docs: add AGENTS.md with instructions for AI coding agents (#11200)

* docs: add AGENTS.md with instructions for AI coding agents

provide project context, Go style conventions, build/test commands,
and safety boundaries so AI-assisted contributions produce idiomatic,
well-tested code that follows existing patterns.

* chore: update AGENTS.md

Co-authored-by: Andrew Gillis <11790789+gammazero@users.noreply.github.com>

---------

Co-authored-by: Andrew Gillis <11790789+gammazero@users.noreply.github.com>
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# AI Agent Instructions for Kubo
This file provides instructions for AI coding agents working on the [Kubo](https://github.com/ipfs/kubo) codebase (the Go implementation of IPFS). Follow the [Developer Guide](docs/developer-guide.md) for full details.
## Quick Reference
| Task | Command |
|-------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|
| Tidy deps | `make mod_tidy` (run first if `go.mod` changed) |
| Build | `make build` |
| Unit tests | `go test ./... -run TestName -v` |
| Integration tests | `make build && go test ./test/cli/... -run TestName -v` |
| Lint | `make -O test_go_lint` |
| Format | `go fmt ./...` |
## Project Overview
Kubo is the reference implementation of IPFS in Go. Most IPFS protocol logic lives in [boxo](https://github.com/ipfs/boxo) (the IPFS SDK); kubo wires it together and exposes it via CLI and HTTP RPC API. If a change belongs in the protocol layer, it likely belongs in boxo, not here.
Key directories:
| Directory | Purpose |
|--------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|
| `cmd/ipfs/` | CLI entry point and binary |
| `core/` | core IPFS node implementation |
| `core/commands/` | CLI command definitions |
| `core/coreapi/` | Go API implementation |
| `client/rpc/` | HTTP RPC client |
| `plugin/` | plugin system |
| `repo/` | repository management |
| `test/cli/` | Go-based CLI integration tests (preferred for new tests) |
| `test/sharness/` | legacy shell-based integration tests |
| `docs/` | documentation |
Other key external dependencies: [go-libp2p](https://github.com/libp2p/go-libp2p) (networking), [go-libp2p-kad-dht](https://github.com/libp2p/go-libp2p-kad-dht) (DHT).
## Go Style
Follow these Go style references:
- [Go Code Review Comments](https://go.dev/wiki/CodeReviewComments)
- [Google Go Style Decisions](https://google.github.io/styleguide/go/decisions)
Specific conventions for this project:
- check the Go version in `go.mod` and use idiomatic features available at that version
- readability over micro-optimization: clear code is more important than saving microseconds
- prefer standard library functions and utilities over writing your own
- use early returns and indent the error flow, not the happy path
- use `slices.Contains`, `slices.DeleteFunc`, and the `maps` package instead of manual loops
- preallocate slices and maps when the size is known: `make([]T, 0, n)`
- use `map[K]struct{}` for sets, not `map[K]bool`
- receiver names: single-letter abbreviations matching the type (e.g., `s *Server`, `c *Client`)
- run `go fmt` after modifying Go source files, never indent manually
### Error Handling
- wrap errors with `fmt.Errorf("context: %w", err)`, never discard errors silently
- use `errors.Is` / `errors.As` for error checking, not string comparison
- never use `panic` in library code; only in `main` or test helpers
- return `nil` explicitly for the error value on success paths
### Canonical Examples
When adding or modifying code, follow the patterns established in these files:
- CLI command structure: `core/commands/dag/dag.go`
- CLI integration test: `test/cli/dag_test.go`
- Test harness usage: `test/cli/harness/` package
## Building
Always run commands from the repository root.
```bash
make mod_tidy # update go.mod/go.sum (use this instead of go mod tidy)
make build # build the ipfs binary to cmd/ipfs/ipfs
make install # install to $GOPATH/bin
make -O test_go_lint # run linter (use this instead of golangci-lint directly)
```
If you modify `go.mod` (add/remove/update dependencies), you must run `make mod_tidy` first, before building or testing. Use `make mod_tidy` instead of `go mod tidy` directly, as the project has multiple `go.mod` files.
If you modify any `.go` files outside of `test/`, you must run `make build` before running integration tests.
## Testing
The full test suite is composed of several targets:
| Make target | What it runs |
|----------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| `make test` | all tests (`test_go_fmt` + `test_unit` + `test_cli` + `test_sharness`) |
| `make test_short` | fast subset (`test_go_fmt` + `test_unit`) |
| `make test_unit` | unit tests with coverage (excludes `test/cli`) |
| `make test_cli` | CLI integration tests (requires `make build` first) |
| `make test_sharness` | legacy shell-based integration tests |
| `make test_go_fmt` | checks Go source formatting |
| `make -O test_go_lint` | runs `golangci-lint` |
During development, prefer running a specific test rather than the full suite:
```bash
# run a single unit test
go test ./core/... -run TestSpecificUnit -v
# run a single CLI integration test (requires make build first)
go test ./test/cli/... -run TestSpecificCLI -v
```
### Environment Setup for Integration Tests
Before running `test_cli` or `test_sharness`, set these environment variables from the repo root:
```bash
export PATH="$PWD/cmd/ipfs:$PATH"
export IPFS_PATH="$(mktemp -d)"
```
- `PATH`: integration tests use the `ipfs` binary from `PATH`, not Go source directly
- `IPFS_PATH`: isolates test data from `~/.ipfs` or other running nodes
If you see "version (N) is lower than repos (M)", the `ipfs` binary in `PATH` is outdated. Rebuild with `make build` and verify `PATH`.
### Running Sharness Tests
Sharness tests are legacy shell-based tests. Run individual tests with a timeout:
```bash
cd test/sharness && timeout 60s ./t0080-repo.sh
```
To investigate a failing test, pass `-v` for verbose output. In this mode, daemons spawned by the test are not shut down automatically and must be killed manually afterwards.
### Cleaning Up Stale Daemons
Before running `test/cli` or `test/sharness`, stop any stale `ipfs daemon` processes owned by the current user. Leftover daemons hold locks and bind ports, causing test failures:
```bash
pkill -f "ipfs daemon"
```
### Writing Tests
- all new integration tests go in `test/cli/`, not `test/sharness/`
- if a `test/sharness` test needs significant changes, remove it and add a replacement in `test/cli/`
- use [testify](https://github.com/stretchr/testify) for assertions (already a dependency)
- for Go 1.25+, use `testing/synctest` when testing concurrent code (goroutines, channels, timers)
- reuse existing `.car` fixtures in `test/cli/fixtures/` when possible; only add new fixtures when the test requires data not covered by existing ones
- always re-run modified tests locally before submitting to confirm they pass
- avoid emojis in test names and test log output
## Before Submitting
Run these steps in order before considering work complete:
1. `make mod_tidy` (if `go.mod` changed)
2. `go fmt ./...`
3. `make build` (if non-test `.go` files changed)
4. `make -O test_go_lint`
5. `go test ./...` (or the relevant subset)
## Documentation and Commit Messages
- after editing CLI help text in `core/commands/`, verify width: `go test ./test/cli/... -run TestCommandDocsWidth`
- config options are documented in `docs/config.md`
- changelogs in `docs/changelogs/`: only edit the Table of Contents and the Highlights section; the Changelog and Contributors sections are auto-generated and must not be modified
- follow [Conventional Commits](https://www.conventionalcommits.org/en/v1.0.0/)
- keep commit titles short and messages terse
## Writing Style
When writing docs, comments, and commit messages:
- avoid emojis in code, comments, and log output
- keep an empty line before lists in markdown
- use backticks around CLI commands, paths, environment variables, and config options
## PR Guidelines
- explain what changed and why in the PR description
- include test coverage for new functionality and bug fixes
- run `make -O test_go_lint` and fix any lint issues before submitting
- verify that `go test ./...` passes locally
- when modifying `test/sharness` tests significantly, migrate them to `test/cli` instead
- end the PR description with a `## References` section listing related context, one link per line
- if the PR closes an issue in `ipfs/kubo`, each closing reference should be a bullet starting with `Closes`:
```markdown
## References
- Closes https://github.com/ipfs/kubo/issues/1234
- Closes https://github.com/ipfs/kubo/issues/5678
- https://discuss.ipfs.tech/t/related-topic/999
```
## Scope and Safety
Do not modify or touch:
- files under `test/sharness/lib/` (third-party sharness test framework)
- CI workflows in `.github/` unless explicitly asked
- auto-generated sections in `docs/changelogs/` (Changelog and Contributors are generated; only TOC and Highlights are human-edited)
Do not run without being asked:
- `make test` or `make test_sharness` (full suite is slow; prefer targeted tests)
- `ipfs daemon` without a timeout
## Running the Daemon
Always run the daemon with a timeout or shut it down promptly:
```bash
timeout 60s ipfs daemon # auto-kill after 60s
ipfs shutdown # graceful shutdown via API
```
Kill dangling daemons before re-running tests: `pkill -f "ipfs daemon"`

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## Development
See the [Developer Guide](docs/developer-guide.md) for build instructions, testing, and contribution workflow.
See the [Developer Guide](docs/developer-guide.md) for build instructions, testing, and contribution workflow. AI coding agents should follow [AGENTS.md](AGENTS.md).
## Getting Help

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## Development
- **[Developer Guide](developer-guide.md)** - prerequisites, build, test, and contribute
- **[AGENTS.md](../AGENTS.md)** - instructions for AI coding agents
- Contributing Guidelines [for IPFS projects](https://github.com/ipfs/community/blob/master/CONTRIBUTING.md) and for [Go code specifically](https://github.com/ipfs/community/blob/master/CONTRIBUTING_GO.md)
- [Building on Windows](windows.md)
- [Customizing Kubo](customizing.md)