can change, so check the official site before paying.
What AI can I use instead of AGENTS.md?
Tools that do the same job, such as A2A, ACP, ANP, AP2, are connected to it on the map.
Can I use AGENTS.md in Korean?
None (English and a few others only)
Sources (official pages)
Checked on the official pages on 2026-10-14. Prices and features can change, so check the official site again before paying.