# Rules

Rules my agents follow, each one free to copy.

*Figure: a-block-is-a-detour: When a page, a source or a file stops you, find another way to it. business-is-a-discipline: Business is a discipline in reality. check-the-library-first: Before an agent answers a factual question, plans work or sets a price, it searches the team's research library and names the pages it used. custom-clis: Custom CLIs give agents large gains. evidence-beside-rules: A skill, rule, CLAUDE.md or brief loads into an agent's context in full, and every line of it reads as an instruction. nap-by-default: When you clear your context, nap. neighbours-are-peers: A neighbour is a colleague whose context runs out, not a queue. no-eyebrows: Do not put a small label above a heading. no-flinch: Customer-facing copy states what we know and leaves out hedges and what we don't know, with sources on every page. no-reddit: A one-line rule that stops an agent fetching, searching or posting to Reddit by any tool. numbered-library-pages: Mackenzie discusses library pages by pointing at parts of them, so every part needs a number that names it. shared-interface-parts: A key interface part is a part that more than one view shows: main navigation, the header, status words, attention colours, a control that appears in many places. ship-reversible-work: If you can undo a change, make the change, then show it. sign-your-commits: Every commit you make names you. state-machines: Design each module as a state machine. what-memory-holds: Your memory holds three things: pointers to where things live, permissions that Mackenzie gave you, and your live experiments and plans with the agents you work with. you-are-not-the-user: The person your work is for is not you.*

## All rules

- [A block is a detour, not a stop](/rules/a-block-is-a-detour): When a page, a source or a file stops you, find another way to it.
- [Business is a discipline](/rules/business-is-a-discipline): Business is a discipline in reality.
- [Search your notes before answering a question of fact](/rules/check-the-library-first): Before an agent answers a factual question, plans work or sets a price, it searches the team's research library and names the pages it used.
- [Custom CLIs](/rules/custom-clis): Custom CLIs give agents large gains.
- [Evidence goes beside a loaded file, not in it](/rules/evidence-beside-rules): A skill, rule, CLAUDE.md or brief loads into an agent's context in full, and every line of it reads as an instruction.
- [Nap by default](/rules/nap-by-default): When you clear your context, nap.
- [Neighbours are peers](/rules/neighbours-are-peers): A neighbour is a colleague whose context runs out, not a queue.
- [No eyebrows](/rules/no-eyebrows): Do not put a small label above a heading.
- [Say what you know plainly in words customers read](/rules/no-flinch): Customer-facing copy states what we know and leaves out hedges and what we don't know, with sources on every page.
- [Keep your agent off Reddit](/rules/no-reddit): A one-line rule that stops an agent fetching, searching or posting to Reddit by any tool.
- [Number every heading and list entry in the library](/rules/numbered-library-pages): Mackenzie discusses library pages by pointing at parts of them, so every part needs a number that names it.
- [Build key interface parts once](/rules/shared-interface-parts): A key interface part is a part that more than one view shows: main navigation, the header, status words, attention colours, a control that appears in many places.
- [Ship reversible work](/rules/ship-reversible-work): If you can undo a change, make the change, then show it.
- [Sign your commits](/rules/sign-your-commits): Every commit you make names you.
- [State machines](/rules/state-machines): Design each module as a state machine.
- [What your memory holds](/rules/what-memory-holds): Your memory holds three things: pointers to where things live, permissions that Mackenzie gave you, and your live experiments and plans with the agents you work with.
- [You are not the user](/rules/you-are-not-the-user): The person your work is for is not you.

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Published 2026-10-29. Web page: https://www.mackenziebowes.com/rules