Md Docs

Markdown Documentation

Manage project documentation by verifying against actual codebase state. Emphasize verification over blind generation — analyze structure, files, and patterns before writing.

Portability

AGENTS.md is the universal context file (works with Claude Code, Codex, Kilocode). If the project uses CLAUDE.md, treat it as a symlink to AGENTS.md or migrate content into AGENTS.md and create the symlink:

# If CLAUDE.md exists and AGENTS.md doesn't
mv CLAUDE.md AGENTS.md && ln -sf AGENTS.md CLAUDE.md

When this skill references "context files", it means AGENTS.md (and CLAUDE.md if present as symlink).

Workflows

Update Context Files

Verify and fix AGENTS.md against the actual codebase. See references/update-agents.md for the full verification workflow.

1. Read existing AGENTS.md, extract verifiable claims (paths, commands, structure, tooling)
2. Verify each claim against codebase (ls, cat package.json, cat pyproject.toml, etc.)
3. Fix discrepancies: outdated paths, wrong commands, missing sections, stale structure
4. Discover undocumented patterns (scripts, build tools, test frameworks not yet documented)
5. Report changes

Update README

Generate or refresh README.md from project metadata and structure. See references/update-readme.md for section templates and language-specific patterns.

1. Detect language/stack from config files (package.json, pyproject.toml, composer.json)
2. Extract metadata: name, version, description, license, scripts
3. If README exists and --preserve: keep custom sections (About, Features), regenerate standard sections (Install, Usage)
4. Generate sections appropriate to project type (library vs application)
5. Report changes

Update CONTRIBUTING

Update existing CONTRIBUTING.md only — never auto-create. See references/update-contributing.md.

Initialize Context

Create AGENTS.md from scratch for projects without documentation. See references/init-agents.md.

1. Analyze project: language, framework, structure, build/test tools
2. Generate terse, expert-to-expert context sections
3. Write AGENTS.md, create CLAUDE.md symlink

Arguments

All workflows support:

• --dry-run: preview changes without writing
• --preserve: keep existing structure, fix inaccuracies only
• --minimal: quick pass, high-level structure only
• --thorough: deep analysis of all files

Backup Handling

Before overwriting, back up existing files:

cp AGENTS.md AGENTS.md.backup
cp README.md README.md.backup

Never delete backups automatically.

Writing Style

• Terse: omit needless words, lead with the answer
• Imperative: "Build the project" not "The project is built"
• Expert-to-expert: skip basic explanations, assume competence
• Scannable: headings, lists, code blocks
• Accurate: verify every command and path against codebase
• Sentence case headings, no emoji headers

Report Format

After every operation, display a summary:

✓ Updated AGENTS.md
  - Fixed build command
  - Added new directory to structure

✓ Updated README.md
  - Added installation section
  - Updated badges

⊘ CONTRIBUTING.md not found (skipped)

Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

• Author: iliaal
• Source: iliaal/whetstone
• License: MIT

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.