---
source_keys: []
---

# references/

## create.md

The create flow, loaded from SKILL.md Step 1 when no agent file exists at the target path.
Covers: prerequisites, the scaffold script and its scope walk-up, what to fill in at every scope,
and populating or deleting the package-root `sources.md`.

## improve.md

The improve flow, loaded from SKILL.md Step 1 when a file exists and at least one improvement
signal is present. Covers: signal verification, partial-pair recovery, root-cause grouping,
generalizing rather than patching, delegation over growth, and the ADR-0020 retrofit rule.

## contract.md

The description and body contract, loaded from SKILL.md Step 3 before any description is written
or any body restructured. Covers: the three-part description shape, banned description content,
boundary-target resolution, the 250/400 length tiers, the body role-instruction pattern, the
delegation rule that replaces a body word gate, and the invocation axis.

## plugin-scope.md

Field rules and the pre-audit checklist for the single vendor-neutral `.apm/agents/<name>.agent.md`
file. Loaded from SKILL.md Step 2 when the scaffold resolves plugin/APM scope.

## project-user-scope.md

Field rules and the pre-audit checklist for the Claude Code `.md` + Copilot `.agent.md` pair,
including the two distinct Copilot formats. Loaded from SKILL.md Step 2 when the scaffold resolves
project or user scope.

## deployment-modes.md

Scope hierarchy and precedence, scoped identifiers for plugin subdirectory agents, cache isolation
behaviour, and Copilot CLI path conventions. Loaded from SKILL.md Step 2 when precedence, paths or
cache isolation matter to the run.

## scripts.md

Conventions for the `new-agent.sh` scaffold script, the templates it copies, and any future script
in this skill. Loaded from `create.md` Step 1 when the script or a template has to change. Covers:
the no-interactive-prompts rule, structured output, idempotency, template variables, file
placement, error messages, and the no-restated-field-roster rule that `tests/new-agent.bats`
enforces.

## sources.md

Research provenance record for this skill. Lists the upstream research sources
(claude-code-plugins and github-copilot-plugins research docs) that informed SKILL.md and the
reference files. Used by `skill-audit` to validate the provenance chain.