Agent Guardrails

Mechanical enforcement for AI agent project standards. Rules in markdown are suggestions. Code hooks are laws.

Quick Start

cd your-project/
bash /path/to/agent-guardrails/scripts/install.sh

This installs the git pre-commit hook, creates a registry template, and copies check scripts into your project.

Enforcement Hierarchy

1. Code hooks (git pre-commit, pre/post-creation checks) — 100% reliable
2. Architectural constraints (registries, import enforcement) — 95% reliable
3. Self-verification loops (agent checks own work) — 80% reliable
4. Prompt rules (AGENTS.md, system prompts) — 60-70% reliable
5. Markdown rules — 40-50% reliable, degrades with context length

Tools Provided

Scripts

Script	When to Run	What It Does
install.sh	Once per project	Installs hooks and scaffolding
pre-create-check.sh	Before creating new .py files	Lists existing modules/functions to prevent reimplementation
post-create-validate.sh	After creating/editing .py files	Detects duplicates, missing imports, bypass patterns
check-secrets.sh	Before commits / on demand	Scans for hardcoded tokens, keys, passwords
create-deployment-check.sh	When setting up deployment verification	Creates .deployment-check.sh, checklist, and git hook template
install-skill-feedback-loop.sh	When setting up skill update automation	Creates detection, auto-commit, and git hook for skill updates

Assets

Asset	Purpose
pre-commit-hook	Ready-to-install git hook blocking bypass patterns and secrets
registry-template.py	Template __init__.py for project module registries

References

File	Contents
enforcement-research.md	Research on why code > prompts for enforcement
agents-md-template.md	Template AGENTS.md with mechanical enforcement rules
deployment-verification-guide.md	Full guide on preventing deployment gaps
skill-update-feedback.md	Meta-enforcement: automatic skill update feedback loop
SKILL_CN.md	Chinese translation of this document

Usage Workflow

Setting up a new project

bash scripts/install.sh /path/to/project

Before creating any new .py file

bash scripts/pre-create-check.sh /path/to/project

Review the output. If existing functions cover your needs, import them.

After creating/editing a .py file

bash scripts/post-create-validate.sh /path/to/new_file.py

Fix any warnings before proceeding.

Setting up deployment verification

bash scripts/create-deployment-check.sh /path/to/project

This creates:

• .deployment-check.sh - Automated verification script
• DEPLOYMENT-CHECKLIST.md - Full deployment workflow
• .git-hooks/pre-commit-deployment - Git hook template

Then customize:

1. Add tests to .deployment-check.sh for your integration points
2. Document your flow in DEPLOYMENT-CHECKLIST.md
3. Install the git hook

See references/deployment-verification-guide.md for full guide.

Adding to AGENTS.md

Copy the template from references/agents-md-template.md and adapt to your project.

中文文档 / Chinese Documentation

See references/SKILL_CN.md for the full Chinese translation of this skill.

Common Agent Failure Modes

1. Reimplementation (Bypass Pattern)

Symptom: Agent creates "quick version" instead of importing validated code. Enforcement: pre-create-check.sh + post-create-validate.sh + git hook

2. Hardcoded Secrets

Symptom: Tokens/keys in code instead of env vars. Enforcement: check-secrets.sh + git hook

3. Deployment Gap

Symptom: Built feature but forgot to wire it into production. Users don't receive benefit. Example: Updated notify.py but cron still calls old version. Enforcement: .deployment-check.sh + git hook

This is the hardest to catch because:

• Code runs fine when tested manually
• Agent marks task "done" after writing code
• Problem only surfaces when user complains

Solution: Mechanical end-to-end verification before allowing "done."

4. Skill Update Gap (META - NEW)

Symptom: Built enforcement improvement in project but forgot to update the skill itself. Example: Created deployment verification for Project A, but other projects don't benefit because skill wasn't updated. Enforcement: install-skill-feedback-loop.sh → automatic detection + semi-automatic commit

This is a meta-failure mode because:

• It's about enforcement improvements themselves
• Without fix: improvements stay siloed
• With fix: knowledge compounds automatically

Solution: Automatic detection of enforcement improvements with task creation and semi-automatic commits.

Key Principle

Don't add more markdown rules. Add mechanical enforcement. If an agent keeps bypassing a standard, don't write a stronger rule — write a hook that blocks it.

Corollary: If an agent keeps forgetting integration, don't remind it — make it mechanically verify before commit.