agents: add operational guide for repository contributions

Consolidate agent workflow, routing, validation, and safety rules in one place so AI changes align with repository structure and CI behavior.

Signed-off-by: vadik likholetov <vadikas@gmail.com>

Author: vadika

AGENTS.md

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+<!--
+    SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2022-2026 TII (SSRC) and the Ghaf contributors
+    SPDX-License-Identifier: CC-BY-SA-4.0
+-->
+
+# AGENTS Guide
+
+This file is the operational guide for AI coding agents working in the Ghaf repository.
+
+## Purpose
+
+- Ship correct, minimal, reviewable changes that follow Ghaf architecture and policy
+- Prefer existing patterns over invention, especially in modules, targets, and flake exports
+- Keep security, licensing, and reproducibility constraints intact
+
+## Source Priority
+
+When instructions conflict, follow this priority order:
+
+1. Current task prompt from the user
+2. Repository code and CI workflows (actual behavior)
+3. `CONTRIBUTING.md`, `README.md`, `SECURITY.md`, PR template
+4. Additional guidance docs under `docs/` and `.github/`
+
+If documentation conflicts with code or workflows, follow code and note the mismatch in your response.
+
+## Repository Map
+
+- `flake.nix`: top-level inputs, systems, and imported flake modules
+- `nix/`: devshell, treefmt, pre-commit hook wiring, and shared Nix settings
+- `modules/`: NixOS modules (`common`, `hardware`, `microvm`, `profiles`, `reference`, and others)
+- `targets/`: exported hardware and VM targets, plus cross-build variants
+- `packages/`: custom packages and overlays, mostly under `pkgs-by-name`
+- `lib/`: reusable library code, including global config and builder APIs
+- `tests/`: flake checks and test packages
+- `docs/`: Starlight/Astro documentation source
+- `.github/workflows/`: CI truth source for checks, eval, build, docs deploy
+
+## Standard Agent Workflow
+
+1. Inspect the relevant target/module/package paths before editing
+2. Make the smallest coherent change that matches local patterns
+3. Run the narrowest meaningful validation for the touched area
+4. Report what changed, what was validated, and what was not validated
+
+Do not refactor unrelated areas in the same change unless requested.
+
+## Change Routing
+
+Use these rules to place changes correctly:
+
+- New or changed host or VM behavior: `modules/`
+- Device-specific behavior: `modules/reference/hardware/` and `targets/`
+- New exported build target or variant: `targets/*/flake-module.nix`
+- Ghaf package additions: `packages/pkgs-by-name/*` and package overlay wiring
+- Shared build/config plumbing: `nix/`, `lib/`, `flake.nix`
+- Documentation pages/navigation: `docs/src/content/docs/` and `docs/astro.config.mjs`
+
+## Nix Module Conventions
+
+- Add SPDX headers to new files
+- Keep options under `ghaf.*` namespace unless extending external module options intentionally
+- Use `lib.mkEnableOption` for feature flags
+- Use typed `lib.mkOption` with clear descriptions
+- Use `lib.mkIf` for conditional config
+- Prefer `lib.mkDefault` for overridable defaults; avoid `lib.mkForce` unless required
+- Include `_file = ./<filename>.nix;` in Nix modules for better evaluation traces
+- Reuse `globalConfig` and `hostConfig` patterns already used by VM/base composition
+
+## Build and Validation Matrix
+
+Select checks by scope. Run the smallest set that can catch regressions in your change.
+
+- Docs only:
+  - `nix build .#doc`
+- Nix/module/target/package changes (minimum):
+  - `nix fmt -- --fail-on-change`
+  - `nix develop --command reuse lint`
+- Broader evaluation confidence:
+  - `nix flake show --all-systems --accept-flake-config`
+  - `make-checks` (if available in devshell)
+- CI-parity checks for pre-commit hooks:
+  - `nix build .#checks.x86_64-linux.pre-commit`
+
+For long builds or hardware-dependent paths, state clearly if validation was not run locally.
+
+## Commit and PR Policy
+
+Follow Linux-kernel-style commit message structure (project policy):
+
+- Subject line in imperative mood, concise, no trailing period
+- Optional body explains what and why, wrapped for readability
+- Keep commits logically scoped
+
+PRs should include:
+
+- Clear change description and rationale
+- Explicit verification steps
+- Any skipped checks and why
+
+## Security and Safety Guardrails
+
+- Never commit secrets, credentials, tokens, private keys, or local machine paths
+- Treat flashing operations as destructive
+  - Never guess block devices
+  - Require explicit device path from user context before flash commands
+- Be careful around secure boot key material under `modules/secureboot/keys/`
+- Prefer reversible, auditable edits over broad rewrites
+
+## Documentation and Style Expectations
+
+- Keep docs in plain US English and active voice
+- Use title case for headings
+- Keep instructions explicit and step-based for operational tasks
+- Update docs when behavior changes
+
+## Known Drift to Watch
+
+- Some documentation pages may lag behind current code exports or script paths
+- If you find stale references, align implementation-first and include docs fixes in the same change when practical
+
+## Agent Output Expectations
+
+- Be explicit about files touched and why
+- Distinguish facts from assumptions
+- Call out risk, impact, and validation status
+- Offer next concrete steps only when useful