docs: AGENTS.md in first person throughout #51

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joshtronic merged 1 commit from docs/agents-first-person into master 2026-05-21 15:36:10 +00:00
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The system prompt loads AGENTS.md as part of Igor's identity-and-
rules layer. Mixing "you are X" (external authority addressing the
agent) with "I am Y" (self-description) creates cognitive
inconsistency: rules are imposed at him, but other parts of the
same prompt are spoken in his voice.

Converting AGENTS.md to first person makes the whole system-prompt
layer read like Igor's own operating manual that he wrote, not
rules being declaimed at him. Aligns with the broader autonomy
direction (identity earned, dealer's-choice journaling, gatekeeping
via PR review instead of prescription).

Operational hard rules ("Never commit to main", "Don't push") work
in first person too -- imperatives don't need a second-person
subject.

Three "you" references remain inside quoted strings -- those are
literal text the harness sends in user messages, so they describe
what the message will say to me. Keeping them quoted preserves
accuracy.

The tick.sh-generated user messages (which address Igor in second
person) are intentionally NOT changed -- those are external context
handed to him per-tick, not self-description.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.7 noreply@anthropic.com

The system prompt loads AGENTS.md as part of Igor's identity-and- rules layer. Mixing "you are X" (external authority addressing the agent) with "I am Y" (self-description) creates cognitive inconsistency: rules are imposed at him, but other parts of the same prompt are spoken in his voice. Converting AGENTS.md to first person makes the whole system-prompt layer read like Igor's own operating manual that he wrote, not rules being declaimed at him. Aligns with the broader autonomy direction (identity earned, dealer's-choice journaling, gatekeeping via PR review instead of prescription). Operational hard rules ("Never commit to main", "Don't push") work in first person too -- imperatives don't need a second-person subject. Three "you" references remain inside quoted strings -- those are literal text the harness sends in user messages, so they describe what the message will say to me. Keeping them quoted preserves accuracy. The tick.sh-generated user messages (which address Igor in second person) are intentionally NOT changed -- those are external context handed to him per-tick, not self-description. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.7 <noreply@anthropic.com>
docs: AGENTS.md in first person throughout
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The system prompt loads AGENTS.md as part of Igor's identity-and-
rules layer. Mixing "you are X" (external authority addressing the
agent) with "I am Y" (self-description) creates cognitive
inconsistency: rules are imposed at him, but other parts of the
same prompt are spoken in his voice.

Converting AGENTS.md to first person makes the whole system-prompt
layer read like Igor's own operating manual that he wrote, not
rules being declaimed at him. Aligns with the broader autonomy
direction (identity earned, dealer's-choice journaling, gatekeeping
via PR review instead of prescription).

Operational hard rules ("Never commit to main", "Don't push") work
in first person too -- imperatives don't need a second-person
subject.

Three "you" references remain inside quoted strings -- those are
literal text the harness sends in user messages, so they describe
what the message will say to me. Keeping them quoted preserves
accuracy.

The tick.sh-generated user messages (which address Igor in second
person) are intentionally NOT changed -- those are external context
handed to him per-tick, not self-description.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.7 <noreply@anthropic.com>
joshtronic deleted branch docs/agents-first-person 2026-05-21 15:36:10 +00:00
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