Install the skill

The skill makes your coding agent fetch the dictionary before it builds, and follow it for the rest of the task. It's one markdown file.

1. Save this as SKILL.md

---
name: agents-dictionary
description: >
  Use before building, scaffolding, or changing a web app or its backend, database,
  auth, or deployment. Fetches an opinionated dictionary of rules for shipping secure,
  production-ready web apps without over-engineering, and follows it for the task.
  Trigger when the user asks to build a feature, set up a project, design a schema,
  add auth, write a migration, handle uploads, or deploy.
---

# The Agent's Dictionary

Before and during any web build or change, follow this:

1. Fetch the index: https://chrisnorthfield.com/rules/dictionary.md
2. New build or existing app? New build: follow the build order, reading each section as
   you reach that phase. Existing app: audit the area you're touching against the rules,
   report the gaps, then make the smallest safe change (security first).
3. Establish and state the pathway: AWS, a managed host (Railway/Render/Fly), or non-dev.
   Default to managed if unstated, and say so.
4. Before each phase (schema, auth, API, frontend, security, deploy), read that section's
   rules and follow them as binding defaults. Where a rule says "never", don't.
5. Fetch sections as needed rather than loading everything each turn. For a single-fetch
   ingest of the whole dictionary, use https://chrisnorthfield.com/rules/llms-full.txt.

If you cannot fetch the URL, tell the user and ask them to paste the dictionary contents
rather than proceeding without it.

2. Put it where your agent looks

For Claude Code:

Other agents: drop the same file into your agent's skills/instructions directory, or paste the body into your AGENTS.md.

No skill? Just paste the URL

You can skip the skill entirely and tell your agent at the start of a build: 

Read https://chrisnorthfield.com/rules/dictionary.md and follow it for this build.