---
schema: 1
type: term
title: '`agent.md` files'
description: >-
  `agent.md` files are files used to **teach an agent the real work** —
  capturing, in written form, the process or instructions you hand off so the
  agent can perform it. In the channel's material they are part of the practical
  playbook for OpenAI's Codex: start with a hard recurring process, teach the
  agent the actual work, and turn what you hand off into reusable **skills**.
canonical: >-
  https://liquidgold.cc/channel/everyinc/explore/term/agent-md-files-97691351545e
markdown: >-
  https://liquidgold.cc/channel/everyinc/explore/term/agent-md-files-97691351545e.md
llms: null
parent: 'https://liquidgold.cc/channel/everyinc/llms.txt'
channel: everyinc
updated: '2026-10-23T22:12:35.346Z'
language: null
children: []
---


# \`agent.md\` files

Canonical: https://liquidgold.cc/channel/everyinc/explore/term/agent-md-files-97691351545e

Parent: [Channel index](https://liquidgold.cc/channel/everyinc/llms.txt)

## Definition

`agent.md` files are files used to **teach an agent the real work** — capturing, in written form, the process or instructions you hand off so the agent can perform it. In the channel's material they are part of the practical playbook for OpenAI's Codex: start with a hard recurring process, teach the agent the actual work, and turn what you hand off into reusable **skills**.

In the channel's exploration of OpenAI's **Codex** as an “operating system for knowledge work”, `agent.md` files belong to the practical playbook: rather than restating instructions each time, you capture the *real work* you hand off so the agent can carry it out — and what you hand off can be turned into reusable **skills**[^80173b13]. The broader playbook the material recommends is to **start with a hard recurring process**, teach the agent the actual work, and keep distilling your hand-offs into skills[^80173b13].- `agent.md` files are part of the **playbook** for working with Codex: teach the agent the real work by handing off what you know.- The material connects hand-offs to **skills** — what you turn over to the agent becomes reusable capability.- The recommended starting point is a **hard recurring process**, not a toy task.