Give a project its instructions
Every project has its own way of working: which package manager, which command runs the tests, which folders are off limits, how commit messages look. Write it into a file called AGENTS.md, and Snotra follows it in every chat in that folder — without you having to say it again.
What you need
Section titled “What you need”A text file named AGENTS.md. Many repositories already have one; Snotra uses it as it is.
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Create
AGENTS.mddirectly in the project folder — at the top, not in a subfolder. You can do that in the tree with New File…, or ask Snotra to write it. -
Write down, in plain words or as a list, what the model should know and keep to. For example:
# Garden Planner- Plants and beds live in plants.csv and beds.json; never rename their columns.- Run the calendar with `node src/calendar.js`.- Dates are written as YYYY-MM-DD. -
Save it. The next message already uses it.
For instructions that apply in every folder, put an AGENTS.md into ~/.snotra/ in your home folder. Snotra also still reads ~/.agents/AGENTS.md, the older place.
What happens
Section titled “What happens”- Snotra reads up to three files with every message: the project’s
AGENTS.md, then~/.snotra/AGENTS.md, then~/.agents/AGENTS.md. All that exist apply together; none replaces another. - Changes take effect with the next message, without a restart.
- Each file contributes up to 20,000 characters; a longer one is cut visibly, not dropped. The breakdown behind the token count in the input field lists what each file costs — see Write a message.
- Before a file goes to the provider, Snotra leaves it out if it contains one of your own keys, and masks credentials such as tokens or
password = ….
Instructions from a folder you did not write
Section titled “Instructions from a folder you did not write”An AGENTS.md is meant to change how the model behaves — so when you open someone else’s folder, you take on its instructions too. To work in a folder without them, switch off Send AGENTS.md under Settings › General. That switch covers all three places.
If it doesn’t work
Section titled “If it doesn’t work”- Snotra ignores the file. It must be called exactly
AGENTS.mdand lie at the top of the folder. Snotra does not readCLAUDE.md,.cursorrulesor anAGENTS.mdunder.agents/; move such a file up into the folder. - Nothing is sent at all. Send AGENTS.md under Settings › General is off.