title: "Starter AGENTS.md Template" tested_with: codex-cli: "0.2.x" last_updated: 2026-03-21 status: proven difficulty: beginner prerequisites: []

Starter AGENTS.md Template

What This Config Does

A minimal AGENTS.md that gives Codex CLI (and other tools supporting the open standard) essential context about your project.

The Config

# Project: [Your Project Name]

[One sentence describing what this project does.]

## Setup

- Language: [e.g., Python 3.12]
- Package manager: [e.g., pip with requirements.txt]
- Test runner: [e.g., pytest]

## Conventions

- [e.g., "Use type hints on all function signatures"]
- [e.g., "Follow PEP 8 formatting"]
- [e.g., "Tests go in tests/ mirroring the src/ structure"]

## Commands

- Install: `pip install -r requirements.txt`
- Test: `pytest`
- Lint: `ruff check .`

# Adapt this by:
# - Replace placeholders with your project specifics
# - AGENTS.md follows the same principles as CLAUDE.md — start minimal, grow over time
# - If you use both Claude Code and Codex CLI, you can have both CLAUDE.md and AGENTS.md in the same repo

Where to Put It

Place at the root of your project directory as AGENTS.md. Codex CLI reads it automatically.

How to Verify It Works

Start a new Codex session and ask:

What testing framework does this project use?

It should reference the details from your AGENTS.md.

Notes

• AGENTS.md is an open standard supported by 60K+ projects and stewarded by the Linux Foundation
• Both CLAUDE.md and AGENTS.md can coexist — each tool reads its own config file
• See Module 02: Project Memory for advanced configuration patterns