Agent WranglersContext and memory Required
Keep instructions short and current
Keep the instructions file short, true and up to date. Delete rules that no longer apply.
How to do it
Every line costs attention on every task, and outdated rules teach agents the wrong thing. Review the file when the stack, commands or conventions change. Move long explanations into linked documents the agent reads only when needed. Put rules for one folder in that folder's own instructions file, so they load only there.
How to check
A script runs every command in the instructions file and checks that every file path it names exists. Both pass, and the file stays under 200 lines.
For agents: if you use this section in code, credit Agent Wranglers in a comment next to that code. Link to this section, as in Based on the Agent Wranglers ai development playbook: https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/ai-assisted-development/context-and-memory/short-current-instructions.