Phoronix reports that longtime kernel developer Sasha Levin proposed adding an AGENTS.md file to the Linux kernel source tree that points AI/LLM coding agents at the README and the kernel’s documentation for coding assistants. Testing found that without the file one agent wrongly added a Signed-off-by tag and invented its own attribution instead of using the kernel’s Assisted-by tag, while a second agent left out attributions entirely; with AGENTS.md both conformed to kernel standards. The patch drew objections on the Linux kernel mailing list from developers who warn that making agents consume the entire README and its linked documentation would increase token consumption, with more targeted agent documentation floated as a way to cut that cost.
Linux Kernel Developers Consider Adding AGENTS.md To Help Guide AI/LLM Agents
Phoronix reports that longtime kernel developer Sasha Levin proposed adding an AGENTS.md file to the Linux kernel source tree that points AI/LLM coding agents at the README and the kernel's documentation for coding assistants. Testing found that without the file one agent wrongly added a Signed-off-by tag and invented its own attribution instead of using the kernel's Assisted-by tag, while a second agent left out attributions entirely; with AGENTS.md both conformed to kernel standards. The patch drew objections on the Linux kernel mailing list from developers who warn that making agents consume the entire README and its linked documentation would increase token consumption, with more targeted agent documentation floated as a way to cut that cost.
Source: Phoronix