Refactor bloated agent instruction files (AGENTS.md, CLAUDE.md, COPILOT.md, etc.) to follow **progressive disclosure principles** - keeping essentials at root and organizing the rest into linked, categorized files. * * * Use this skill when:
Agent MD Refactor
Refactor bloated agent instruction files (AGENTS.md, CLAUDE.md, COPILOT.md, etc.) to follow progressive disclosure principles - keeping essentials at root and organizing the rest into linked, categorized files.
Triggers
Use this skill when:
"refactor my AGENTS.md" / "refactor my CLAUDE.md"
"split my agent instructions"
"organize my CLAUDE.md file"
"my AGENTS.md is too long"
"progressive disclosure for my instructions"
"clean up my agent config"
Quick Reference
Phase
Action
Output
1. Analyze
Find contradictions
List of conflicts to resolve
2. Extract
Identify essentials
Core instructions for root file
3. Categorize
Group remaining instructions
Logical categories
4. Structure
Create file hierarchy
Root + linked files
5. Prune
Flag for deletion
Redundant/vague instructions
Process
Phase 1: Find Contradictions
Identify any instructions that conflict with each other.
Look for:
Contradictory style guidelines (e.g., "use semicolons" vs "no semicolons")
Conflicting workflow instructions
Incompatible tool preferences
Mutually exclusive patterns
For each contradiction found:
## Contradiction Found
**Instruction A:** [quote]
**Instruction B:** [quote]
**Question:** Which should take precedence, or should both be conditional?
Ask the user to resolve before proceeding.
Phase 2: Identify the Essentials
Extract ONLY what belongs in the root agent file. The root should be minimal - information that applies to every single task.
Essential content (keep in root):
Category
Example
Project description
One sentence: "A React dashboard for analytics"
Package manager
Only if not npm (e.g., "Uses pnpm")
Non-standard commands
Custom build/test/typecheck commands
Critical overrides
Things that MUST override defaults
Universal rules
Applies to 100% of tasks
NOT essential (move to linked files):
Language-specific conventions
Testing guidelines
Code style details
Framework patterns
Documentation standards
Git workflow details
Phase 3: Group the Rest
Organize remaining instructions into logical categories.
Common categories:
Category
Contents
typescript.md
TS conventions, type patterns, strict mode rules
testing.md
Test frameworks, coverage, mocking patterns
code-style.md
Formatting, naming, comments, structure
git-workflow.md
Commits, branches, PRs, reviews
architecture.md
Patterns, folder structure, dependencies
api-design.md
REST/GraphQL conventions, error handling
security.md
Auth patterns, input validation, secrets
performance.md
Optimization rules, caching, lazy loading
Grouping rules:
Each file should be self-contained for its topic
Aim for 3-8 files (not too granular, not too broad)
Name files clearly: {topic}.md
Include only actionable instructions
Phase 4: Create the File Structure
Output structure:
project-root/
├── CLAUDE.md (or AGENTS.md) # Minimal root with links
└── .claude/ # Or docs/agent-instructions/
├── typescript.md
├── testing.md
├── code-style.md
├── git-workflow.md
└── architecture.md
`**Root file template:**`
# Project Name
One-sentence description of the project.
## Quick Reference
- **Package Manager:** pnpm
- **Build:** `pnpm build`
- **Test:** `pnpm test`
- **Typecheck:** `pnpm typecheck`
## Detailed Instructions
For specific guidelines, see:
- [TypeScript Conventions](.claude/typescript.md)
- [Testing Guidelines](.claude/testing.md)
- [Code Style](.claude/code-style.md)
- [Git Workflow](.claude/git-workflow.md)
- [Architecture Patterns](.claude/architecture.md)
`**Each linked file template:**`
# {Topic} Guidelines
## Overview
Brief context for when these guidelines apply.
## Rules
### Rule Category 1
- Specific, actionable instruction
- Another specific instruction
### Rule Category 2
- Specific, actionable instruction
## Examples
### Good
\`\`\`typescript
// Example of correct pattern
\`\`\`
### Avoid
\`\`\`typescript
// Example of what not to do
\`\`\`
Phase 5: Flag for Deletion
Identify instructions that should be removed entirely.
Delete if:
Criterion
Example
Why Delete
Redundant
"Use TypeScript" (in a .ts project)
Agent already knows
Too vague
"Write clean code"
Not actionable
Overly obvious
"Don't introduce bugs"
Wastes context
Default behavior
"Use descriptive variable names"
Standard practice
Outdated
References deprecated APIs
No longer applies
Output format:
## Flagged for Deletion
| Instruction | Reason |
|-------------|--------|
| "Write clean, maintainable code" | Too vague to be actionable |
| "Use TypeScript" | Redundant - project is already TS |
| "Don't commit secrets" | Agent already knows this |
| "Follow best practices" | Meaningless without specifics |
Execution Checklist
[ ] Phase 1: All contradictions identified and resolved
[ ] Phase 2: Root file contains ONLY essentials
[ ] Phase 3: All remaining instructions categorized
[ ] Phase 4: File structure created with proper links
[ ] Phase 5: Redundant/vague instructions removed
[ ] Verify: Each linked file is self-contained
[ ] Verify: Root file is under 50 lines
[ ] Verify: All links work correctly
Anti-Patterns
Avoid
Why
Instead
Keeping everything in root
Bloated, hard to maintain
Split into linked files
Too many categories
Fragmentation
Consolidate related topics
Vague instructions
Wastes tokens, no value
Be specific or delete
Duplicating defaults
Agent already knows
Only override when needed
Deep nesting
Hard to navigate
Flat structure with links
Examples
Before (Bloated Root)
# CLAUDE.md
This is a React project.
## Code Style
- Use 2 spaces
- Use semicolons
- Prefer const over let
- Use arrow functions
... (200 more lines)
## Testing
- Use Jest
- Coverage > 80%
... (100 more lines)
## TypeScript
- Enable strict mode
... (150 more lines)
`### After (Progressive Disclosure)`
# CLAUDE.md
React dashboard for real-time analytics visualization.
## Commands
- `pnpm dev` - Start development server
- `pnpm test` - Run tests with coverage
- `pnpm build` - Production build
## Guidelines
- [Code Style](.claude/code-style.md)
- [Testing](.claude/testing.md)
- [TypeScript](.claude/typescript.md)
Verification
After refactoring, verify:
Root file is minimal - Under 50 lines, only universal info
Links work - All referenced files exist
No contradictions - Instructions are consistent
Actionable content - Every instruction is specific
Complete coverage - No instructions were lost (unless flagged for deletion)
Self-contained files - Each linked file stands alone