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Separate project rules from machine-specific instructions: keep shared conventions in a version-controlled agents.md and put each developer’s commands, paths, tools, and response preferences in an untracked agents.local.md. That is Vinicius de Santana’s proposed “local override” pattern for reducing infrastructure friction in teams with different setups. It is a proposal, not a universal file standard: confirm that your AI-agent harness discovers both files and applies the intended precedence before relying on it.
Why separate shared rules from local setup?
AI-agent instructions often combine two different kinds of guidance: rules that should apply to everyone working on a project, and directions that only make sense on one developer’s machine. Mixing them can leave teammates with commands for the wrong shell, paths that do not exist, or assumptions about local tools.
In his October 5, 2026 DEV Community article, Vinicius de Santana proposes separating those concerns. As he puts it, “The central thesis is simple: AI instructions must not mix the software’s business or architectural rules with the developer’s local infrastructure commands.”
What goes in each instruction layer?
| Layer | Owner | Version control | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|
agents.md |
The project team | Committed with the repository | Shared project conventions, such as the backend framework, interface architecture, and design principles |
agents.local.md |
One developer | Excluded from Git | Machine-specific operating environment, command syntax, paths, tools, and response preferences |
The shared file sets project-wide expectations; the local file supplies execution preferences for a particular developer. The names and precedence behavior are Santana’s suggested convention, not a guarantee that every harness recognizes these files.
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How to set up the local-override pattern
-
Add
agents.local.mdto the repository’s.gitignoreso individual configuration is not committed. -
Keep the project’s
agents.mdin Git and use it for team-wide technical conventions.Rank #2
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In the shared instructions, tell the agent to check for a root-level
agents.local.mdbefore suggesting or running terminal commands. State clearly that, when present, its execution instructions, paths, and preferences take precedence over defaults.Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
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Have each developer create their own local file with only the environment-specific guidance they need.
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For example, the source article’s sample profile uses WSL2 and Linux paths, rules out PowerShell syntax for that developer, and asks for terse, code-only responses. Those are illustrative personal choices, not recommended defaults for every team.
What can developers put in the local file?
Shells, commands, and containers
One teammate might run database migrations through isolated Docker containers, while another uses native executables and bash paths under WSL2. Local instructions can tell the agent which approach and command syntax to use for that developer.
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Local tools and models
A developer could direct large local-log analysis to an Ollama model running on their own machine rather than use cloud-model tokens. That is an example of a possible preference, not evidence that a local model suits every analysis task.
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Response format
A developer who wants minimal output could ask for only the changed code blocks instead of explanatory prose. Such formatting preferences can stay personal without changing the team’s shared project guidance.
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What to verify before relying on overrides
The pattern only works as intended if the chosen agent harness loads the files and gives local guidance the expected precedence. File names and instructions in a repository do not, by themselves, prove that an agent will discover or obey them.
- Check the harness documentation or settings for instruction-file discovery and supported paths.
- Test whether the root-level local file is actually read when present.
- Confirm that its command and path guidance takes precedence over conflicting shared defaults.
- Try a harmless command suggestion in each relevant shell or environment before asking the agent to run consequential operations.
- Check that the local file stays untracked and is not accidentally committed.
Santana argues that separating the layers can reduce team friction and help avoid disrupting colleagues’ terminals. His article reports no named study, measured productivity result, or comparative evaluation, so treat those benefits as the author’s rationale rather than quantified outcomes.
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