# Centralized Rule Structures

> Source: <https://dev.to/hamedhajiloo/the-agent-constitution-1gmk>
> Published: 2026-07-30 08:38:53+00:00

**Enforcing AI Agent Adherence Through Single-Source Architecture in CrystaCode projects**

AI agents require strict directory structures to execute project rules without logic divergence. Rule duplication causes execution failure. Establish a single source of truth. Define each rule in exactly one location. Secondary files function exclusively as routing parameters.

```
AGENTS.md                        # Primary entry file
CLAUDE.md                        # Pointer to AGENTS.md

agents/
  rules/
    productA.md                  # Component directives
    productB.md
  skills/
    styling-guidelines-a/SKILL.md
    styling-guidelines-b/SKILL.md
  hooks/
    styling-guard.ps1            # Interceptor execution script

docs/
  Conventions/
    ProductA/styling-guidelines.md   # Absolute rule text
    ProductB/styling-guidelines.md

.claude/
  settings.json                  # Claude hook directive
  skills/*/SKILL.md              # Auto-generated artifacts

.github/
  instructions/*.instructions.md # GitHub agent pointers
  hooks/preToolUse.json          # GitHub hook directive
```

**AGENTS.md**: The mandatory initialization file. Contains routing matrices. Outlines file extension triggers and maps them to specific requisite documents.

**CLAUDE.md**: Contains a single pointer instructing the parser to evaluate `AGENTS.md`

.

**.github/instructions/**: Pointers redirecting GitHub Copilot to module-specific rules.

**agents/rules/**: Isolated procedural steps and checklists mapped to specific project modules. Defers rule definitions to the skills directory.

**agents/skills/**: Contextual triggers dictating exact pre-conditions for operation. Defers absolute rule text to the `docs/`

repository.

**docs/**: The definitive repository. Contains complete technical specifications and rule text. The sole location for rule definitions.

**.claude/skills/**: Automated mirror of `agents/skills`

. Manual modification is strictly prohibited.

The `styling-guard.ps1`

hook enforces compliance by gating execution based on session markers.

**Intercept Request:**

The script intercepts the AI file modification request pre-execution.

**Evaluate Target Parameters:**

The file extension is evaluated against target parameters (`.scss`

, `.razor`

). Unmatched files bypass interception.

**Ascertain Product Association:**

The script evaluates the target file path to identify the associated project module.

**Query Session Data:**

The script checks session data for an existing execution marker corresponding to the file type and module. If present, the AI bypasses interception.

**Halt Execution:**

If the marker is absent, execution is blocked. The AI receives an explicit directive to parse the required skill documentation.

**Write Execution Marker:**

The script writes the execution marker to session data. Subsequent modification attempts in the same session proceed without interruption.

**Interceptor Implementation Logic**

The interception mechanism outputs explicit standard error directives to halt execution when session markers are absent:

```
if ($category -eq 'scss') {
    [Console]::Error.WriteLine(
        "MANDATORY styling gate: this is the first .scss edit in this session for the " +
        "'$product' product. Invoke the '$skill' skill (canonical rules: $doc), apply its " +
        "rules -- $checklist -- then retry this exact edit. $forbidden " +
        "This gate fires once per session per product per file category.")
} else {
    [Console]::Error.WriteLine(
        "MANDATORY component gate: this is the first .razor edit in this session for the " +
        "'$product' product. Before this edit: (1) invoke the '$skill' skill (canonical " +
        "rules: $doc) for color/typography/component conventions -- use $components. " +
        "(2) invoke the 'localize-app-strings' skill -- never hardcode user-facing text, " +
        "always route through IStringLocalizer<AppStrings>. Then retry this exact edit. " +
        "This gate fires once per session per product per file category.")
}
```

`AGENTS.md`

).`docs/`

) as the single source of truth.`.claude`

, `.github`

) to pointer artifacts.Enjoy it: [CrystaCode](https://crystacode.ai/)