chore: bump version to 0.12.1

* chore: align CI Python matrix with devguide release lifecycle

Run the pytest matrix only on the bugfix (maintenance) releases — 3.13
and 3.14 — instead of 3.11/3.12/3.13, and point the ruff lint job at the
latest interpreter (3.14). The supported floor stays at requires-python
>= 3.11 (oldest non-EOL security release): older security versions are
supported by claim and fixed reactively rather than gated on a wide
per-commit matrix. Also add macos-latest to the OS matrix so macOS
regressions are caught.

Assisted-by: GitHub Copilot (model: Claude Opus 4.8, autonomous)
Co-authored-by: Copilot <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>

* fix: make bash scripts portable to bash 3.2 (macOS system /bin/bash)

Adding macos-latest to the CI matrix surfaced two pre-existing bash 3.2
incompatibilities (macOS ships bash 3.2 as /bin/bash):

1. update-agent-context.sh embedded Python heredocs inside $(...) command
   substitution. bash 3.2 mis-parses an apostrophe in a heredoc body
   nested in $(...), failing with "unexpected EOF while looking for
   matching `''". Removed the apostrophes from the affected $()-nested
   heredoc body and documented the constraint to prevent regressions.

2. create-new-feature-branch.sh and create-new-feature.sh used the
   bash 4+ ${word^^} uppercase parameter expansion, which errors as a
   "bad substitution" on bash 3.2 and caused short uppercase acronyms
   (e.g. "GO") to be dropped from derived branch names. Replaced with a
   portable `tr '[:lower:]' '[:upper:]'` pipeline.

Verified the full test suite passes under bash 3.2.57 and shellcheck
(--severity=error) is clean.

Assisted-by: GitHub Copilot (model: Claude Opus 4.8, autonomous)
Co-authored-by: Copilot <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>

* fix: address review feedback on bash 3.2 portability changes

- create-new-feature.sh: replace the non-portable `\b...\b` grep
  word-boundary (BSD grep treats `\b` as a backspace, so the acronym
  branch could silently fail) with `grep -qw`, matching its twin
  create-new-feature-branch.sh, and pipe the description via
  `printf '%s'` instead of `echo`.
- create-new-feature-branch.sh: switch the acronym check to
  `printf '%s'` as well so both twins are identical and avoid `echo`
  on user-provided text.
- update-agent-context.sh: reword the apostrophe-free self-seeding
  comment to be clearer and less easy to misread.

Verified under bash 3.2.57 (full bash-script suite green) and
shellcheck --severity=error.

Assisted-by: GitHub Copilot (model: Claude Opus 4.8, autonomous)
Co-authored-by: Copilot <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>

---------

Co-authored-by: Copilot <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>

.github/workflows/test.yml

@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Set up Python
         uses: actions/setup-python@ece7cb06caefa5fff74198d8649806c4678c61a1 # v6
         with:
-          python-version: "3.13"
+          python-version: "3.14"
 
       - name: Run ruff check
         run: uvx ruff check src/
@@ -30,8 +30,8 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
     strategy:
       matrix:
-        os: [ubuntu-latest, windows-latest]
-        python-version: ["3.11", "3.12", "3.13"]
+        os: [ubuntu-latest, windows-latest, macos-latest]
+        python-version: ["3.13", "3.14"]
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0

AGENTS.md

@@ -75,7 +75,6 @@ class WindsurfIntegration(MarkdownIntegration):
         "args": "$ARGUMENTS",
         "extension": ".md",
     }
-    context_file = ".windsurf/rules/specify-rules.md"
 ```
 
 **TOML agent (Gemini):**
@@ -101,7 +100,6 @@ class GeminiIntegration(TomlIntegration):
         "args": "{{args}}",
         "extension": ".toml",
     }
-    context_file = "GEMINI.md"
 ```
 
 **Skills agent (Codex):**
@@ -129,7 +127,6 @@ class CodexIntegration(SkillsIntegration):
         "args": "$ARGUMENTS",
         "extension": "/SKILL.md",
     }
-    context_file = "AGENTS.md"
 
     @classmethod
     def options(cls) -> list[IntegrationOption]:
@@ -150,7 +147,6 @@ class CodexIntegration(SkillsIntegration):
 | `key` | Class attribute | Unique identifier; for CLI-based integrations (`requires_cli: True`), must match the CLI executable name |
 | `config` | Class attribute (dict) | Agent metadata: `name`, `folder`, `commands_subdir`, `install_url`, `requires_cli` |
 | `registrar_config` | Class attribute (dict) | Command output config: `dir`, `format`, `args` placeholder, file `extension` |
-| `context_file` | Class attribute (str or None) | Path to agent context/instructions file (e.g., `"CLAUDE.md"`, `".github/copilot-instructions.md"`) |
 
 **Key design rule:** For CLI-based integrations (`requires_cli: True`), `key` must be the actual executable name (e.g., `"cursor-agent"` not `"cursor"`). This ensures `shutil.which(key)` works for CLI-tool checks without special-case mappings. IDE-based integrations (`requires_cli: False`) should use their canonical identifier (e.g., `"windsurf"`, `"copilot"`).
 
@@ -175,9 +171,11 @@ def _register_builtins() -> None:
 
 ### 4. Context file behavior
 
-Set `context_file` on the integration class. The base integration setup creates or updates the managed Spec Kit section in that file, and uninstall removes the managed section when appropriate.
+The Specify CLI carries **no agent-context state whatsoever**. Integration classes do **not** declare a `context_file`, and the CLI never creates, updates, removes, resolves, or migrates a context/instruction file (`CLAUDE.md`, `AGENTS.md`, `.github/copilot-instructions.md`, …). New integrations add nothing for context handling.
 
-The managed section is owned by the bundled `agent-context` extension (`extensions/agent-context/`). All configuration flows through the extension's own config file at `.specify/extensions/agent-context/agent-context-config.yml`:
+Managing the "Spec Kit" section in the context file is fully owned by the bundled `agent-context` extension (`extensions/agent-context/`), which is a **full opt-in**: `specify init` does not install it. A user adds/enables it through the standard extension verbs, after which the extension's own bundled scripts maintain the context section. When the extension is absent or disabled, nothing in Spec Kit touches the context file.
+
+The extension reads its own config file at `.specify/extensions/agent-context/agent-context-config.yml`:
 
 ```yaml
 # Path to the coding agent context file managed by this extension
@@ -189,10 +187,10 @@ context_markers:
   end: "<!-- SPECKIT END -->"
 ```
 
-- `context_file` is written automatically from the integration's class attribute when `specify init` or `specify integration use` is run.
-- `context_markers.{start,end}` defaults to `IntegrationBase.CONTEXT_MARKER_START` / `CONTEXT_MARKER_END`. Users who want custom markers edit `agent-context-config.yml` directly — both the Python layer (`upsert_context_section()` / `remove_context_section()`) and the bundled scripts (`extensions/agent-context/scripts/bash/update-agent-context.sh` and `.ps1`) read from this single source of truth.
+- The Specify CLI does **not** write this config. When `context_file` is empty, the extension's bundled scripts self-seed it by looking up the active integration's key in the extension's own `agent-context-defaults.json` map (`extensions/agent-context/scripts/bash/update-agent-context.sh` and `.ps1`). The CLI registry is never consulted — all agent→context-file knowledge lives inside the extension.
+- `context_markers.{start,end}` are read solely by the extension's scripts; they default to the Spec Kit markers shown above and can be customized by editing `agent-context-config.yml` directly.
 
-Users can opt out entirely with `specify extension disable agent-context`; while disabled, Spec Kit skips context-file creation, updates, and removal (the gates are inside `upsert_context_section()` and `remove_context_section()`).
+Existing projects created by older Spec Kit versions keep working: any previously written managed section or extension config is left intact and is only ever updated by the extension when run.
 
 Only add custom setup logic when the agent needs non-standard behavior. Integrations no longer require per-agent thin wrapper scripts or shared context-update dispatcher scripts — the `agent-context` extension is fully generic.
 
@@ -401,7 +399,6 @@ Implementation: Extends `YamlIntegration` (parallel to `TomlIntegration`):
 2. Extracts title and description from frontmatter
 3. Renders output as Goose recipe YAML (version, title, description, author, extensions, activities, prompt)
 4. Uses `yaml.safe_dump()` for header fields to ensure proper escaping
-5. Sets `context_file = "AGENTS.md"` so the base setup manages the Spec Kit context section there
 
 ## Branch Naming Convention
 
@@ -466,7 +463,7 @@ Disclosure is **continuous**, not a one-time event. A single AI-disclosure parag
 ## Common Pitfalls
 
 1. **Using shorthand keys for CLI-based integrations**: For CLI-based integrations (`requires_cli: True`), the `key` must match the executable name (e.g., `"cursor-agent"` not `"cursor"`). `shutil.which(key)` is used for CLI tool checks — mismatches require special-case mappings. IDE-based integrations (`requires_cli: False`) are not subject to this constraint.
-2. **Forgetting context configuration**: The bundled `agent-context` extension reads from `.specify/extensions/agent-context/agent-context-config.yml`. New integrations only need to set `context_file` on the class — markers and dispatcher scripts are managed centrally.
+2. **Reintroducing context handling into the CLI**: The opt-in `agent-context` extension owns everything about context files — including the per-agent default mapping in `agent-context-defaults.json`. Integration classes must **not** declare a `context_file`, and no CLI code should read, write, resolve, or migrate context files. All context-file logic lives in `.specify/extensions/agent-context/` and its bundled scripts.
 3. **Incorrect `requires_cli` value**: Set to `True` only for agents that have a CLI tool; set to `False` for IDE-based agents.
 4. **Wrong argument format**: Use `$ARGUMENTS` for Markdown agents, `{{args}}` for TOML agents.
 5. **Skipping registration**: The import and `_register()` call in `_register_builtins()` must both be added.

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -2,6 +2,52 @@
 
 <!-- insert new changelog below this comment -->
 
+## [0.12.1] - 2026-06-30
+
+### Changed
+
+- chore: align CI Python matrix with devguide lifecycle + fix bash 3.2 portability (#3244)
+- fix: stop check-prerequisites --paths-only from writing feature.json (#3025) (#3190)
+- docs: document integration catalog subcommands (#3206)
+- fix(scripts): use ASCII [OK] marker in initialize-repo.sh (parity with PowerShell twin) (#3231)
+- docs: document integration `search`/`info`/`scaffold` subcommands (#3174) (#3194)
+- docs: remove Cursor from `specify check` agent list (#3178) (#3193)
+- fix(goose): repoint install_url and docs to goose-docs.ai (#3171) (#3215)
+- fix(scripts): route 'Plan template not found' per --json in setup-plan.ps1 (parity with bash) (#3241)
+- fix(bundle): send command errors to stderr so --json stdout stays parseable (#3235)
+- chore: release 0.12.0, begin 0.12.1.dev0 development (#3243)
+
+## [0.12.0] - 2026-06-29
+
+### Changed
+
+- feat: make agent-context extension a full opt-in (#3097)
+- docs(workflows): add the built-in 'init' step type to the Step Types table (#3234)
+- fix(workflows): gate validate() must not crash on non-string options (#3233)
+- fix(workflows): make pipe-filter detection quote-aware in expressions (#3232)
+- fix(workflows): reject a fan-in wait_for that names an unknown step at validation (#3225)
+- fix(scripts): warn when spec template is missing in create-new-feature.ps1 (parity with bash) (#3230)
+- fix(scripts): count subdirectory-only dirs as non-empty in PowerShell (parity with bash) (#3137)
+- fix(scripts): drop HAS_GIT from PowerShell git-extension output (parity with bash) (#3195)
+- Update Product Spec Extension to v1.0.1 (#3226)
+- chore: release 0.11.10, begin 0.11.11.dev0 development (#3240)
+
+## [0.11.10] - 2026-06-29
+
+### Changed
+
+- fix(extensions): apply GHES auth and resolve release assets for `extension add --from` (#3217)
+- fix(pi): repoint install_url to @earendil-works/pi-coding-agent (#3169) (#3214)
+- fix(catalogs): reject host-less catalog URLs in base and preset validators (#3210)
+- fix: update CodeBuddy install docs URL (#3187)
+- fix(workflows): reject infinite number-input default instead of raising OverflowError (#3199)
+- fix(scripts): emit 'Copied plan template' status in setup-plan.ps1 (parity with bash) (#3198)
+- fix(workflows): make expression operator/literal parsing quote-aware (#3197)
+- fix(scripts): honor explicit -Number 0 in PowerShell create-new-feature (parity with bash) (#3196)
+- Add community bundle submission path (#3162)
+- Docs: Document /speckit.converge command (#3181)
+- chore: release 0.11.9, begin 0.11.10.dev0 development (#3189)
+
 ## [0.11.9] - 2026-06-26
 
 ### Changed

README.md

@@ -406,7 +406,7 @@ specify init . --force --integration copilot
 specify init --here --force --integration copilot
 ```
 
-The CLI will check if you have Claude Code, Gemini CLI, Cursor CLI, Qwen CLI, opencode, Codex CLI, Qoder CLI, Tabnine CLI, Kiro CLI, Pi, Oh My Pi, Forge, Goose, Mistral Vibe, or ZCode installed. If you do not, or you prefer to get the templates without checking for the right tools, use `--ignore-agent-tools` with your command:
+The CLI will check that your selected agent's CLI tool is installed (for integrations that require a CLI), such as Claude Code, Gemini CLI, Qwen Code, opencode, Codex CLI, Qoder CLI, Tabnine CLI, Kiro CLI, Pi Coding Agent, Oh My Pi, Forge, Goose, Mistral Vibe, or ZCode. If you don't have the required tool installed, or you prefer to get the templates without checking for the right tools, use `--ignore-agent-tools` with your command:
 
 ```bash
 specify init <project_name> --integration copilot --ignore-agent-tools

docs/reference/integrations.md

@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ The Specify CLI supports a wide range of AI coding agents. When you run `specify
 | [Forge](https://forgecode.dev/)                                                      | `forge`          |                                                                                                                                           |
 | [Gemini CLI](https://github.com/google-gemini/gemini-cli)                            | `gemini`         |                                                                                                                                           |
 | [GitHub Copilot](https://code.visualstudio.com/)                                     | `copilot`        |                                                                                                                                           |
-| [Goose](https://block.github.io/goose/)                                              | `goose`          | Uses YAML recipe format in `.goose/recipes/`                                                                                              |
+| [Goose](https://goose-docs.ai/)                                                      | `goose`          | Uses YAML recipe format in `.goose/recipes/`                                                                                              |
 | [Hermes](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent)                               | `hermes`         | Skills-based integration; installs skills globally into `~/.hermes/skills/`                                                                |
 | [IBM Bob](https://www.ibm.com/products/bob)                                          | `bob`            | IDE-based agent                                                                                                                           |
 | [iFlow CLI](https://docs.iflow.cn/en/cli/quickstart)                                 | `iflow`          |                                                                                                                                           |
@@ -54,6 +54,27 @@ Shows all available integrations, which one is currently installed, and whether
 When multiple integrations are installed, the list marks the default integration separately from the other installed integrations.
 The list also shows whether each built-in integration is declared multi-install safe.
 
+## Search Available Integrations
+
+```bash
+specify integration search [query]
+```
+
+| Option     | Description        |
+| ---------- | ------------------ |
+| `--tag`    | Filter by tag      |
+| `--author` | Filter by author   |
+
+Searches the active catalog stack for integrations matching the query. Without a query, lists all available integrations. Must be run inside a Spec Kit project.
+
+## Integration Info
+
+```bash
+specify integration info <integration_id>
+```
+
+Shows catalog details for a single integration, including its description, author, license, tags, source catalog, repository (when available), and whether it is currently active. Must be run inside a Spec Kit project.
+
 ## Install an Integration
 
 ```bash
@@ -152,6 +173,47 @@ is `null` when no installed integration set can be evaluated, such as when the
 integration state is missing, unreadable, lacks a valid recorded integration
 list, or records no installed integrations.
 
+## Catalog Management
+
+Integration catalogs control where the discovery commands (`search` and `info`) look for integrations. Catalogs are checked in priority order.
+
+### List Catalogs
+
+```bash
+specify integration catalog list
+```
+
+Shows the active catalog sources. Project-level sources (when configured) are removable by index; otherwise the active sources are shown as non-removable.
+
+### Add a Catalog
+
+```bash
+specify integration catalog add <url>
+```
+
+| Option          | Description                   |
+| --------------- | ----------------------------- |
+| `--name <name>` | Optional name for the catalog |
+
+Adds a custom catalog URL to the project's `.specify/integration-catalogs.yml`. The URL must use HTTPS (except `http://localhost`, `http://127.0.0.1`, or `http://[::1]` for local testing).
+
+### Remove a Catalog
+
+```bash
+specify integration catalog remove <index>
+```
+
+Removes a project catalog source by its 0-based index in `catalog list`.
+
+### Catalog Resolution Order
+
+Catalogs are resolved in this order (first match wins):
+
+1. **Environment variable** — `SPECKIT_INTEGRATION_CATALOG_URL` overrides all catalogs
+2. **Project config** — `.specify/integration-catalogs.yml`
+3. **User config** — `~/.specify/integration-catalogs.yml`
+4. **Built-in defaults** — official catalog + community catalog
+
 ## Integration-Specific Options
 
 Some integrations accept additional options via `--integration-options`:
@@ -167,6 +229,18 @@ Example:
 specify integration install generic --integration-options="--commands-dir .myagent/cmds"
 ```
 
+## Scaffold a New Integration
+
+```bash
+specify integration scaffold <key>
+```
+
+Creates a minimal built-in integration package and a matching test skeleton in the Spec Kit repository, then prints the next steps for wiring it up. Run this command from the Spec Kit repository root. The `<key>` must be lowercase kebab-case (for example, `my-agent`).
+
+| Option   | Description                                                       |
+| -------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------- |
+| `--type` | Scaffold template to use: `markdown` (default), `skills`, `toml`, or `yaml` |
+
 ## FAQ
 
 ### Can I install multiple integrations in the same project?

docs/reference/workflows.md

@@ -262,6 +262,7 @@ specify workflow run speckit -i spec="Build a kanban board with drag-and-drop ta
 | `command`    | Invoke a Spec Kit command (e.g., `speckit.plan`) |
 | `prompt`     | Send an arbitrary prompt to the AI coding agent  |
 | `shell`      | Execute a shell command and capture output       |
+| `init`       | Bootstrap a project (like `specify init`)        |
 | `gate`       | Pause for human approval before continuing       |
 | `if`         | Conditional branching (then/else)                |
 | `switch`     | Multi-branch dispatch on an expression           |

extensions/agent-context/README.md

@@ -6,15 +6,17 @@ It owns the lifecycle of the managed section delimited by the configurable start
 
 ## Why an extension?
 
-Not every Spec Kit user wants Spec Kit to write into the coding agent's context file. Extracting this behavior into a dedicated extension lets users:
+Not every Spec Kit user wants Spec Kit to write into the coding agent's context file. Keeping this behavior in a dedicated, **opt-in** extension lets users:
 
-- **Opt out** entirely with `specify extension disable agent-context` — Spec Kit will then never create or modify the agent context file.
-- **Customize the markers** by editing `.specify/extensions/agent-context/agent-context-config.yml` — both the Python layer and the bundled scripts honor the same `context_markers` value.
+- **Choose whether to install it at all** — `specify init` does not install it. Add it explicitly when you want Spec Kit to manage the agent context file; if it is absent or disabled, Spec Kit never creates or modifies that file.
+- **Customize the markers** by editing `.specify/extensions/agent-context/agent-context-config.yml` — the bundled scripts honor the `context_markers` value.
 - **Synchronize multiple agent anchors** by setting `context_files` when a project intentionally uses more than one coding agent context file, such as `AGENTS.md` and `CLAUDE.md`.
-- **Refresh on demand** with `/speckit.agent-context.update`, or automatically through the hooks declared in `extension.yml` (`after_specify`, `after_plan`).
+- **Refresh on demand** by running the `speckit.agent-context.update` command in your agent, or automatically through the hooks declared in `extension.yml` (`after_specify`, `after_plan`). Invoke it using your agent's slash-command separator — `/speckit.agent-context.update` for dot-separator agents or `/speckit-agent-context-update` for hyphen-separator agents (e.g. Forge, Cline).
 
 ## Commands
 
+The command ID below is canonical. When invoking it as a slash command, use your agent's separator: `/speckit.agent-context.update` for dot-separator agents or `/speckit-agent-context-update` for hyphen-separator agents (e.g. Forge, Cline).
+
 | Command | Description |
 |---------|-------------|
 | `speckit.agent-context.update` | Refresh the managed section in the agent context file with the current plan path. |
@@ -40,7 +42,7 @@ context_markers:
   end: "<!-- SPECKIT END -->"
 ```
 
-- `context_file` — the project-relative path to the coding agent context file, written by `specify init` and `specify integration install`.
+- `context_file` — the project-relative path to the coding agent context file. When empty, the bundled update scripts self-seed it by looking up the active integration's key in this extension's own `agent-context-defaults.json` map. The Specify CLI is never consulted.
 - `context_files` — optional project-relative paths to multiple coding agent context files. When non-empty, the list takes precedence over `context_file`. Absolute paths, backslash separators, and `..` path segments are rejected.
 - `context_markers.start` / `.end` — the delimiters around the managed section. Edit these to use custom markers.
 
@@ -62,5 +64,4 @@ pip install pyyaml
 specify extension disable agent-context
 ```
 
-When disabled, Spec Kit skips context file creation, updates, and removal (the gates are inside `upsert_context_section()` and `remove_context_section()`).
-Disabled projects also ignore stale `context_files` values during command rendering so disabling the extension remains a complete opt-out.
+When disabled (or never installed), Spec Kit performs no agent context file creation, updates, or removal — the extension's bundled scripts are the only code that ever touches the managed section. The Specify CLI carries no agent-context state at all: it never reads this config, never resolves a context file, and the `__CONTEXT_FILE__` placeholder (if present in any template) is left untouched. All context-file knowledge — including the per-agent default mapping in `agent-context-defaults.json` — lives entirely within this extension, so disabling it is a complete opt-out.

extensions/agent-context/agent-context-defaults.json

@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+{
+  "_comment": "Default coding agent context file per integration, owned by the agent-context extension. Used to self-seed agent-context-config.yml when it declares no context_file/context_files. Keyed by the Spec Kit integration key recorded in .specify/init-options.json. This mapping is independent of the Specify CLI by design.",
+  "agents": {
+    "agy": "AGENTS.md",
+    "amp": "AGENTS.md",
+    "auggie": ".augment/rules/specify-rules.md",
+    "bob": "AGENTS.md",
+    "claude": "CLAUDE.md",
+    "cline": ".clinerules/specify-rules.md",
+    "codebuddy": "CODEBUDDY.md",
+    "codex": "AGENTS.md",
+    "copilot": ".github/copilot-instructions.md",
+    "cursor-agent": ".cursor/rules/specify-rules.mdc",
+    "devin": "AGENTS.md",
+    "firebender": ".firebender/rules/specify-rules.mdc",
+    "forge": "AGENTS.md",
+    "gemini": "GEMINI.md",
+    "generic": "AGENTS.md",
+    "goose": "AGENTS.md",
+    "hermes": "AGENTS.md",
+    "iflow": "IFLOW.md",
+    "junie": ".junie/AGENTS.md",
+    "kilocode": ".kilocode/rules/specify-rules.md",
+    "kimi": "AGENTS.md",
+    "kiro-cli": "AGENTS.md",
+    "lingma": ".lingma/rules/specify-rules.md",
+    "omp": "AGENTS.md",
+    "opencode": "AGENTS.md",
+    "pi": "AGENTS.md",
+    "qodercli": "QODER.md",
+    "qwen": "QWEN.md",
+    "roo": ".roo/rules/specify-rules.md",
+    "rovodev": "AGENTS.md",
+    "shai": "SHAI.md",
+    "tabnine": "TABNINE.md",
+    "trae": ".trae/rules/project_rules.md",
+    "vibe": "AGENTS.md",
+    "windsurf": ".windsurf/rules/specify-rules.md",
+    "zcode": "ZCODE.md",
+    "zed": "AGENTS.md"
+  }
+}

extensions/agent-context/scripts/bash/update-agent-context.sh

@@ -59,7 +59,14 @@ case "$(uname -s 2>/dev/null || true)" in
 esac
 
 # Parse extension config once; emit context files as JSON, followed by marker strings.
-if ! _raw_opts="$("$_python" - "$EXT_CONFIG" "$_case_insensitive_context_files" <<'PY'
+#
+# NOTE (bash 3.2 / macOS portability): the embedded Python heredocs below run
+# inside $(...) command substitution. bash 3.2 (the system /bin/bash on macOS)
+# mis-parses a single-quote/apostrophe in a heredoc body nested in $(...),
+# failing with "unexpected EOF while looking for matching `''". Keep these
+# $(...)-nested heredoc bodies free of apostrophes (use double quotes in Python
+# string literals and avoid contractions in comments).
+if ! _raw_opts="$("$_python" - "$EXT_CONFIG" "$_case_insensitive_context_files" "$PROJECT_ROOT" <<'PY'
 import json
 import sys
 try:
@@ -95,24 +102,67 @@ def get_str(obj, *keys):
 context_files = []
 seen_context_files = set()
 case_insensitive = sys.argv[2] == "1" or sys.platform.startswith(("win32", "cygwin"))
+def add_context_file(value):
+    if not isinstance(value, str):
+        return
+    candidate = value.strip()
+    if not candidate:
+        return
+    key = candidate.casefold() if case_insensitive else candidate
+    if key in seen_context_files:
+        return
+    context_files.append(candidate)
+    seen_context_files.add(key)
 raw_files = data.get("context_files")
 if isinstance(raw_files, list):
     for value in raw_files:
-        if not isinstance(value, str):
-            continue
-        candidate = value.strip()
-        if not candidate:
-            continue
-        key = candidate.casefold() if case_insensitive else candidate
-        if key in seen_context_files:
-            continue
-        context_files.append(candidate)
-        seen_context_files.add(key)
+        add_context_file(value)
 if not context_files:
-    raw_file = get_str(data, "context_file")
-    candidate = raw_file.strip()
-    if candidate:
-        context_files.append(candidate)
+    add_context_file(get_str(data, "context_file"))
+if not context_files:
+    # Self-seed: the agent-context extension manages its own lifecycle, so when
+    # its config declares no target, it derives one from the active integration
+    # recorded in init-options.json, mapped through the bundled
+    # agent-context-defaults.json file. This is independent of the Specify CLI
+    # by design; nothing here imports specify_cli.
+    project_root = sys.argv[3] if len(sys.argv) > 3 else "."
+    integration_key = ""
+    try:
+        with open(
+            f"{project_root}/.specify/init-options.json", "r", encoding="utf-8"
+        ) as fh:
+            opts = json.load(fh)
+        if isinstance(opts, dict):
+            value = opts.get("integration") or opts.get("ai") or ""
+            integration_key = value if isinstance(value, str) else ""
+    except Exception:
+        integration_key = ""
+    if integration_key:
+        defaults_path = (
+            f"{project_root}/.specify/extensions/agent-context/"
+            "agent-context-defaults.json"
+        )
+        mapping = {}
+        try:
+            with open(defaults_path, "r", encoding="utf-8") as fh:
+                loaded = json.load(fh)
+            agents = loaded.get("agents", {}) if isinstance(loaded, dict) else {}
+            mapping = agents if isinstance(agents, dict) else {}
+        except Exception:
+            print(
+                "agent-context: unable to read %s; cannot self-seed the context "
+                "file. Set context_file in the extension config." % defaults_path,
+                file=sys.stderr,
+            )
+            mapping = {}
+        add_context_file(mapping.get(integration_key, "") or "")
+        if not context_files:
+            print(
+                "agent-context: no default context file is known for integration "
+                "%s. Set context_file in the extension config to choose one."
+                % integration_key,
+                file=sys.stderr,
+            )
 print(json.dumps(context_files))
 print(get_str(data, "context_markers", "start"))
 print(get_str(data, "context_markers", "end"))
@@ -295,11 +345,58 @@ for CONTEXT_FILE in "${CONTEXT_FILES[@]}"; do
   mkdir -p "$(dirname "$CTX_PATH")"
 
   "$_python" - "$CTX_PATH" "$MARKER_START" "$MARKER_END" "$TMP_SECTION" <<'PY'
-import sys, os
+import os
+import re
+import sys
+
 ctx_path, start, end, section_path = sys.argv[1:5]
 with open(section_path, "r", encoding="utf-8") as fh:
     section = fh.read().rstrip("\n") + "\n"
 
+
+def ensure_mdc_frontmatter(content):
+    """Ensure ``.mdc`` content has YAML frontmatter with ``alwaysApply: true``.
+
+    Cursor only auto-loads ``.mdc`` rule files that carry frontmatter with
+    ``alwaysApply: true``. Prepend it when missing, or repair the value while
+    preserving any existing frontmatter comments/formatting.
+    """
+    leading_ws = len(content) - len(content.lstrip())
+    leading = content[:leading_ws]
+    stripped = content[leading_ws:]
+
+    if not stripped.startswith("---"):
+        return "---\nalwaysApply: true\n---\n\n" + content
+
+    match = re.match(
+        r"^(---[ \t]*\r?\n)(.*?)(\r?\n---[ \t]*)(\r?\n|$)(.*)",
+        stripped,
+        re.DOTALL,
+    )
+    if not match:
+        return "---\nalwaysApply: true\n---\n\n" + content
+
+    opening, fm_text, closing, sep, rest = match.groups()
+    newline = "\r\n" if "\r\n" in opening else "\n"
+
+    if re.search(r"(?m)^[ \t]*alwaysApply[ \t]*:[ \t]*true[ \t]*(?:#.*)?$", fm_text):
+        return content
+
+    if re.search(r"(?m)^[ \t]*alwaysApply[ \t]*:", fm_text):
+        fm_text = re.sub(
+            r"(?m)^([ \t]*)alwaysApply[ \t]*:.*?([ \t]*(?:#.*)?)$",
+            r"\1alwaysApply: true\2",
+            fm_text,
+            count=1,
+        )
+    elif fm_text.strip():
+        fm_text = fm_text + newline + "alwaysApply: true"
+    else:
+        fm_text = "alwaysApply: true"
+
+    return f"{leading}{opening}{fm_text}{closing}{sep}{rest}"
+
+
 if os.path.exists(ctx_path):
     with open(ctx_path, "r", encoding="utf-8-sig") as fh:
         content = fh.read()
@@ -329,6 +426,8 @@ else:
     new_content = section
 
 new_content = new_content.replace("\r\n", "\n").replace("\r", "\n")
+if ctx_path.casefold().endswith(".mdc"):
+    new_content = ensure_mdc_frontmatter(new_content)
 with open(ctx_path, "wb") as fh:
     fh.write(new_content.encode("utf-8"))
 PY

extensions/agent-context/scripts/powershell/update-agent-context.ps1

@@ -20,6 +20,56 @@ param(
     [string]$PlanPath
 )
 
+function Add-MdcFrontmatter {
+    <#
+        Ensure .mdc content has YAML frontmatter with alwaysApply: true.
+
+        Cursor only auto-loads .mdc rule files that carry frontmatter with
+        alwaysApply: true. Prepend it when missing, or repair the value while
+        preserving any existing frontmatter comments/formatting.
+    #>
+    param([Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][AllowEmptyString()][string]$Content)
+
+    $leading = ''
+    $stripped = $Content
+    $m = [regex]::Match($Content, '^\s*')
+    if ($m.Success) {
+        $leading = $m.Value
+        $stripped = $Content.Substring($m.Length)
+    }
+
+    if (-not $stripped.StartsWith('---')) {
+        return "---`nalwaysApply: true`n---`n`n" + $Content
+    }
+
+    $fm = [regex]::Match($stripped, '^(---[ \t]*\r?\n)(.*?)(\r?\n---[ \t]*)(\r?\n|$)(.*)', [System.Text.RegularExpressions.RegexOptions]::Singleline)
+    if (-not $fm.Success) {
+        return "---`nalwaysApply: true`n---`n`n" + $Content
+    }
+
+    $opening = $fm.Groups[1].Value
+    $fmText  = $fm.Groups[2].Value
+    $closing = $fm.Groups[3].Value
+    $sep     = $fm.Groups[4].Value
+    $rest    = $fm.Groups[5].Value
+    $newline = if ($opening.Contains("`r`n")) { "`r`n" } else { "`n" }
+
+    if ([regex]::IsMatch($fmText, '(?m)^[ \t]*alwaysApply[ \t]*:[ \t]*true[ \t]*(?:#.*)?$')) {
+        return $Content
+    }
+
+    if ([regex]::IsMatch($fmText, '(?m)^[ \t]*alwaysApply[ \t]*:')) {
+        $alwaysApplyRegex = [regex]'(?m)^([ \t]*)alwaysApply[ \t]*:.*?([ \t]*(?:#.*)?)$'
+        $fmText = $alwaysApplyRegex.Replace($fmText, '${1}alwaysApply: true${2}', 1)
+    } elseif ($fmText.Trim()) {
+        $fmText = $fmText + $newline + 'alwaysApply: true'
+    } else {
+        $fmText = 'alwaysApply: true'
+    }
+
+    return "$leading$opening$fmText$closing$sep$rest"
+}
+
 function Get-ConfigValue {
     param(
         [AllowNull()][object]$Object,
@@ -250,6 +300,43 @@ foreach ($ContextFile in $ContextFiles) {
     }
 }
 $ContextFiles = $dedupedContextFiles
+if ($ContextFiles.Count -eq 0) {
+    # Self-seed: the agent-context extension owns its lifecycle, so when its
+    # own config declares no target it derives one from the active integration
+    # recorded in init-options.json, using the extension's OWN bundled mapping
+    # (agent-context-defaults.json). Independent of the Specify CLI by design.
+    $initOptionsPath = Join-Path $ProjectRoot '.specify/init-options.json'
+    if (Test-Path -LiteralPath $initOptionsPath) {
+        try {
+            $initOpts = Get-Content -LiteralPath $initOptionsPath -Raw | ConvertFrom-Json -ErrorAction Stop
+            $integrationKey = $null
+            if ($initOpts.PSObject.Properties['integration'] -and $initOpts.integration) {
+                $integrationKey = [string]$initOpts.integration
+            } elseif ($initOpts.PSObject.Properties['ai'] -and $initOpts.ai) {
+                $integrationKey = [string]$initOpts.ai
+            }
+            if ($integrationKey) {
+                $defaultsPath = Join-Path $ProjectRoot '.specify/extensions/agent-context/agent-context-defaults.json'
+                if (Test-Path -LiteralPath $defaultsPath) {
+                    $defaults = Get-Content -LiteralPath $defaultsPath -Raw | ConvertFrom-Json -ErrorAction Stop
+                    $derived = $null
+                    if ($defaults.PSObject.Properties['agents'] -and $defaults.agents.PSObject.Properties[$integrationKey]) {
+                        $derived = [string]$defaults.agents.PSObject.Properties[$integrationKey].Value
+                    }
+                    if ($derived -and -not [string]::IsNullOrWhiteSpace($derived)) {
+                        $ContextFiles += $derived.Trim()
+                    } else {
+                        Write-Warning ("agent-context: no default context file is known for integration '{0}'; set 'context_file' in the extension config to choose one." -f $integrationKey)
+                    }
+                } else {
+                    Write-Warning ("agent-context: unable to read {0}; cannot self-seed the context file. Set 'context_file' in the extension config." -f $defaultsPath)
+                }
+            }
+        } catch {
+            # Non-fatal: fall through to the nothing-to-do guard below.
+        }
+    }
+}
 if ($ContextFiles.Count -eq 0) {
     Write-Warning 'agent-context: context_files/context_file not set in extension config; nothing to do.'
     exit 0
@@ -411,6 +498,9 @@ foreach ($ContextFile in $ContextFiles) {
     }
 
     $newContent = $newContent.Replace("`r`n", "`n").Replace("`r", "`n")
+    if ($ContextFile -match '\.mdc$') {
+        $newContent = Add-MdcFrontmatter -Content $newContent
+    }
     [System.IO.File]::WriteAllText($CtxPath, $newContent, (New-Object System.Text.UTF8Encoding($false)))
 
     Write-Host "agent-context: updated $ContextFile"

extensions/catalog.community.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "schema_version": "1.0",
-  "updated_at": "2026-06-24T00:00:00Z",
+  "updated_at": "2026-06-29T00:00:00Z",
   "catalog_url": "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/github/spec-kit/main/extensions/catalog.community.json",
   "extensions": {
     "aide": {
@@ -2501,8 +2501,8 @@
       "id": "product",
       "description": "Generates PRFAQ, Lean PRD, stakeholder summaries, and technical designs from engineering specs.",
       "author": "d0whc3r",
-      "version": "0.8.3",
-      "download_url": "https://github.com/d0whc3r/spec-kit-product/releases/download/v0.8.3/product-0.8.3.zip",
+      "version": "1.0.1",
+      "download_url": "https://github.com/d0whc3r/spec-kit-product/releases/download/v1.0.1/product-1.0.1.zip",
       "repository": "https://github.com/d0whc3r/spec-kit-product",
       "homepage": "https://d0whc3r.github.io/spec-kit-product/",
       "documentation": "https://github.com/d0whc3r/spec-kit-product/wiki",
@@ -2514,7 +2514,7 @@
         "speckit_version": ">=0.2.0"
       },
       "provides": {
-        "commands": 4,
+        "commands": 3,
         "hooks": 3
       },
       "tags": [
@@ -2538,7 +2538,7 @@
       "downloads": 0,
       "stars": 0,
       "created_at": "2026-05-26T00:00:00Z",
-      "updated_at": "2026-06-01T00:00:00Z"
+      "updated_at": "2026-06-29T00:00:00Z"
     },
     "product-forge": {
       "name": "Product Forge",

extensions/git/scripts/bash/create-new-feature-branch.sh

@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ generate_branch_name() {
         if ! echo "$word" | grep -qiE "$stop_words"; then
             if [ ${#word} -ge 3 ]; then
                 meaningful_words+=("$word")
-            elif echo "$description" | grep -qw -- "${word^^}"; then
+            elif printf '%s' "$description" | grep -qw -- "$(printf '%s' "$word" | tr '[:lower:]' '[:upper:]')"; then
                 meaningful_words+=("$word")
             fi
         fi

extensions/git/scripts/bash/initialize-repo.sh

@@ -51,4 +51,4 @@ _git_out=$(git init -q 2>&1) || { echo "[specify] Error: git init failed: $_git_
 _git_out=$(git add . 2>&1) || { echo "[specify] Error: git add failed: $_git_out" >&2; exit 1; }
 _git_out=$(git commit --allow-empty -q -m "$COMMIT_MSG" 2>&1) || { echo "[specify] Error: git commit failed: $_git_out" >&2; exit 1; }
 
-echo "✓ Git repository initialized" >&2
+echo "[OK] Git repository initialized" >&2

extensions/git/scripts/powershell/create-new-feature-branch.ps1

@@ -400,8 +400,10 @@ if ($Json) {
     $obj = [PSCustomObject]@{
         BRANCH_NAME = $branchName
         FEATURE_NUM = $featureNum
-        HAS_GIT = $hasGit
     }
+    # $hasGit is computed for branch-creation logic only; it is intentionally not
+    # emitted so this output contract matches the bash twin: BRANCH_NAME and
+    # FEATURE_NUM, plus DRY_RUN (added just below) on dry runs.
     if ($DryRun) {
         $obj | Add-Member -NotePropertyName 'DRY_RUN' -NotePropertyValue $true
     }
@@ -409,7 +411,6 @@ if ($Json) {
 } else {
     Write-Output "BRANCH_NAME: $branchName"
     Write-Output "FEATURE_NUM: $featureNum"
-    Write-Output "HAS_GIT: $hasGit"
     if (-not $DryRun) {
         Write-Output "SPECIFY_FEATURE environment variable set to: $branchName"
     }

pyproject.toml

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [project]
 name = "specify-cli"
-version = "0.11.10.dev0"
+version = "0.12.1"
 description = "Specify CLI, part of GitHub Spec Kit. A tool to bootstrap your projects for Spec-Driven Development (SDD)."
 readme = "README.md"
 requires-python = ">=3.11"

scripts/bash/check-prerequisites.sh

@@ -78,8 +78,14 @@ done
 SCRIPT_DIR="$(CDPATH="" cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
 source "$SCRIPT_DIR/common.sh"
 
-# Get feature paths
-_paths_output=$(get_feature_paths) || { echo "ERROR: Failed to resolve feature paths" >&2; exit 1; }
+# Get feature paths.
+# In --paths-only mode this is pure resolution, so pass --no-persist to opt out
+# of the feature.json write side effect (issue #3025).
+if $PATHS_ONLY; then
+    _paths_output=$(get_feature_paths --no-persist) || { echo "ERROR: Failed to resolve feature paths" >&2; exit 1; }
+else
+    _paths_output=$(get_feature_paths) || { echo "ERROR: Failed to resolve feature paths" >&2; exit 1; }
+fi
 eval "$_paths_output"
 unset _paths_output
 

scripts/bash/common.sh

@@ -152,6 +152,15 @@ _persist_feature_json() {
 }
 
 get_feature_paths() {
+    # Read-only callers (e.g. check-prerequisites.sh --paths-only) pass
+    # --no-persist so pure path resolution never writes .specify/feature.json,
+    # which would dirty the working tree or overwrite a pinned value (issue #3025).
+    local no_persist=false
+    if [[ "${1:-}" == "--no-persist" ]]; then
+        no_persist=true
+        shift
+    fi
+
     # Split decl/assignment so a SPECIFY_INIT_DIR validation failure in
     # get_repo_root propagates as a hard error instead of being masked by `local`.
     local repo_root
@@ -168,8 +177,11 @@ get_feature_paths() {
         feature_dir="$SPECIFY_FEATURE_DIRECTORY"
         # Normalize relative paths to absolute under repo root
         [[ "$feature_dir" != /* ]] && feature_dir="$repo_root/$feature_dir"
-        # Persist to feature.json so future sessions without the env var still work
-        _persist_feature_json "$repo_root" "$SPECIFY_FEATURE_DIRECTORY"
+        # Persist to feature.json so future sessions without the env var still
+        # work — unless the caller opted out for read-only resolution (#3025).
+        if [[ "$no_persist" != true ]]; then
+            _persist_feature_json "$repo_root" "$SPECIFY_FEATURE_DIRECTORY"
+        fi
     elif [[ -f "$repo_root/.specify/feature.json" ]]; then
         local _fd
         _fd=$(read_feature_json_feature_directory "$repo_root")

scripts/bash/create-new-feature.sh

@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ generate_branch_name() {
         if ! echo "$word" | grep -qiE "$stop_words"; then
             if [ ${#word} -ge 3 ]; then
                 meaningful_words+=("$word")
-            elif echo "$description" | grep -q "\b${word^^}\b"; then
+            elif printf '%s' "$description" | grep -qw -- "$(printf '%s' "$word" | tr '[:lower:]' '[:upper:]')"; then
                 # Keep short words if they appear as uppercase in original (likely acronyms)
                 meaningful_words+=("$word")
             fi

scripts/powershell/check-prerequisites.ps1

@@ -56,8 +56,14 @@ EXAMPLES:
 # Source common functions
 . "$PSScriptRoot/common.ps1"
 
-# Get feature paths
-$paths = Get-FeaturePathsEnv
+# Get feature paths.
+# In -PathsOnly mode this is pure resolution, so pass -NoPersist to opt out of
+# the feature.json write side effect (issue #3025).
+if ($PathsOnly) {
+    $paths = Get-FeaturePathsEnv -NoPersist
+} else {
+    $paths = Get-FeaturePathsEnv
+}
 
 # If paths-only mode, output paths and exit (no validation)
 if ($PathsOnly) {

scripts/powershell/common.ps1

@@ -143,6 +143,13 @@ function Save-FeatureJson {
 }
 
 function Get-FeaturePathsEnv {
+    # Read-only callers (e.g. check-prerequisites.ps1 -PathsOnly) pass -NoPersist
+    # so pure path resolution never writes .specify/feature.json, which would
+    # dirty the working tree or overwrite a pinned value (issue #3025).
+    param(
+        [switch]$NoPersist
+    )
+
     $repoRoot = Get-RepoRoot
     $currentBranch = Get-CurrentBranch
 
@@ -157,8 +164,11 @@ function Get-FeaturePathsEnv {
         if (-not [System.IO.Path]::IsPathRooted($featureDir)) {
             $featureDir = Join-Path $repoRoot $featureDir
         }
-        # Persist to feature.json so future sessions without the env var still work
-        Save-FeatureJson -RepoRoot $repoRoot -FeatureDirectory $env:SPECIFY_FEATURE_DIRECTORY
+        # Persist to feature.json so future sessions without the env var still
+        # work - unless the caller opted out for read-only resolution (#3025).
+        if (-not $NoPersist) {
+            Save-FeatureJson -RepoRoot $repoRoot -FeatureDirectory $env:SPECIFY_FEATURE_DIRECTORY
+        }
     } elseif (Test-Path $featureJson) {
         $featureJsonRaw = Get-Content -LiteralPath $featureJson -Raw
         try {
@@ -209,7 +219,13 @@ function Test-FileExists {
 
 function Test-DirHasFiles {
     param([string]$Path, [string]$Description)
-    if ((Test-Path -Path $Path -PathType Container) -and (Get-ChildItem -Path $Path -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Where-Object { -not $_.PSIsContainer } | Select-Object -First 1)) {
+    # A directory counts as non-empty when Get-ChildItem returns any entry
+    # (files or subdirectories) -- matching the JSON contracts checks in
+    # check-prerequisites.ps1 / setup-tasks.ps1, and treating a directory whose
+    # only contents are subdirectories (e.g. contracts/v1/openapi.yaml) as
+    # non-empty like bash check_dir. Filtering out subdirectories would
+    # mis-report such a directory as empty.
+    if ((Test-Path -Path $Path -PathType Container) -and (Get-ChildItem -Path $Path -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Select-Object -First 1)) {
         Write-Output "  [OK] $Description"
         return $true
     } else {

scripts/powershell/create-new-feature.ps1

@@ -211,6 +211,10 @@ if (-not $DryRun) {
             $utf8NoBom = New-Object System.Text.UTF8Encoding($false)
             [System.IO.File]::WriteAllText($specFile, $content, $utf8NoBom)
         } else {
+            # Match the bash twin (create-new-feature.sh): warn on stderr that no
+            # spec template was found before creating an empty spec file, so the
+            # missing-template signal is not silently swallowed on Windows.
+            [Console]::Error.WriteLine("Warning: Spec template not found; created empty spec file")
             New-Item -ItemType File -Path $specFile -Force | Out-Null
         }
     }

scripts/powershell/setup-plan.ps1

@@ -48,7 +48,14 @@ if (Test-Path $paths.IMPL_PLAN -PathType Leaf) {
             Write-Output "Copied plan template to $($paths.IMPL_PLAN)"
         }
     } else {
-        Write-Warning "Plan template not found"
+        # Match the bash twin's wording and stream routing (stderr in -Json so
+        # stdout stays pure JSON, stdout otherwise), consistent with the sibling
+        # "Copied plan template" message above.
+        if ($Json) {
+            [Console]::Error.WriteLine("Warning: Plan template not found")
+        } else {
+            Write-Output "Warning: Plan template not found"
+        }
         # Create a basic plan file if template doesn't exist
         New-Item -ItemType File -Path $paths.IMPL_PLAN -Force | Out-Null
     }

src/specify_cli/__init__.py

@@ -262,85 +262,9 @@ def ensure_executable_scripts(project_path: Path, tracker: StepTracker | None =
                 console.print(f"  - {f}")
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Agent-context extension config helpers
+# Skills directory helpers
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-_AGENT_CTX_EXT_CONFIG = (
-    Path(".specify") / "extensions" / "agent-context" / "agent-context-config.yml"
-)
-
-
-def _load_agent_context_config(project_root: Path) -> dict[str, Any]:
-    """Load the agent-context extension config, returning defaults on failure."""
-    from .integrations.base import IntegrationBase
-
-    defaults: dict[str, Any] = {
-        "context_file": "",
-        "context_files": [],
-        "context_markers": {
-            "start": IntegrationBase.CONTEXT_MARKER_START,
-            "end": IntegrationBase.CONTEXT_MARKER_END,
-        },
-    }
-    path = project_root / _AGENT_CTX_EXT_CONFIG
-    if not path.exists():
-        return defaults
-    try:
-        raw = yaml.safe_load(path.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
-    except (OSError, UnicodeError, yaml.YAMLError):
-        return defaults
-    if not isinstance(raw, dict):
-        return defaults
-    return raw
-
-
-def _save_agent_context_config(
-    project_root: Path, config: dict[str, Any]
-) -> None:
-    """Persist *config* to the agent-context extension config file."""
-    path = project_root / _AGENT_CTX_EXT_CONFIG
-    path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
-    path.write_text(yaml.safe_dump(config, default_flow_style=False, sort_keys=False), encoding="utf-8")
-
-
-def _update_agent_context_config_file(
-    project_root: Path,
-    context_file: str | None,
-    *,
-    preserve_markers: bool = True,
-    preserve_context_files: bool = True,
-) -> None:
-    """Update the agent-context extension config with *context_file*.
-
-    When *preserve_markers* is True (default), any existing
-    ``context_markers`` values are kept unchanged so user customisations
-    survive integration changes and reinit.  When False, the default
-    markers are written unconditionally.
-
-    When *preserve_context_files* is True (default), an existing
-    ``context_files`` list is kept unchanged, including an empty list.  This
-    lets projects opt into updating multiple agent context files while still
-    preserving the legacy singular ``context_file`` value for compatibility.
-    """
-    from .integrations.base import IntegrationBase
-
-    cfg = _load_agent_context_config(project_root)
-    cfg["context_file"] = context_file or ""
-    existing_context_files = cfg.get("context_files")
-    if preserve_context_files:
-        cfg["context_files"] = (
-            existing_context_files if isinstance(existing_context_files, list) else []
-        )
-    else:
-        cfg.pop("context_files", None)
-    if not preserve_markers or not isinstance(cfg.get("context_markers"), dict):
-        cfg["context_markers"] = {
-            "start": IntegrationBase.CONTEXT_MARKER_START,
-            "end": IntegrationBase.CONTEXT_MARKER_END,
-        }
-    _save_agent_context_config(project_root, cfg)
-
-
 def _get_skills_dir(project_path: Path, selected_ai: str) -> Path:
     """Resolve the agent-specific skills directory.
 

src/specify_cli/_console.py

@@ -34,6 +34,10 @@ TAGLINE = "GitHub Spec Kit - Spec-Driven Development Toolkit"
 
 console = Console(highlight=False)
 
+# Stderr-bound console for error/diagnostic output, so human-facing messages
+# never contaminate stdout (which carries machine-readable ``--json`` payloads).
+err_console = Console(stderr=True, highlight=False)
+
 class StepTracker:
     """Track and render hierarchical steps without emojis, similar to Claude Code tree output.
     Supports live auto-refresh via an attached refresh callback.

src/specify_cli/agents.py

@@ -433,37 +433,6 @@ class CommandRegistrar:
 
         body = body.replace("{ARGS}", "$ARGUMENTS").replace("__AGENT__", agent_name)
 
-        # Resolve __CONTEXT_FILE__ from the agent-context extension config.
-        # When disabled, ignore stale context_files but keep the singular
-        # context_file value so generated commands still point at the agent
-        # context file managed before the extension was disabled.
-        from .integrations.base import IntegrationBase
-
-        # Local import: _load_agent_context_config lives in __init__.py which
-        # imports agents.py, so a top-level import would be circular.
-        from . import _load_agent_context_config
-
-        ac_cfg = _load_agent_context_config(project_root)
-        extension_enabled = IntegrationBase._agent_context_extension_enabled(
-            project_root
-        )
-        if extension_enabled:
-            context_files = IntegrationBase._resolve_context_file_values(
-                project_root,
-                ac_cfg,
-                legacy_context_file=init_opts.get("context_file"),
-            )
-        else:
-            context_files = IntegrationBase._resolve_context_file_values(
-                project_root,
-                ac_cfg,
-                legacy_context_file=init_opts.get("context_file"),
-                include_context_files=False,
-                validate=False,
-            )
-        context_file = IntegrationBase._format_context_file_values(context_files)
-        body = body.replace("__CONTEXT_FILE__", context_file)
-
         return CommandRegistrar.rewrite_project_relative_paths(body)
 
     def _convert_argument_placeholder(

src/specify_cli/commands/bundle/__init__.py

@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ from pathlib import Path
 
 import typer
 
-from ..._console import console
+from ..._console import console, err_console
 from ...bundler import BundlerError
 from ...bundler.lib.project import (
     active_integration,
@@ -41,7 +41,9 @@ bundle_app.add_typer(bundle_catalog_app, name="catalog")
 
 def _fail(message: str) -> None:
     """Print an actionable error to stderr and exit non-zero."""
-    console.print(f"[red]Error:[/red] {message}", style=None)
+    # Use the stderr console so the error never lands on stdout, which under
+    # ``--json`` carries the machine-readable payload and must stay parseable.
+    err_console.print(f"[red]Error:[/red] {message}", style=None)
     raise typer.Exit(code=1)
 
 

src/specify_cli/commands/init.py

@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ from .._agent_config import (
     SCRIPT_TYPE_CHOICES,
 )
 from .._assets import (
-    _locate_bundled_extension,
     _locate_bundled_preset,
     _locate_bundled_workflow,
     get_speckit_version,
@@ -171,7 +170,6 @@ def register(app: typer.Typer) -> None:
         from .. import (
             _install_shared_infra_or_exit,
             _print_cli_warning,
-            _update_agent_context_config_file,
             ensure_executable_scripts,
             save_init_options,
         )
@@ -376,7 +374,6 @@ def register(app: typer.Typer) -> None:
             ("chmod", "Ensure scripts executable"),
             ("constitution", "Constitution setup"),
             ("workflow", "Install bundled workflow"),
-            ("agent-context", "Install agent-context extension"),
             ("final", "Finalize"),
         ]:
             tracker.add(key, label)
@@ -507,47 +504,6 @@ def register(app: typer.Typer) -> None:
                     init_opts["ai_skills"] = True
                 save_init_options(project_path, init_opts)
 
-                # --- agent-context extension (bundled, auto-installed) ---
-                # Installed after init-options.json is written so that skill
-                # registration can read ai_skills + integration key.
-                try:
-                    from ..extensions import ExtensionManager as _ExtMgr
-
-                    bundled_ac = _locate_bundled_extension("agent-context")
-                    if bundled_ac:
-                        ac_mgr = _ExtMgr(project_path)
-                        if ac_mgr.registry.is_installed("agent-context"):
-                            tracker.complete("agent-context", "already installed")
-                        else:
-                            ac_mgr.install_from_directory(
-                                bundled_ac, get_speckit_version()
-                            )
-                            tracker.complete("agent-context", "extension installed")
-                    else:
-                        from ..extensions import REINSTALL_COMMAND as _ac_reinstall
-
-                        tracker.error(
-                            "agent-context",
-                            f"bundled extension not found — installation may be "
-                            f"incomplete. Run: {_ac_reinstall}",
-                        )
-                except Exception as ac_err:
-                    sanitized_ac = str(ac_err).replace("\n", " ").strip()
-                    tracker.error(
-                        "agent-context",
-                        f"extension install failed: {sanitized_ac[:120]}",
-                    )
-
-                # Write context_file to the agent-context extension config
-                # AFTER the extension install (which copies the template config
-                # with an empty context_file).
-                if resolved_integration.context_file:
-                    _update_agent_context_config_file(
-                        project_path,
-                        resolved_integration.context_file,
-                        preserve_markers=True,
-                    )
-
                 ensure_executable_scripts(project_path, tracker=tracker)
 
                 if preset:

src/specify_cli/integration_scaffold.py

@@ -117,11 +117,6 @@ class {class_name}({template.base_class}):
         "args": "{template.args}",
         "extension": "{template.extension}",
     }}
-    context_file = "AGENTS.md"
-    # Default to False so the generated boilerplate passes the registry
-    # contract out of the box: multi-install-safe integrations must each have a
-    # distinct context_file, and the placeholder above ("AGENTS.md") collides
-    # with the existing codex integration. Opt in once you pick a unique one.
     multi_install_safe = False
 '''
 
@@ -155,7 +150,6 @@ def test_metadata():
     assert integration.registrar_config["format"] == "{template.registrar_format}"
     assert integration.registrar_config["args"] == "{template.args}"
     assert integration.registrar_config["extension"] == "{template.extension}"
-    assert integration.context_file == "AGENTS.md"
     assert integration.multi_install_safe is False
 '''
 
@@ -274,7 +268,7 @@ def scaffold_integration(
 
     next_steps = (
         f"Register {class_name} in src/specify_cli/integrations/__init__.py.",
-        "Review config metadata, install_url, requires_cli, context_file, and multi_install_safe.",
+        "Review config metadata, install_url, requires_cli, and multi_install_safe.",
         f"Run pytest tests/integrations/test_integration_{package_name}.py -v.",
     )
     return IntegrationScaffoldResult(

src/specify_cli/integrations/_helpers.py

@@ -103,38 +103,17 @@ def _refresh_init_options_speckit_version(project_root: Path) -> None:
 
 
 def _clear_init_options_for_integration(project_root: Path, integration_key: str) -> None:
-    """Clear active integration keys from init-options.json when they match.
-
-    Also clears ``context_file`` from the agent-context extension config so
-    no stale path is left behind when the integration is uninstalled.
-    """
+    """Clear active integration keys from init-options.json when they match."""
     from .. import (
-        _AGENT_CTX_EXT_CONFIG,
-        _update_agent_context_config_file,
         load_init_options,
         save_init_options,
     )
     opts = load_init_options(project_root)
-    has_legacy_context_keys = ("context_file" in opts) or ("context_markers" in opts)
-    # Remove legacy fields that older versions may have written.
-    opts.pop("context_file", None)
-    opts.pop("context_markers", None)
-
     if opts.get("integration") == integration_key or opts.get("ai") == integration_key:
         opts.pop("integration", None)
         opts.pop("ai", None)
         opts.pop("ai_skills", None)
         save_init_options(project_root, opts)
-        # Clear context_file in the extension config if it already exists.
-        # Avoid creating the config (and parent dirs) in projects where the
-        # agent-context extension was never installed.
-        ext_cfg_path = project_root / _AGENT_CTX_EXT_CONFIG
-        if ext_cfg_path.exists():
-            _update_agent_context_config_file(
-                project_root, "", preserve_markers=True, preserve_context_files=False
-            )
-    elif has_legacy_context_keys:
-        save_init_options(project_root, opts)
 
 
 def _remove_integration_json(project_root: Path) -> None:
@@ -274,21 +253,13 @@ def _update_init_options_for_integration(
     integration: Any,
     script_type: str | None = None,
 ) -> None:
-    """Update init-options.json and the agent-context extension config to
-    reflect *integration* as the active one.
+    """Update init-options.json to reflect *integration* as the active one.
 
-    ``context_file``, ``context_files``, and ``context_markers`` are stored in the agent-context
-    extension config (``.specify/extensions/agent-context/agent-context-config.yml``),
-    not in ``init-options.json``.  Existing user-customised markers are
-    always preserved when the config already exists. Existing ``context_files``
-    lists are also preserved so projects can keep multi-agent context anchors
-    during integration switches. Invalid marker values are
-    silently ignored at runtime by ``_resolve_context_markers()`` which falls
-    back to the class-level defaults.
+    Agent context/instruction files are owned entirely by the opt-in
+    agent-context extension, so this function never touches the extension
+    or its config.
     """
     from .. import (
-        _AGENT_CTX_EXT_CONFIG,
-        _update_agent_context_config_file,
         load_init_options,
         save_init_options,
     )
@@ -296,9 +267,6 @@ def _update_init_options_for_integration(
     opts = load_init_options(project_root)
     opts["integration"] = integration.key
     opts["ai"] = integration.key
-    # Remove legacy fields if they were written by an older version.
-    opts.pop("context_file", None)
-    opts.pop("context_markers", None)
     opts["speckit_version"] = _get_speckit_version()
     if script_type:
         opts["script"] = script_type
@@ -307,24 +275,6 @@ def _update_init_options_for_integration(
     else:
         opts.pop("ai_skills", None)
 
-    # Update the agent-context extension config BEFORE init-options.json
-    # so a failure here doesn't leave init-options partially updated.
-    ext_cfg_path = project_root / _AGENT_CTX_EXT_CONFIG
-    if ext_cfg_path.exists():
-        _update_agent_context_config_file(
-            project_root,
-            integration.context_file,
-            preserve_markers=True,
-        )
-    elif integration.context_file:
-        # Extension config doesn't exist yet (extension not installed).
-        # Write defaults so scripts have something to read.
-        _update_agent_context_config_file(
-            project_root,
-            integration.context_file,
-            preserve_markers=False,
-        )
-
     save_init_options(project_root, opts)
 
 

src/specify_cli/integrations/agy/__init__.py

@@ -42,7 +42,6 @@ class AgyIntegration(SkillsIntegration):
         "args": "$ARGUMENTS",
         "extension": "/SKILL.md",
     }
-    context_file = "AGENTS.md"
 
     @staticmethod
     def _inject_hook_command_note(content: str) -> str:

src/specify_cli/integrations/amp/__init__.py

@@ -18,4 +18,3 @@ class AmpIntegration(MarkdownIntegration):
         "args": "$ARGUMENTS",
         "extension": ".md",
     }
-    context_file = "AGENTS.md"

src/specify_cli/integrations/auggie/__init__.py

@@ -18,5 +18,4 @@ class AuggieIntegration(MarkdownIntegration):
         "args": "$ARGUMENTS",
         "extension": ".md",
     }
-    context_file = ".augment/rules/specify-rules.md"
     multi_install_safe = True

src/specify_cli/integrations/base.py

@@ -13,14 +13,13 @@ Provides:
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
-import json
 import os
 import re
 import shlex
 import shutil
 from abc import ABC
 from dataclasses import dataclass
-from pathlib import Path, PureWindowsPath
+from pathlib import Path
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any
 
 import yaml
@@ -91,13 +90,9 @@ class IntegrationBase(ABC):
 
     And may optionally set:
 
-    * ``context_file``     — path (relative to project root) of the agent
-                             context/instructions file (e.g. ``"CLAUDE.md"``)
-
-    Projects may additionally opt into managing multiple context files by
-    setting ``context_files`` in the agent-context extension config. The
-    integration class still declares one default ``context_file`` for backwards
-    compatibility and command-template rendering.
+    * ``invoke_separator`` — slash-command separator (defaults to ``"."``)
+    * ``multi_install_safe`` — declare the integration safe to install
+      alongside others (defaults to ``False``)
     """
 
     # -- Must be set by every subclass ------------------------------------
@@ -113,9 +108,6 @@ class IntegrationBase(ABC):
 
     # -- Optional ---------------------------------------------------------
 
-    context_file: str | None = None
-    """Relative path to the agent context file (e.g. ``CLAUDE.md``)."""
-
     invoke_separator: str = "."
     """Separator used in slash-command invocations (``"."`` → ``/speckit.plan``)."""
 
@@ -125,16 +117,11 @@ class IntegrationBase(ABC):
     multi_install_safe: bool = False
     """Whether this integration is declared safe to install alongside others.
 
-    Safe integrations must use a static, unique agent root, command directory,
-    and context file. Registry tests enforce those invariants for every
+    Safe integrations must use a static, unique agent root and command
+    directory. Registry tests enforce those invariants for every
     integration that sets this flag.
     """
 
-    # -- Markers for managed context section ------------------------------
-
-    CONTEXT_MARKER_START = "<!-- SPECKIT START -->"
-    CONTEXT_MARKER_END = "<!-- SPECKIT END -->"
-
     # -- Public API -------------------------------------------------------
 
     @classmethod
@@ -533,498 +520,6 @@ class IntegrationBase(ABC):
 
         return created
 
-    # -- Agent context file management ------------------------------------
-
-    @staticmethod
-    def _ensure_mdc_frontmatter(content: str) -> str:
-        """Ensure ``.mdc`` content has YAML frontmatter with ``alwaysApply: true``.
-
-        If frontmatter is missing, prepend it.  If frontmatter exists but
-        ``alwaysApply`` is absent or not ``true``, inject/fix it.
-
-        Uses string/regex manipulation to preserve comments and formatting
-        in existing frontmatter.
-        """
-        import re as _re
-
-        leading_ws = len(content) - len(content.lstrip())
-        leading = content[:leading_ws]
-        stripped = content[leading_ws:]
-
-        if not stripped.startswith("---"):
-            return "---\nalwaysApply: true\n---\n\n" + content
-
-        # Match frontmatter block: ---\n...\n---
-        match = _re.match(
-            r"^(---[ \t]*\r?\n)(.*?)(\r?\n---[ \t]*)(\r?\n|$)(.*)",
-            stripped,
-            _re.DOTALL,
-        )
-        if not match:
-            return "---\nalwaysApply: true\n---\n\n" + content
-
-        opening, fm_text, closing, sep, rest = match.groups()
-        newline = "\r\n" if "\r\n" in opening else "\n"
-
-        # Already correct?
-        if _re.search(
-            r"(?m)^[ \t]*alwaysApply[ \t]*:[ \t]*true[ \t]*(?:#.*)?$", fm_text
-        ):
-            return content
-
-        # alwaysApply exists but wrong value — fix in place while preserving
-        # indentation and any trailing inline comment.
-        if _re.search(r"(?m)^[ \t]*alwaysApply[ \t]*:", fm_text):
-            fm_text = _re.sub(
-                r"(?m)^([ \t]*)alwaysApply[ \t]*:.*?([ \t]*(?:#.*)?)$",
-                r"\1alwaysApply: true\2",
-                fm_text,
-                count=1,
-            )
-        elif fm_text.strip():
-            fm_text = fm_text + newline + "alwaysApply: true"
-        else:
-            fm_text = "alwaysApply: true"
-
-        return f"{leading}{opening}{fm_text}{closing}{sep}{rest}"
-
-    @staticmethod
-    def _build_context_section(plan_path: str = "") -> str:
-        """Build the content for the managed section between markers.
-
-        *plan_path* is the project-relative path to the current plan
-        (e.g. ``"specs/<feature>/plan.md"``).  When empty, the section
-        contains only the generic directive without a concrete path.
-        """
-        lines = [
-            "For additional context about technologies to be used, project structure,",
-            "shell commands, and other important information, read the current plan",
-        ]
-        if plan_path:
-            lines.append(f"at {plan_path}")
-        return "\n".join(lines)
-
-    @staticmethod
-    def _agent_context_extension_enabled(project_root: Path) -> bool:
-        """Return whether the bundled ``agent-context`` extension is enabled.
-
-        The extension is the single source of truth for managing coding
-        agent context/instruction files (e.g. ``CLAUDE.md``,
-        ``.github/copilot-instructions.md``).
-
-        Returns ``True`` (enabled) when:
-        - the extension registry does not exist (legacy project, backwards
-          compatibility), or
-        - the registry has no ``agent-context`` entry (older project layout
-          predating the extension), or
-        - the entry is present and not explicitly disabled.
-
-        Returns ``False`` only when an entry exists with ``enabled: false``.
-        """
-        registry_path = (
-            project_root / ".specify" / "extensions" / ".registry"
-        )
-        if not registry_path.exists():
-            return True
-        try:
-            data = json.loads(registry_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
-        except (OSError, ValueError, UnicodeError):
-            return True
-        if not isinstance(data, dict):
-            return True
-        extensions = data.get("extensions")
-        if not isinstance(extensions, dict):
-            return True
-        entry = extensions.get("agent-context")
-        if not isinstance(entry, dict):
-            return True
-        return entry.get("enabled", True) is not False
-
-    @staticmethod
-    def _context_file_dedupe_key(path: str) -> str:
-        """Return the comparison key for context file de-duplication."""
-        return path.casefold() if os.name == "nt" else path
-
-    def _resolve_context_markers(self, project_root: Path) -> tuple[str, str]:
-        """Return the (start, end) context markers to use for *project_root*.
-
-        Reads ``context_markers.start`` / ``context_markers.end`` from the
-        agent-context extension config
-        (``.specify/extensions/agent-context/agent-context-config.yml``)
-        when present.  Falls back to the class-level constants
-        ``CONTEXT_MARKER_START`` / ``CONTEXT_MARKER_END`` when the file is
-        missing, the section is absent, or the values are not non-empty
-        strings.
-        """
-        from .._console import console  # local import to avoid cycles
-
-        start = self.CONTEXT_MARKER_START
-        end = self.CONTEXT_MARKER_END
-        config_path = (
-            project_root
-            / ".specify"
-            / "extensions"
-            / "agent-context"
-            / "agent-context-config.yml"
-        )
-        try:
-            raw = config_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-            cfg = yaml.safe_load(raw)
-        except (OSError, UnicodeError, ValueError, yaml.YAMLError):
-            return start, end
-        markers = cfg.get("context_markers") if isinstance(cfg, dict) else None
-        if isinstance(markers, dict):
-            cm_start = markers.get("start")
-            cm_end = markers.get("end")
-            s_valid = isinstance(cm_start, str) and cm_start
-            e_valid = isinstance(cm_end, str) and cm_end
-            if not s_valid and cm_start is not None:
-                console.print(
-                    f"[yellow]agent-context: ignoring invalid context_markers.start "
-                    f"({cm_start!r}), using default[/yellow]"
-                )
-            if not e_valid and cm_end is not None:
-                console.print(
-                    f"[yellow]agent-context: ignoring invalid context_markers.end "
-                    f"({cm_end!r}), using default[/yellow]"
-                )
-            if s_valid:
-                start = cm_start  # type: ignore[assignment]
-            if e_valid:
-                end = cm_end  # type: ignore[assignment]
-        return start, end
-
-    @staticmethod
-    def _validate_context_file_path(project_root: Path, context_file: str) -> str:
-        """Return a safe project-relative context file path.
-
-        The agent-context scripts reject paths that can escape the project
-        root; the Python integration path must apply the same guard before
-        setup or teardown touches context files.
-        """
-        candidate = context_file.strip()
-        if not candidate:
-            raise ValueError("agent-context: context file path must not be empty")
-
-        win_path = PureWindowsPath(candidate)
-        if Path(candidate).is_absolute() or win_path.drive or win_path.root:
-            raise ValueError(
-                "agent-context: context files must be project-relative paths; "
-                f"got {candidate!r}"
-            )
-        if "\\" in candidate:
-            raise ValueError(
-                "agent-context: context files must not contain backslash "
-                f"separators; got {candidate!r}"
-            )
-
-        parts = [part for part in re.split(r"[\\/]+", candidate) if part]
-        if ".." in parts:
-            raise ValueError(
-                "agent-context: context files must not contain '..' path "
-                f"segments; got {candidate!r}"
-            )
-
-        root = project_root.resolve()
-        target = (root / candidate).resolve(strict=False)
-        try:
-            target.relative_to(root)
-        except ValueError as exc:
-            raise ValueError(
-                "agent-context: context file path resolves outside the project "
-                f"root; got {candidate!r}"
-            ) from exc
-
-        return candidate
-
-    @classmethod
-    def _resolve_context_file_values(
-        cls,
-        project_root: Path,
-        cfg: dict[str, Any] | None,
-        *,
-        fallback_context_file: Any = None,
-        legacy_context_file: Any = None,
-        include_context_files: bool = True,
-        validate: bool = True,
-    ) -> list[str]:
-        """Resolve context file config with shared precedence and de-duplication."""
-        files: list[str] = []
-        seen: set[str] = set()
-
-        def add_context_file(value: Any) -> None:
-            if not isinstance(value, str):
-                return
-            candidate = value.strip()
-            if not candidate:
-                return
-            if validate:
-                candidate = cls._validate_context_file_path(project_root, candidate)
-            key = cls._context_file_dedupe_key(candidate)
-            if key in seen:
-                return
-            files.append(candidate)
-            seen.add(key)
-
-        if isinstance(cfg, dict) and include_context_files:
-            configured = cfg.get("context_files")
-            if isinstance(configured, list):
-                for value in configured:
-                    add_context_file(value)
-                if files:
-                    return files
-
-        if isinstance(cfg, dict):
-            add_context_file(cfg.get("context_file"))
-            if files:
-                return files
-
-        add_context_file(fallback_context_file)
-        if files:
-            return files
-
-        add_context_file(legacy_context_file)
-        return files
-
-    @staticmethod
-    def _format_context_file_values(context_files: list[str]) -> str:
-        """Return context file targets as the template display string."""
-        return ", ".join(context_files)
-
-    def _resolve_context_files(self, project_root: Path) -> list[str]:
-        """Return project-relative context files managed for *project_root*.
-
-        ``context_files`` in the agent-context extension config, when present
-        and non-empty, takes precedence over the config's singular
-        ``context_file``. The integration class default is used only when the
-        extension config has no context file target.
-        Raises ``ValueError`` when a configured path can escape the project
-        root.
-        """
-        config_path = (
-            project_root
-            / ".specify"
-            / "extensions"
-            / "agent-context"
-            / "agent-context-config.yml"
-        )
-        try:
-            raw = config_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-            cfg = yaml.safe_load(raw)
-        except (OSError, UnicodeError, ValueError, yaml.YAMLError):
-            cfg = None
-        return self._resolve_context_file_values(
-            project_root,
-            cfg,
-            fallback_context_file=self.context_file,
-        )
-
-    def _context_file_display(self, project_root: Path) -> str:
-        """Return human-readable context file target(s) for templates."""
-        if not self._agent_context_extension_enabled(project_root):
-            from .. import _load_agent_context_config
-
-            context_files = self._resolve_context_file_values(
-                project_root,
-                _load_agent_context_config(project_root),
-                fallback_context_file=self.context_file,
-                include_context_files=False,
-                validate=False,
-            )
-            return context_files[0] if context_files else ""
-        return self._format_context_file_values(
-            self._resolve_context_files(project_root)
-        )
-
-    @staticmethod
-    def _upsert_context_file(
-        ctx_path: Path,
-        section: str,
-        marker_start: str,
-        marker_end: str,
-    ) -> None:
-        """Create or update one managed context section."""
-        if ctx_path.exists():
-            content = ctx_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8-sig")
-            start_idx = content.find(marker_start)
-            end_idx = content.find(
-                marker_end,
-                start_idx if start_idx != -1 else 0,
-            )
-
-            if start_idx != -1 and end_idx != -1 and end_idx > start_idx:
-                # Replace existing section (include the end marker + newline)
-                end_of_marker = end_idx + len(marker_end)
-                # Consume trailing line ending (CRLF or LF)
-                if end_of_marker < len(content) and content[end_of_marker] == "\r":
-                    end_of_marker += 1
-                if end_of_marker < len(content) and content[end_of_marker] == "\n":
-                    end_of_marker += 1
-                new_content = content[:start_idx] + section + content[end_of_marker:]
-            elif start_idx != -1:
-                # Corrupted: start marker without end — replace from start through EOF
-                new_content = content[:start_idx] + section
-            elif end_idx != -1:
-                # Corrupted: end marker without start — replace BOF through end marker
-                end_of_marker = end_idx + len(marker_end)
-                if end_of_marker < len(content) and content[end_of_marker] == "\r":
-                    end_of_marker += 1
-                if end_of_marker < len(content) and content[end_of_marker] == "\n":
-                    end_of_marker += 1
-                new_content = section + content[end_of_marker:]
-            else:
-                # No markers found — append
-                if content:
-                    if not content.endswith("\n"):
-                        content += "\n"
-                    new_content = content + "\n" + section
-                else:
-                    new_content = section
-
-            # Ensure .mdc files have required YAML frontmatter
-            if ctx_path.suffix == ".mdc":
-                new_content = IntegrationBase._ensure_mdc_frontmatter(new_content)
-        else:
-            ctx_path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
-            # Cursor .mdc files require YAML frontmatter to be loaded
-            if ctx_path.suffix == ".mdc":
-                new_content = IntegrationBase._ensure_mdc_frontmatter(section)
-            else:
-                new_content = section
-
-        normalized = new_content.replace("\r\n", "\n").replace("\r", "\n")
-        ctx_path.write_bytes(normalized.encode("utf-8"))
-
-    def upsert_context_section(
-        self,
-        project_root: Path,
-        plan_path: str = "",
-    ) -> Path | None:
-        """Create or update the managed section in the agent context file.
-
-        If the context file does not exist it is created with just the
-        managed section.  If it exists, the content between the configured
-        start/end markers (default ``<!-- SPECKIT START -->`` /
-        ``<!-- SPECKIT END -->``) is replaced, or appended when no markers
-        are found. Markers are read from the agent-context extension config
-        (``.specify/extensions/agent-context/agent-context-config.yml``)
-        when present, falling back to the class-level constants.
-
-        Returns the path to the first context file, or ``None`` when no context
-        files are configured or the ``agent-context`` extension is
-        disabled.
-        """
-        if not self._agent_context_extension_enabled(project_root):
-            return None
-
-        context_files = self._resolve_context_files(project_root)
-        if not context_files:
-            return None
-
-        from .._console import console  # local import to avoid cycles
-
-        console.print(
-            "[yellow]Deprecation:[/yellow] Inline agent-context updates during "
-            "integration setup will be disabled in v0.12.0. Context file "
-            "management has moved to the bundled [bold]agent-context[/bold] "
-            "extension. Run [cyan]specify extension disable agent-context[/cyan] "
-            "to opt out early.",
-            highlight=False,
-        )
-
-        marker_start, marker_end = self._resolve_context_markers(project_root)
-
-        section = (
-            f"{marker_start}\n"
-            f"{self._build_context_section(plan_path)}\n"
-            f"{marker_end}\n"
-        )
-
-        first_path: Path | None = None
-        for context_file in context_files:
-            ctx_path = project_root / context_file
-            self._upsert_context_file(ctx_path, section, marker_start, marker_end)
-            if first_path is None:
-                first_path = ctx_path
-        return first_path
-
-    def remove_context_section(self, project_root: Path) -> bool:
-        """Remove the managed section from the agent context file.
-
-        Returns ``True`` if the section was found and removed.  If the
-        file becomes empty (or whitespace-only) after removal it is deleted.
-        Markers are read from the agent-context extension config
-        (``.specify/extensions/agent-context/agent-context-config.yml``)
-        when present, falling back to the class-level constants.
-        """
-        if not self._agent_context_extension_enabled(project_root):
-            return False
-
-        context_files = self._resolve_context_files(project_root)
-        if not context_files:
-            return False
-
-        marker_start, marker_end = self._resolve_context_markers(project_root)
-        removed_any = False
-
-        for context_file in context_files:
-            ctx_path = project_root / context_file
-            if not ctx_path.exists():
-                continue
-
-            content = ctx_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8-sig")
-            start_idx = content.find(marker_start)
-            end_idx = content.find(
-                marker_end,
-                start_idx if start_idx != -1 else 0,
-            )
-
-            # Only remove a complete, well-ordered managed section. If either
-            # marker is missing, leave the file unchanged to avoid deleting
-            # unrelated user-authored content.
-            if start_idx == -1 or end_idx == -1 or end_idx <= start_idx:
-                continue
-
-            removal_start = start_idx
-            removal_end = end_idx + len(marker_end)
-
-            # Consume trailing line ending (CRLF or LF)
-            if removal_end < len(content) and content[removal_end] == "\r":
-                removal_end += 1
-            if removal_end < len(content) and content[removal_end] == "\n":
-                removal_end += 1
-
-            # Also strip a blank line before the section if present
-            if removal_start > 0 and content[removal_start - 1] == "\n":
-                if removal_start > 1 and content[removal_start - 2] == "\n":
-                    removal_start -= 1
-
-            new_content = content[:removal_start] + content[removal_end:]
-
-            # Normalize line endings before comparisons
-            normalized = new_content.replace("\r\n", "\n").replace("\r", "\n")
-
-            # For .mdc files, treat Speckit-generated frontmatter-only content as empty
-            if ctx_path.suffix == ".mdc":
-                import re
-
-                # Delete the file if only YAML frontmatter remains (no body content)
-                frontmatter_only = re.match(
-                    r"^---\n.*?\n---\s*$", normalized, re.DOTALL
-                )
-                if not normalized.strip() or frontmatter_only:
-                    ctx_path.unlink()
-                    removed_any = True
-                    continue
-
-            if not normalized.strip():
-                ctx_path.unlink()
-            else:
-                ctx_path.write_bytes(normalized.encode("utf-8"))
-            removed_any = True
-
-        return removed_any
-
     @staticmethod
     def resolve_command_refs(content: str, separator: str = ".") -> str:
         """Replace ``__SPECKIT_COMMAND_<NAME>__`` placeholders with invocations.
@@ -1049,7 +544,6 @@ class IntegrationBase(ABC):
         agent_name: str,
         script_type: str,
         arg_placeholder: str = "$ARGUMENTS",
-        context_file: str = "",
         invoke_separator: str = ".",
     ) -> str:
         """Process a raw command template into agent-ready content.
@@ -1060,9 +554,8 @@ class IntegrationBase(ABC):
         3. Strip ``scripts:`` section from frontmatter
         4. Replace ``{ARGS}`` and ``$ARGUMENTS`` with *arg_placeholder*
         5. Replace ``__AGENT__`` with *agent_name*
-        6. Replace ``__CONTEXT_FILE__`` with *context_file*
-        7. Rewrite paths: ``scripts/`` → ``.specify/scripts/`` etc.
-        8. Replace ``__SPECKIT_COMMAND_<NAME>__`` with invocation strings
+        6. Rewrite paths: ``scripts/`` → ``.specify/scripts/`` etc.
+        7. Replace ``__SPECKIT_COMMAND_<NAME>__`` with invocation strings
         """
         # 1. Extract script command from frontmatter
         script_command = ""
@@ -1122,10 +615,7 @@ class IntegrationBase(ABC):
         # 5. Replace __AGENT__
         content = content.replace("__AGENT__", agent_name)
 
-        # 6. Replace __CONTEXT_FILE__
-        content = content.replace("__CONTEXT_FILE__", context_file)
-
-        # 7. Rewrite paths — delegate to the shared implementation in
+        # 6. Rewrite paths — delegate to the shared implementation in
         #    CommandRegistrar so extension-local paths are preserved and
         #    boundary rules stay consistent across the codebase.
         from specify_cli.agents import CommandRegistrar
@@ -1180,8 +670,6 @@ class IntegrationBase(ABC):
             self.record_file_in_manifest(dst_file, project_root, manifest)
             created.append(dst_file)
 
-        # Upsert managed context section into the agent context file
-        self.upsert_context_section(project_root)
 
         return created
 
@@ -1196,11 +684,9 @@ class IntegrationBase(ABC):
 
         Delegates to ``manifest.uninstall()`` which only removes files
         whose hash still matches the recorded value (unless *force*).
-        Also removes the managed context section from the agent file.
 
         Returns ``(removed, skipped)`` file lists.
         """
-        self.remove_context_section(project_root)
         return manifest.uninstall(project_root, force=force)
 
     # -- Convenience helpers for subclasses -------------------------------
@@ -1234,12 +720,11 @@ class IntegrationBase(ABC):
 class MarkdownIntegration(IntegrationBase):
     """Concrete base for integrations that use standard Markdown commands.
 
-    Subclasses only need to set ``key``, ``config``, ``registrar_config``
-    (and optionally ``context_file``).  Everything else is inherited.
+    Subclasses only need to set ``key``, ``config``, ``registrar_config``.
+    Everything else is inherited.
 
     ``setup()`` processes command templates (replacing ``{SCRIPT}``,
-    ``{ARGS}``, ``__AGENT__``, rewriting paths) and upserts the
-    managed context section into the agent context file.
+    ``{ARGS}``, ``__AGENT__``, rewriting paths).
     """
 
     def build_exec_args(
@@ -1294,13 +779,11 @@ class MarkdownIntegration(IntegrationBase):
             else "$ARGUMENTS"
         )
         created: list[Path] = []
-        context_file_display = self._context_file_display(project_root)
 
         for src_file in templates:
             raw = src_file.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
             processed = self.process_template(
                 raw, self.key, script_type, arg_placeholder,
-                context_file=context_file_display,
             )
             dst_name = self.command_filename(src_file.stem)
             dst_file = self.write_file_and_record(
@@ -1308,8 +791,6 @@ class MarkdownIntegration(IntegrationBase):
             )
             created.append(dst_file)
 
-        # Upsert managed context section into the agent context file
-        self.upsert_context_section(project_root)
 
         return created
 
@@ -1323,8 +804,7 @@ class TomlIntegration(IntegrationBase):
     """Concrete base for integrations that use TOML command format.
 
     Mirrors ``MarkdownIntegration`` closely: subclasses only need to set
-    ``key``, ``config``, ``registrar_config`` (and optionally
-    ``context_file``).  Everything else is inherited.
+    ``key``, ``config``, ``registrar_config``.  Everything else is inherited.
 
     ``setup()`` processes command templates through the same placeholder
     pipeline as ``MarkdownIntegration``, then converts the result to
@@ -1500,14 +980,12 @@ class TomlIntegration(IntegrationBase):
             else "{{args}}"
         )
         created: list[Path] = []
-        context_file_display = self._context_file_display(project_root)
 
         for src_file in templates:
             raw = src_file.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
             description = self._extract_description(raw)
             processed = self.process_template(
                 raw, self.key, script_type, arg_placeholder,
-                context_file=context_file_display,
             )
             _, body = self._split_frontmatter(processed)
             toml_content = self._render_toml(description, body)
@@ -1517,8 +995,6 @@ class TomlIntegration(IntegrationBase):
             )
             created.append(dst_file)
 
-        # Upsert managed context section into the agent context file
-        self.upsert_context_section(project_root)
 
         return created
 
@@ -1532,8 +1008,7 @@ class YamlIntegration(IntegrationBase):
     """Concrete base for integrations that use YAML recipe format.
 
     Mirrors ``TomlIntegration`` closely: subclasses only need to set
-    ``key``, ``config``, ``registrar_config`` (and optionally
-    ``context_file``).  Everything else is inherited.
+    ``key``, ``config``, ``registrar_config``.  Everything else is inherited.
 
     ``setup()`` processes command templates through the same placeholder
     pipeline as ``MarkdownIntegration``, then converts the result to
@@ -1696,7 +1171,6 @@ class YamlIntegration(IntegrationBase):
             else "{{args}}"
         )
         created: list[Path] = []
-        context_file_display = self._context_file_display(project_root)
 
         for src_file in templates:
             raw = src_file.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
@@ -1712,7 +1186,6 @@ class YamlIntegration(IntegrationBase):
 
             processed = self.process_template(
                 raw, self.key, script_type, arg_placeholder,
-                context_file=context_file_display,
             )
             _, body = self._split_frontmatter(processed)
             yaml_content = self._render_yaml(
@@ -1724,8 +1197,6 @@ class YamlIntegration(IntegrationBase):
             )
             created.append(dst_file)
 
-        # Upsert managed context section into the agent context file
-        self.upsert_context_section(project_root)
 
         return created
 
@@ -1741,8 +1212,8 @@ class SkillsIntegration(IntegrationBase):
     Skills use the ``speckit-<name>/SKILL.md`` directory layout following
     the `agentskills.io <https://agentskills.io/specification>`_ spec.
 
-    Subclasses set ``key``, ``config``, ``registrar_config`` (and
-    optionally ``context_file``) like any integration.  They may also
+    Subclasses set ``key``, ``config``, ``registrar_config`` like any
+    integration.  They may also
     override ``options()`` to declare additional CLI flags (e.g.
     ``--skills``, ``--migrate-legacy``).
 
@@ -1887,7 +1358,6 @@ class SkillsIntegration(IntegrationBase):
             else "$ARGUMENTS"
         )
         created: list[Path] = []
-        context_file_display = self._context_file_display(project_root)
 
         for src_file in templates:
             raw = src_file.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
@@ -1911,7 +1381,6 @@ class SkillsIntegration(IntegrationBase):
             # Process body through the standard template pipeline
             processed_body = self.process_template(
                 raw, self.key, script_type, arg_placeholder,
-                context_file=context_file_display,
                 invoke_separator=self.invoke_separator,
             )
             # Strip the processed frontmatter — we rebuild it for skills.
@@ -1958,7 +1427,5 @@ class SkillsIntegration(IntegrationBase):
             )
             created.append(dst)
 
-        # Upsert managed context section into the agent context file
-        self.upsert_context_section(project_root)
 
         return created

src/specify_cli/integrations/bob/__init__.py

@@ -18,4 +18,3 @@ class BobIntegration(MarkdownIntegration):
         "args": "$ARGUMENTS",
         "extension": ".md",
     }
-    context_file = "AGENTS.md"

src/specify_cli/integrations/claude/__init__.py

@@ -52,7 +52,6 @@ class ClaudeIntegration(SkillsIntegration):
         "args": "$ARGUMENTS",
         "extension": "/SKILL.md",
     }
-    context_file = "CLAUDE.md"
     multi_install_safe = True
 
     @staticmethod

src/specify_cli/integrations/cline/__init__.py

@@ -70,7 +70,6 @@ class ClineIntegration(MarkdownIntegration):
         "format_name": format_cline_command_name,
         "invoke_separator": "-",
     }
-    context_file = ".clinerules/specify-rules.md"
     invoke_separator = "-"
     multi_install_safe = True
 

src/specify_cli/integrations/codebuddy/__init__.py

@@ -18,5 +18,4 @@ class CodebuddyIntegration(MarkdownIntegration):
         "args": "$ARGUMENTS",
         "extension": ".md",
     }
-    context_file = "CODEBUDDY.md"
     multi_install_safe = True

src/specify_cli/integrations/codex/__init__.py

@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ class CodexIntegration(SkillsIntegration):
         "args": "$ARGUMENTS",
         "extension": "/SKILL.md",
     }
-    context_file = "AGENTS.md"
     dev_no_symlink = True
     multi_install_safe = True
 

src/specify_cli/integrations/copilot/__init__.py

@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ Copilot has several unique behaviors compared to standard markdown agents:
 - Commands use ``.agent.md`` extension (not ``.md``)
 - Each command gets a companion ``.prompt.md`` file in ``.github/prompts/``
 - Installs ``.vscode/settings.json`` with prompt file recommendations
-- Context file lives at ``.github/copilot-instructions.md``
 
 When ``--skills`` is passed via ``--integration-options``, Copilot scaffolds
 commands as ``speckit-<name>/SKILL.md`` directories under ``.github/skills/``
@@ -79,7 +78,6 @@ class _CopilotSkillsHelper(SkillsIntegration):
         "args": "$ARGUMENTS",
         "extension": "/SKILL.md",
     }
-    context_file = ".github/copilot-instructions.md"
 
 
 class CopilotIntegration(IntegrationBase):
@@ -108,7 +106,6 @@ class CopilotIntegration(IntegrationBase):
         "args": "$ARGUMENTS",
         "extension": ".agent.md",
     }
-    context_file = ".github/copilot-instructions.md"
 
     # Mutable flag set by setup() — indicates the active scaffolding mode.
     _skills_mode: bool = False
@@ -354,14 +351,12 @@ class CopilotIntegration(IntegrationBase):
 
         script_type = opts.get("script_type", "sh")
         arg_placeholder = self.registrar_config.get("args", "$ARGUMENTS")
-        context_file_display = self._context_file_display(project_root)
 
         # 1. Process and write command files as .agent.md
         for src_file in templates:
             raw = src_file.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
             processed = self.process_template(
                 raw, self.key, script_type, arg_placeholder,
-                context_file=context_file_display,
             )
             dst_name = self.command_filename(src_file.stem)
             dst_file = self.write_file_and_record(
@@ -396,8 +391,6 @@ class CopilotIntegration(IntegrationBase):
                 self.record_file_in_manifest(dst_settings, project_root, manifest)
                 created.append(dst_settings)
 
-        # 4. Upsert managed context section into the agent context file
-        self.upsert_context_section(project_root)
 
         return created
 

src/specify_cli/integrations/cursor_agent/__init__.py

@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@ class CursorAgentIntegration(SkillsIntegration):
         "extension": "/SKILL.md",
     }
 
-    context_file = ".cursor/rules/specify-rules.mdc"
     multi_install_safe = True
 
     def build_exec_args(

src/specify_cli/integrations/devin/__init__.py

@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@ class DevinIntegration(SkillsIntegration):
         "args": "$ARGUMENTS",
         "extension": "/SKILL.md",
     }
-    context_file = "AGENTS.md"
 
     def build_exec_args(
         self,

src/specify_cli/integrations/firebender/__init__.py

@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@
 Firebender (https://firebender.com/) is an AI coding agent for Android Studio
 and IntelliJ. It reads project-local custom slash commands from
 ``.firebender/commands/*.mdc`` and project rules from ``.firebender/rules/*.mdc``,
-so Spec Kit installs its command templates as ``.mdc`` command files and writes
-the managed context section into a ``.firebender/rules/`` rule file.
+so Spec Kit installs its command templates as ``.mdc`` command files. The managed
+context section (when used) is owned by the ``agent-context`` extension.
 """
 
 from ..base import MarkdownIntegration
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ class FirebenderIntegration(MarkdownIntegration):
         "args": "$ARGUMENTS",
         "extension": ".mdc",
     }
-    context_file = ".firebender/rules/specify-rules.mdc"
     multi_install_safe = True
 
     def command_filename(self, template_name: str) -> str:

src/specify_cli/integrations/forge/__init__.py

@@ -89,7 +89,6 @@ class ForgeIntegration(MarkdownIntegration):
         "format_name": format_forge_command_name,  # Custom name formatter
         "invoke_separator": "-",
     }
-    context_file = "AGENTS.md"
     invoke_separator = "-"
 
     def setup(
@@ -128,14 +127,12 @@ class ForgeIntegration(MarkdownIntegration):
         script_type = opts.get("script_type", "sh")
         arg_placeholder = self.registrar_config.get("args", "{{parameters}}")
         created: list[Path] = []
-        context_file_display = self._context_file_display(project_root)
 
         for src_file in templates:
             raw = src_file.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
             # Process template with standard MarkdownIntegration logic
             processed = self.process_template(
                 raw, self.key, script_type, arg_placeholder,
-                context_file=context_file_display,
                 invoke_separator=self.invoke_separator,
             )
 
@@ -152,8 +149,6 @@ class ForgeIntegration(MarkdownIntegration):
             )
             created.append(dst_file)
 
-        # Upsert managed context section into the agent context file
-        self.upsert_context_section(project_root)
 
         return created
 

src/specify_cli/integrations/gemini/__init__.py

@@ -18,5 +18,4 @@ class GeminiIntegration(TomlIntegration):
         "args": "{{args}}",
         "extension": ".toml",
     }
-    context_file = "GEMINI.md"
     multi_install_safe = True

src/specify_cli/integrations/generic/__init__.py

@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@ class GenericIntegration(MarkdownIntegration):
         "args": "$ARGUMENTS",
         "extension": ".md",
     }
-    context_file = "AGENTS.md"
 
     @classmethod
     def options(cls) -> list[IntegrationOption]:
@@ -119,13 +118,11 @@ class GenericIntegration(MarkdownIntegration):
         script_type = opts.get("script_type", "sh")
         arg_placeholder = "$ARGUMENTS"
         created: list[Path] = []
-        context_file_display = self._context_file_display(project_root)
 
         for src_file in templates:
             raw = src_file.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
             processed = self.process_template(
                 raw, self.key, script_type, arg_placeholder,
-                context_file=context_file_display,
             )
             dst_name = self.command_filename(src_file.stem)
             dst_file = self.write_file_and_record(
@@ -133,7 +130,5 @@ class GenericIntegration(MarkdownIntegration):
             )
             created.append(dst_file)
 
-        # Upsert managed context section into the agent context file
-        self.upsert_context_section(project_root)
 
         return created

src/specify_cli/integrations/goose/__init__.py

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-"""Goose integration — Block's open source AI agent."""
+"""Goose integration — open source AI agent (Agentic AI Foundation)."""
 
 from ..base import YamlIntegration
 
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ class GooseIntegration(YamlIntegration):
         "name": "Goose",
         "folder": ".goose/",
         "commands_subdir": "recipes",
-        "install_url": "https://block.github.io/goose/docs/getting-started/installation",
+        "install_url": "https://goose-docs.ai/docs/getting-started/installation",
         "requires_cli": True,
     }
     registrar_config = {
@@ -18,4 +18,3 @@ class GooseIntegration(YamlIntegration):
         "args": "{{args}}",
         "extension": ".yaml",
     }
-    context_file = "AGENTS.md"

src/specify_cli/integrations/hermes/__init__.py

@@ -50,7 +50,6 @@ class HermesIntegration(SkillsIntegration):
         "args": "$ARGUMENTS",
         "extension": "/SKILL.md",
     }
-    context_file = "AGENTS.md"
 
     # -- Helpers -----------------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -114,7 +113,6 @@ class HermesIntegration(SkillsIntegration):
         global_skills_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
 
         created: list[Path] = []
-        context_file_display = self._context_file_display(project_root)
 
         for src_file in templates:
             raw = src_file.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
@@ -141,7 +139,6 @@ class HermesIntegration(SkillsIntegration):
                 self.key,
                 script_type,
                 arg_placeholder,
-                context_file=context_file_display,
                 invoke_separator=self.invoke_separator,
             )
             # Strip the processed frontmatter — we rebuild it for skills.
@@ -183,8 +180,6 @@ class HermesIntegration(SkillsIntegration):
             skill_file.write_bytes(normalized.encode("utf-8"))
             created.append(skill_file)
 
-        # Upsert managed context section into the agent context file
-        self.upsert_context_section(project_root)
 
         # Create project-local marker directory so extension commands
         # (e.g. git) can detect Hermes as an active integration.
@@ -204,8 +199,7 @@ class HermesIntegration(SkillsIntegration):
     ) -> tuple[list[Path], list[Path]]:
         """Uninstall integration files including global Hermes skills.
 
-        Removes the managed context section from AGENTS.md, removes the
-        project-local marker directory (if empty), delegates to
+        Removes the project-local marker directory (if empty), delegates to
         ``manifest.uninstall()`` for project-local tracked files, and
         removes all ``speckit-*`` skills under ``~/.hermes/skills/``.
 
@@ -213,8 +207,6 @@ class HermesIntegration(SkillsIntegration):
         standard integration behaviour where all files created by the
         integration are removed on ``specify integration uninstall``.
         """
-        # Remove managed context section from AGENTS.md
-        self.remove_context_section(project_root)
 
         # Delegate to manifest for project-local tracked files (scripts,
         # templates, context entries tracked in the manifest).

src/specify_cli/integrations/iflow/__init__.py

@@ -18,5 +18,4 @@ class IflowIntegration(MarkdownIntegration):
         "args": "$ARGUMENTS",
         "extension": ".md",
     }
-    context_file = "IFLOW.md"
     multi_install_safe = True

src/specify_cli/integrations/junie/__init__.py

@@ -18,5 +18,4 @@ class JunieIntegration(MarkdownIntegration):
         "args": "$ARGUMENTS",
         "extension": ".md",
     }
-    context_file = ".junie/AGENTS.md"
     multi_install_safe = True

src/specify_cli/integrations/kilocode/__init__.py

@@ -18,5 +18,4 @@ class KilocodeIntegration(MarkdownIntegration):
         "args": "$ARGUMENTS",
         "extension": ".md",
     }
-    context_file = ".kilocode/rules/specify-rules.md"
     multi_install_safe = True

src/specify_cli/integrations/kimi/__init__.py

@@ -5,8 +5,7 @@ Kimi uses the ``.kimi-code/skills/speckit-<name>/SKILL.md`` layout with
 
 Legacy migration covers projects created before Kimi Code CLI moved to
 this layout and handles two distinct changes: the directory move from
-``.kimi/`` to ``.kimi-code/`` (including the ``KIMI.md`` → ``AGENTS.md``
-context file), and the dotted-to-hyphenated skill naming
+``.kimi/`` to ``.kimi-code/``, and the dotted-to-hyphenated skill naming
 (``speckit.xxx`` → ``speckit-xxx``).
 """
 
@@ -16,7 +15,7 @@ import shutil
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Any
 
-from ..base import IntegrationBase, IntegrationOption, SkillsIntegration
+from ..base import IntegrationOption, SkillsIntegration
 from ..manifest import IntegrationManifest
 
 
@@ -37,7 +36,6 @@ class KimiIntegration(SkillsIntegration):
         "args": "$ARGUMENTS",
         "extension": "/SKILL.md",
     }
-    context_file = "AGENTS.md"
     multi_install_safe = False
 
     def build_command_invocation(self, command_name: str, args: str = "") -> str:
@@ -79,9 +77,7 @@ class KimiIntegration(SkillsIntegration):
                 default=False,
                 help=(
                     "Migrate legacy Kimi installations: "
-                    ".kimi/skills/ → .kimi-code/skills/, speckit.xxx → speckit-xxx, "
-                    "and (when the agent-context extension is enabled) "
-                    "KIMI.md user content → AGENTS.md"
+                    ".kimi/skills/ → .kimi-code/skills/ and speckit.xxx → speckit-xxx"
                 ),
             ),
         ]
@@ -128,14 +124,6 @@ class KimiIntegration(SkillsIntegration):
                 _is_safe_legacy_dir(new_skills_dir, project_root)
             ):
                 _migrate_legacy_kimi_skills_dir(old_skills_dir, new_skills_dir)
-            # Mirror upsert/remove_context_section: a disabled agent-context
-            # extension is a full opt-out, so skip the KIMI.md → AGENTS.md
-            # migration entirely and leave both files untouched.
-            if self._agent_context_extension_enabled(project_root):
-                marker_start, marker_end = self._resolve_context_markers(project_root)
-                _migrate_legacy_kimi_context_file(
-                    project_root, marker_start=marker_start, marker_end=marker_end
-                )
 
         return created
 
@@ -363,112 +351,6 @@ def _is_speckit_generated_skill(skill_dir: Path) -> bool:
     )
 
 
-def _migrate_legacy_kimi_context_file(
-    project_root: Path,
-    *,
-    marker_start: str = IntegrationBase.CONTEXT_MARKER_START,
-    marker_end: str = IntegrationBase.CONTEXT_MARKER_END,
-) -> bool:
-    """Migrate user content from legacy ``KIMI.md`` to ``AGENTS.md``.
-
-    The Speckit managed section is stripped from ``KIMI.md`` before the
-    remaining content is appended to ``AGENTS.md``. The legacy file is
-    deleted if it becomes empty. Returns ``True`` if ``KIMI.md`` was
-    migrated, ``False`` when the migration is skipped.
-
-    The migration is skipped (leaving ``KIMI.md`` untouched) in any of these
-    cases, so a best-effort legacy cleanup never aborts ``setup()`` or
-    corrupts ``AGENTS.md``:
-
-    - ``KIMI.md`` is a symlink, missing, or unreadable (its target could be
-      read from outside the project, or it may not be valid UTF-8).
-    - ``AGENTS.md`` is a symlink (it could redirect the write to a file
-      outside the project root), exists as a non-file (e.g. a directory),
-      or is unreadable/unwritable.
-    - ``KIMI.md`` has a corrupted managed section — only one marker is
-      present, or the end marker precedes the start. Stripping is only done
-      when both markers are present and well-ordered, so a partial managed
-      block is never copied into ``AGENTS.md``; the user repairs it manually.
-    """
-    legacy_path = project_root / "KIMI.md"
-    if legacy_path.is_symlink() or not legacy_path.is_file():
-        return False
-
-    target_path = project_root / "AGENTS.md"
-    # Never follow a symlinked target, and never treat an existing non-file
-    # (e.g. a directory) as a writable context file.
-    if target_path.is_symlink() or (target_path.exists() and not target_path.is_file()):
-        return False
-
-    try:
-        content = legacy_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8-sig")
-    except (OSError, UnicodeDecodeError):
-        return False
-
-    marker_pairs = [(marker_start, marker_end)]
-    default_pair = (
-        IntegrationBase.CONTEXT_MARKER_START,
-        IntegrationBase.CONTEXT_MARKER_END,
-    )
-    if default_pair not in marker_pairs:
-        marker_pairs.append(default_pair)
-
-    start_idx = -1
-    end_idx = -1
-    has_start = False
-    has_end = False
-    for s, e in marker_pairs:
-        s_idx = content.find(s)
-        e_idx = content.find(e, s_idx if s_idx != -1 else 0)
-        has_s = s_idx != -1
-        has_e = e_idx != -1
-        if not has_s and not has_e:
-            continue
-        # Refuse to migrate a corrupted managed section: exactly one marker, or
-        # an end marker that does not follow the start.
-        if has_s != has_e or e_idx <= s_idx:
-            return False
-        marker_start, marker_end = s, e
-        start_idx, end_idx = s_idx, e_idx
-        has_start = True
-        has_end = True
-        break
-    if has_start and has_end:
-        removal_start = start_idx
-        removal_end = end_idx + len(marker_end)
-        if removal_end < len(content) and content[removal_end] == "\r":
-            removal_end += 1
-        if removal_end < len(content) and content[removal_end] == "\n":
-            removal_end += 1
-        if removal_start > 0 and content[removal_start - 1] == "\n":
-            if removal_start > 1 and content[removal_start - 2] == "\n":
-                removal_start -= 1
-        content = content[:removal_start] + content[removal_end:]
-
-    user_content = content.replace("\r\n", "\n").replace("\r", "\n").strip()
-    if not user_content:
-        legacy_path.unlink()
-        return True
-
-    try:
-        if target_path.is_file():
-            existing = target_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8-sig")
-            existing = existing.replace("\r\n", "\n").replace("\r", "\n")
-            if not existing.endswith("\n"):
-                existing += "\n"
-            new_content = existing + "\n" + user_content + "\n"
-        else:
-            new_content = user_content + "\n"
-
-        target_path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
-        target_path.write_bytes(new_content.encode("utf-8"))
-    except (OSError, UnicodeDecodeError):
-        return False
-
-    legacy_path.unlink()
-    return True
-
-
 def _migrate_legacy_kimi_dotted_skills(skills_dir: Path) -> tuple[int, int]:
     """Compatibility shim — migrate legacy dotted skill dirs in place.
 

src/specify_cli/integrations/kiro_cli/__init__.py

@@ -26,4 +26,3 @@ class KiroCliIntegration(MarkdownIntegration):
         "args": _KIRO_ARG_FALLBACK,
         "extension": ".md",
     }
-    context_file = "AGENTS.md"

src/specify_cli/integrations/lingma/__init__.py

@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@ class LingmaIntegration(SkillsIntegration):
         "args": "$ARGUMENTS",
         "extension": "/SKILL.md",
     }
-    context_file = ".lingma/rules/specify-rules.md"
 
     @classmethod
     def options(cls) -> list[IntegrationOption]:

src/specify_cli/integrations/omp/__init__.py

@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ class OmpIntegration(MarkdownIntegration):
         "args": "$ARGUMENTS",
         "extension": ".md",
     }
-    context_file = "AGENTS.md"
 
     def build_exec_args(
         self,

src/specify_cli/integrations/opencode/__init__.py

@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ class OpencodeIntegration(MarkdownIntegration):
         "args": "$ARGUMENTS",
         "extension": ".md",
     }
-    context_file = "AGENTS.md"
 
     def build_exec_args(
         self,

src/specify_cli/integrations/pi/__init__.py

@@ -18,4 +18,3 @@ class PiIntegration(MarkdownIntegration):
         "args": "$ARGUMENTS",
         "extension": ".md",
     }
-    context_file = "AGENTS.md"

src/specify_cli/integrations/qodercli/__init__.py

@@ -18,5 +18,4 @@ class QodercliIntegration(MarkdownIntegration):
         "args": "$ARGUMENTS",
         "extension": ".md",
     }
-    context_file = "QODER.md"
     multi_install_safe = True

src/specify_cli/integrations/qwen/__init__.py

@@ -18,5 +18,4 @@ class QwenIntegration(MarkdownIntegration):
         "args": "$ARGUMENTS",
         "extension": ".md",
     }
-    context_file = "QWEN.md"
     multi_install_safe = True

src/specify_cli/integrations/roo/__init__.py

@@ -18,5 +18,4 @@ class RooIntegration(MarkdownIntegration):
         "args": "$ARGUMENTS",
         "extension": ".md",
     }
-    context_file = ".roo/rules/specify-rules.md"
     multi_install_safe = True

src/specify_cli/integrations/rovodev/__init__.py

@@ -39,7 +39,6 @@ class RovodevIntegration(SkillsIntegration):
         "args": "$ARGUMENTS",
         "extension": "/SKILL.md",
     }
-    context_file = "AGENTS.md"
 
     # -- CLI dispatch ------------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -228,8 +227,7 @@ class RovodevIntegration(SkillsIntegration):
     ) -> list[Path]:
         """Install RovoDev skills, then generate prompt wrappers and manifest.
 
-        1. ``SkillsIntegration.setup()`` generates skill files and
-           upserts the context section.
+        1. ``SkillsIntegration.setup()`` generates the skill files.
         2. Generates prompt wrappers and ``prompts.yml`` for each skill
            created in step 1.
         """

src/specify_cli/integrations/shai/__init__.py

@@ -18,5 +18,4 @@ class ShaiIntegration(MarkdownIntegration):
         "args": "$ARGUMENTS",
         "extension": ".md",
     }
-    context_file = "SHAI.md"
     multi_install_safe = True

src/specify_cli/integrations/tabnine/__init__.py

@@ -18,5 +18,4 @@ class TabnineIntegration(TomlIntegration):
         "args": "{{args}}",
         "extension": ".toml",
     }
-    context_file = "TABNINE.md"
     multi_install_safe = True

src/specify_cli/integrations/trae/__init__.py

@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ class TraeIntegration(SkillsIntegration):
         "args": "$ARGUMENTS",
         "extension": "/SKILL.md",
     }
-    context_file = ".trae/rules/project_rules.md"
     multi_install_safe = True
 
     @classmethod

src/specify_cli/integrations/vibe/__init__.py

@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ class VibeIntegration(SkillsIntegration):
         "args": "$ARGUMENTS",
         "extension": "/SKILL.md",
     }
-    context_file = "AGENTS.md"
 
     @classmethod
     def options(cls) -> list[IntegrationOption]:

src/specify_cli/integrations/windsurf/__init__.py

@@ -18,5 +18,4 @@ class WindsurfIntegration(MarkdownIntegration):
         "args": "$ARGUMENTS",
         "extension": ".md",
     }
-    context_file = ".windsurf/rules/specify-rules.md"
     multi_install_safe = True

src/specify_cli/integrations/zcode/__init__.py

@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ class ZcodeIntegration(SkillsIntegration):
         "args": "$ARGUMENTS",
         "extension": "/SKILL.md",
     }
-    context_file = "ZCODE.md"
     multi_install_safe = True
 
     @classmethod

src/specify_cli/integrations/zed/__init__.py

@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@ class ZedIntegration(SkillsIntegration):
         "args": "$ARGUMENTS",
         "extension": "/SKILL.md",
     }
-    context_file = "AGENTS.md"
 
     @classmethod
     def options(cls) -> list[IntegrationOption]:

src/specify_cli/workflows/engine.py

@@ -296,6 +296,40 @@ def _validate_steps(
                     f"boolean, got {type(coe).__name__}."
                 )
 
+        # Fan-in: every wait_for id must reference a step declared at or before
+        # this point. An id not yet seen is either a typo (unknown step) or a
+        # forward reference (the target runs after this fan-in, so its results
+        # cannot exist yet) — both are wiring errors that previously surfaced as
+        # a silent empty result + COMPLETED. A step that is declared but only
+        # conditionally executed (e.g. inside an if/switch branch) is still
+        # "seen" here, so a legitimately-empty result at runtime stays valid.
+        if step_type == "fan-in":
+            wait_for = step_config.get("wait_for")
+            if isinstance(wait_for, list):
+                for wid in wait_for:
+                    if not isinstance(wid, str):
+                        # A non-string entry (e.g. YAML `wait_for: [123]`) can
+                        # never match a real step id, so the join is silently
+                        # empty at runtime — surface it as a wiring error.
+                        errors.append(
+                            f"Fan-in step {step_id!r}: 'wait_for' entries must "
+                            f"be step-id strings, got {type(wid).__name__} "
+                            f"({wid!r})."
+                        )
+                    elif wid == step_id:
+                        # The fan-in's own id is already in seen_ids by now, so
+                        # a self-reference would pass the membership check below
+                        # while still producing an empty join at runtime.
+                        errors.append(
+                            f"Fan-in step {step_id!r}: 'wait_for' references "
+                            f"itself; a fan-in cannot wait for its own results."
+                        )
+                    elif wid not in seen_ids:
+                        errors.append(
+                            f"Fan-in step {step_id!r}: 'wait_for' references "
+                            f"unknown or not-yet-declared step id {wid!r}."
+                        )
+
         # Recursively validate nested steps
         for nested_key in ("then", "else", "steps"):
             nested = step_config.get(nested_key)

src/specify_cli/workflows/expressions.py

@@ -230,11 +230,13 @@ def _evaluate_simple_expression(expr: str, namespace: dict[str, Any]) -> Any:
     if expr[:1] in ("'", '"') and expr.find(expr[0], 1) == len(expr) - 1:
         return expr[1:-1]
 
-    # Handle pipe filters
-    if "|" in expr:
-        parts = expr.split("|", 1)
-        value = _evaluate_simple_expression(parts[0].strip(), namespace)
-        filter_expr = parts[1].strip()
+    # Handle pipe filters. Detect the pipe at the top level only, so a literal
+    # '|' inside a quoted operand (e.g. `inputs.x == 'a|b'`) or nested brackets is
+    # not mistaken for a filter separator — mirroring the operator parsing below.
+    pipe_idx = _find_top_level(expr, "|")
+    if pipe_idx != -1:
+        value = _evaluate_simple_expression(expr[:pipe_idx].strip(), namespace)
+        filter_expr = expr[pipe_idx + 1:].strip()
 
         # `from_json` is strict: it takes no arguments and tolerates no
         # trailing tokens. Match on the leading filter name and require the

src/specify_cli/workflows/steps/gate/__init__.py

@@ -194,7 +194,14 @@ class GateStep(StepBase):
                 f"Gate step {config.get('id', '?')!r}: 'on_reject' must be "
                 f"'abort', 'skip', or 'retry'."
             )
-        if on_reject in ("abort", "retry") and isinstance(options, list):
+        # Only inspect option text when every option is a string; otherwise the
+        # `o.lower()` below would raise AttributeError on a non-string option
+        # (already reported above) and break validate_workflow's never-raise contract.
+        if (
+            on_reject in ("abort", "retry")
+            and isinstance(options, list)
+            and all(isinstance(o, str) for o in options)
+        ):
             reject_choices = {"reject", "abort"}
             if not any(o.lower() in reject_choices for o in options):
                 errors.append(

templates/commands/plan.md

@@ -156,14 +156,11 @@ Command ends after Phase 2 planning. Report branch, IMPL_PLAN path, and generate
    - Do not include full implementation code, model/service/controller bodies, migrations, or complete test suites
    - Keep this artifact as a validation/run guide; implementation details belong in `tasks.md` and the implementation phase
 
-4. **Agent context update**:
-   - Update the plan reference between the `<!-- SPECKIT START -->` and `<!-- SPECKIT END -->` markers in `__CONTEXT_FILE__` to point to the plan file created in step 1 (the IMPL_PLAN path)
-
-**Output**: data-model.md, /contracts/*, quickstart.md, updated agent context file
+**Output**: data-model.md, /contracts/*, quickstart.md
 
 ## Key rules
 
-- Use absolute paths for filesystem operations; use project-relative paths for references in documentation and agent context files
+- Use absolute paths for filesystem operations; use project-relative paths for references in documentation
 - ERROR on gate failures or unresolved clarifications
 
 ## Done When

tests/contract/test_bundle_cli.py

@@ -62,6 +62,21 @@ def test_commands_outside_project_fail_with_guidance(tmp_path: Path, monkeypatch
     assert "Spec Kit project" in result.output
 
 
+def test_fail_writes_error_to_stderr_not_stdout(capsys):
+    """_fail must write to stderr, not stdout: every bundle command routes errors
+    through it, and under --json the error would otherwise corrupt the JSON payload
+    that consumers read from stdout."""
+    import typer
+
+    from specify_cli.commands.bundle import _fail
+
+    with pytest.raises(typer.Exit):
+        _fail("something broke")
+    captured = capsys.readouterr()
+    assert "something broke" in captured.err
+    assert "something broke" not in captured.out
+
+
 def test_search_works_without_a_project(tmp_path: Path, monkeypatch):
     # Discovery commands fall back to the built-in/user catalog stack and must
     # not require a Spec Kit project (matches README/quickstart examples).

tests/extensions/git/test_git_extension.py

@@ -233,6 +233,10 @@ class TestInitializeRepoBash:
         result = _run_bash("initialize-repo.sh", project)
         assert result.returncode == 0, result.stderr
 
+        # Success marker is the full ASCII "[OK] ..." line (matching the PowerShell
+        # twin and the sibling auto-commit scripts), not a Unicode checkmark.
+        assert "[OK] Git repository initialized" in result.stderr, result.stderr
+
         # Verify git repo exists
         assert (project / ".git").exists()
 
@@ -298,6 +302,24 @@ class TestCreateFeatureBash:
         assert data["BRANCH_NAME"] == "001-user-auth"
         assert data["FEATURE_NUM"] == "001"
 
+    def test_output_omits_has_git_for_parity(self, tmp_path: Path):
+        """The bash output contract is {BRANCH_NAME, FEATURE_NUM} (+ DRY_RUN) in JSON
+        and a BRANCH_NAME:/FEATURE_NUM: text block -- no HAS_GIT key/line. This pins
+        the canonical contract the PowerShell twin must mirror."""
+        project = _setup_project(tmp_path)
+        rj = _run_bash(
+            "create-new-feature-branch.sh", project,
+            "--json", "--dry-run", "--short-name", "parity", "Parity feature",
+        )
+        assert rj.returncode == 0, rj.stderr
+        assert "HAS_GIT" not in json.loads(rj.stdout)
+        rt = _run_bash(
+            "create-new-feature-branch.sh", project,
+            "--dry-run", "--short-name", "parity", "Parity feature",
+        )
+        assert rt.returncode == 0, rt.stderr
+        assert "HAS_GIT" not in rt.stdout
+
     def test_branch_name_short_word_case_sensitivity(self, tmp_path: Path):
         """A short word is dropped from the derived branch name unless it appears
         as an acronym in UPPERCASE in the description (case-sensitive, must match the
@@ -444,6 +466,24 @@ class TestCreateFeaturePowerShell:
         data = json.loads(result.stdout)
         assert data["BRANCH_NAME"] == "001-user-auth"
 
+    def test_output_omits_has_git_to_match_bash(self, tmp_path: Path):
+        """PowerShell must mirror the bash twin's output contract: neither JSON nor
+        text output may include HAS_GIT (it is computed internally for branch-creation
+        logic only). Fails before the fix (PS emitted HAS_GIT), passes after."""
+        project = _setup_project(tmp_path)
+        rj = _run_pwsh(
+            "create-new-feature-branch.ps1", project,
+            "-Json", "-DryRun", "-ShortName", "parity", "Parity feature",
+        )
+        assert rj.returncode == 0, rj.stderr
+        assert "HAS_GIT" not in json.loads(rj.stdout)
+        rt = _run_pwsh(
+            "create-new-feature-branch.ps1", project,
+            "-DryRun", "-ShortName", "parity", "Parity feature",
+        )
+        assert rt.returncode == 0, rt.stderr
+        assert "HAS_GIT" not in rt.stdout
+
     def test_branch_name_short_word_case_sensitivity(self, tmp_path: Path):
         """PowerShell must match the bash twin: a short word is dropped unless it
         appears as an acronym in UPPERCASE (case-sensitive -cmatch, not -match)."""

tests/extensions/test_agent_context_cli_free.py

@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+"""Static guard: the Specify CLI source must contain no agent-context lifecycle code.
+
+The ``agent-context`` extension is a full opt-in and owns its own lifecycle. The
+Python codebase (``src/specify_cli/**``) must therefore not reference any of the
+removed context-section management helpers, the extension config helpers, the
+context markers, or the obsolete deprecation message.
+
+Maps to contract C5 / FR-002 / FR-003 / FR-006 / SC-002 / SC-003.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import pytest
+
+PROJECT_ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[2]
+SRC_ROOT = PROJECT_ROOT / "src" / "specify_cli"
+
+FORBIDDEN_SYMBOLS = [
+    "upsert_context_section",
+    "remove_context_section",
+    "_agent_context_extension_enabled",
+    "_resolve_context_markers",
+    "_resolve_context_files",
+    "_resolve_context_file_values",
+    "_build_context_section",
+    "_AGENT_CTX_EXT_CONFIG",
+    "_load_agent_context_config",
+    "_save_agent_context_config",
+    "_update_agent_context_config_file",
+    "CONTEXT_MARKER_START",
+    "CONTEXT_MARKER_END",
+    "agent-context-config",
+    "agent_context_config",
+    "__CONTEXT_FILE__",
+    "_context_file_display",
+    "Inline agent-context updates",
+    "v0.12.0",
+]
+
+
+@pytest.fixture(scope="module")
+def cli_source_texts() -> list[tuple[str, str]]:
+    """Read every CLI source file once, shared across all parametrized cases."""
+    return [
+        (str(path.relative_to(PROJECT_ROOT)), path.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+        for path in SRC_ROOT.rglob("*.py")
+    ]
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("symbol", FORBIDDEN_SYMBOLS)
+def test_symbol_absent_from_cli_source(symbol, cli_source_texts):
+    offenders = [rel for rel, text in cli_source_texts if symbol in text]
+    assert not offenders, (
+        f"Forbidden agent-context symbol {symbol!r} still present in: {offenders}"
+    )

tests/integrations/conftest.py

@@ -20,4 +20,3 @@ class StubIntegration(MarkdownIntegration):
         "args": "$ARGUMENTS",
         "extension": ".md",
     }
-    context_file = "STUB.md"

tests/integrations/test_base.py

@@ -43,7 +43,6 @@ class TestIntegrationBase:
         assert i.key == "stub"
         assert i.config["name"] == "Stub Agent"
         assert i.registrar_config["format"] == "markdown"
-        assert i.context_file == "STUB.md"
 
     def test_options_default_empty(self):
         assert StubIntegration.options() == []

tests/integrations/test_cli.py

@@ -77,23 +77,17 @@ class TestInitIntegrationFlag:
 
         opts = json.loads((project / ".specify" / "init-options.json").read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
         assert opts["integration"] == "copilot"
-        # context_file lives in the agent-context extension config, not init-options.json
+        # init must not leave any legacy agent-context keys in init-options.json
         assert "context_file" not in opts
 
-        import yaml as _yaml
+        # agent-context is fully opt-in: init must not install it or write its config
         ext_cfg_path = project / ".specify" / "extensions" / "agent-context" / "agent-context-config.yml"
-        assert ext_cfg_path.exists(), "agent-context extension config must be created on init"
-        ext_cfg = _yaml.safe_load(ext_cfg_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
-        assert ext_cfg["context_file"] == ".github/copilot-instructions.md"
+        assert not ext_cfg_path.exists(), "init must not create the agent-context extension config"
 
         assert (project / ".specify" / "integrations" / "copilot.manifest.json").exists()
 
-        # Context section should be upserted into the copilot instructions file
-        ctx_file = project / ".github" / "copilot-instructions.md"
-        assert ctx_file.exists()
-        ctx_content = ctx_file.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-        assert "<!-- SPECKIT START -->" in ctx_content
-        assert "<!-- SPECKIT END -->" in ctx_content
+        # init must not create or manage the agent context file
+        assert not (project / ".github" / "copilot-instructions.md").exists()
 
         shared_manifest = project / ".specify" / "integrations" / "speckit.manifest.json"
         assert shared_manifest.exists()
@@ -1270,7 +1264,6 @@ class TestIntegrationCatalogDiscoveryCLI:
                 "args": "$ARGUMENTS",
                 "extension": ".md",
             }
-            context_file = "BROKEN.md"
 
             def setup(self, project_root, manifest, **kwargs):
                 raise OSError("setup exploded\nwith context")

tests/integrations/test_extra_args.py

@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@ class _ClaudeStub(SkillsIntegration):
         "args": "$ARGUMENTS",
         "extension": "/SKILL.md",
     }
-    context_file = "CLAUDE.md"
 
 
 class _KiroCliStub(SkillsIntegration):
@@ -58,7 +57,6 @@ class _KiroCliStub(SkillsIntegration):
         "args": "$ARGUMENTS",
         "extension": ".md",
     }
-    context_file = "KIRO.md"
 
 
 class _NoCliStub(SkillsIntegration):
@@ -79,7 +77,6 @@ class _NoCliStub(SkillsIntegration):
         "args": "$ARGUMENTS",
         "extension": ".md",
     }
-    context_file = "NOCLI.md"
 
 
 class _MarkdownAgentStub(MarkdownIntegration):
@@ -102,7 +99,6 @@ class _MarkdownAgentStub(MarkdownIntegration):
         "args": "$ARGUMENTS",
         "extension": ".md",
     }
-    context_file = "MDAGENT.md"
 
 
 class _TomlAgentStub(TomlIntegration):
@@ -124,7 +120,6 @@ class _TomlAgentStub(TomlIntegration):
         "args": "$ARGUMENTS",
         "extension": ".toml",
     }
-    context_file = "TOMLAGENT.md"
 
 
 @pytest.fixture(autouse=True)

tests/integrations/test_integration_agy.py

@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ class TestAgyIntegration(SkillsIntegrationTests):
     FOLDER = ".agents/"
     COMMANDS_SUBDIR = "skills"
     REGISTRAR_DIR = ".agents/skills"
-    CONTEXT_FILE = "AGENTS.md"
 
     def test_options_include_skills_flag(self):
         """Override inherited test: AgyIntegration should not expose a --skills flag because .agents/ is its only layout."""

tests/integrations/test_integration_amp.py

@@ -8,4 +8,3 @@ class TestAmpIntegration(MarkdownIntegrationTests):
     FOLDER = ".agents/"
     COMMANDS_SUBDIR = "commands"
     REGISTRAR_DIR = ".agents/commands"
-    CONTEXT_FILE = "AGENTS.md"

tests/integrations/test_integration_auggie.py

@@ -8,4 +8,3 @@ class TestAuggieIntegration(MarkdownIntegrationTests):
     FOLDER = ".augment/"
     COMMANDS_SUBDIR = "commands"
     REGISTRAR_DIR = ".augment/commands"
-    CONTEXT_FILE = ".augment/rules/specify-rules.md"

tests/integrations/test_integration_base_markdown.py

@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 """Reusable test mixin for standard MarkdownIntegration subclasses.
 
 Each per-agent test file sets ``KEY``, ``FOLDER``, ``COMMANDS_SUBDIR``,
-``REGISTRAR_DIR``, and ``CONTEXT_FILE``, then inherits all verification
-logic from ``MarkdownIntegrationTests``.
+and ``REGISTRAR_DIR``, then inherits all verification logic from
+``MarkdownIntegrationTests``.
 """
 
 import os
@@ -21,14 +21,12 @@ class MarkdownIntegrationTests:
         FOLDER: str           — e.g. ".claude/"
         COMMANDS_SUBDIR: str  — e.g. "commands"
         REGISTRAR_DIR: str    — e.g. ".claude/commands"
-        CONTEXT_FILE: str     — e.g. "CLAUDE.md"
     """
 
     KEY: str
     FOLDER: str
     COMMANDS_SUBDIR: str
     REGISTRAR_DIR: str
-    CONTEXT_FILE: str
 
     # -- Registration -----------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -56,10 +54,6 @@ class MarkdownIntegrationTests:
         assert i.registrar_config["args"] == "$ARGUMENTS"
         assert i.registrar_config["extension"] == ".md"
 
-    def test_context_file(self):
-        i = get_integration(self.KEY)
-        assert i.context_file == self.CONTEXT_FILE
-
     # -- Setup / teardown -------------------------------------------------
 
     def test_setup_creates_files(self, tmp_path):
@@ -101,19 +95,18 @@ class MarkdownIntegrationTests:
             assert "__SPECKIT_COMMAND_" not in content, f"{f.name} has unprocessed __SPECKIT_COMMAND_*__"
             assert "\nscripts:\n" not in content, f"{f.name} has unstripped scripts: block"
 
-    def test_plan_references_correct_context_file(self, tmp_path):
-        """The generated plan command must reference this integration's context file."""
+    def test_plan_command_has_no_context_placeholder(self, tmp_path):
+        """The generated plan command must not carry a context-file placeholder.
+
+        Agent context files are owned entirely by the opt-in agent-context
+        extension, so the core plan command must not reference one.
+        """
         i = get_integration(self.KEY)
-        if not i.context_file:
-            return
         m = IntegrationManifest(self.KEY, tmp_path)
         i.setup(tmp_path, m)
         plan_file = i.commands_dest(tmp_path) / i.command_filename("plan")
         assert plan_file.exists(), f"Plan file {plan_file} not created"
         content = plan_file.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-        assert i.context_file in content, (
-            f"Plan command should reference {i.context_file!r} but it was not found in {plan_file.name}"
-        )
         assert "__CONTEXT_FILE__" not in content, (
             f"Plan command has unprocessed __CONTEXT_FILE__ placeholder in {plan_file.name}"
         )
@@ -149,35 +142,32 @@ class MarkdownIntegrationTests:
         assert modified_file.exists()
         assert modified_file in skipped
 
-    # -- Context section ---------------------------------------------------
+    # -- Context file ownership (extension-owned, opt-in) -----------------
 
-    def test_setup_upserts_context_section(self, tmp_path):
+    def test_setup_does_not_write_context_section(self, tmp_path):
+        """Setup must not create or manage any agent context file — that is
+        owned entirely by the opt-in agent-context extension."""
         i = get_integration(self.KEY)
         m = IntegrationManifest(self.KEY, tmp_path)
         i.setup(tmp_path, m)
-        if i.context_file:
-            ctx_path = tmp_path / i.context_file
-            assert ctx_path.exists(), f"Context file {i.context_file} not created for {self.KEY}"
-            content = ctx_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-            assert "<!-- SPECKIT START -->" in content
-            assert "<!-- SPECKIT END -->" in content
-            assert "read the current plan" in content
+        for path in tmp_path.rglob("*"):
+            if path.is_file():
+                text = path.read_text(encoding="utf-8", errors="ignore")
+                assert "<!-- SPECKIT START -->" not in text, (
+                    f"Setup wrote a managed context section into {path} for {self.KEY}"
+                )
 
-    def test_teardown_removes_context_section(self, tmp_path):
+    def test_teardown_leaves_existing_context_file_intact(self, tmp_path):
+        """A user-authored context file must survive setup + teardown untouched."""
         i = get_integration(self.KEY)
         m = IntegrationManifest(self.KEY, tmp_path)
+        ctx_path = tmp_path / "AGENTS.md"
+        original = "# My Rules\n\nUser content.\n"
+        ctx_path.write_text(original, encoding="utf-8")
         i.setup(tmp_path, m)
         m.save()
-        if i.context_file:
-            ctx_path = tmp_path / i.context_file
-            # Add user content around the section
-            content = ctx_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-            ctx_path.write_text("# My Rules\n\n" + content + "\n# Footer\n", encoding="utf-8")
-            i.teardown(tmp_path, m)
-            remaining = ctx_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-            assert "<!-- SPECKIT START -->" not in remaining
-            assert "<!-- SPECKIT END -->" not in remaining
-            assert "# My Rules" in remaining
+        i.teardown(tmp_path, m)
+        assert ctx_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8") == original
 
     # -- CLI integration flag -------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -225,35 +215,10 @@ class MarkdownIntegrationTests:
         commands = sorted(cmd_dir.glob("speckit.*"))
         assert len(commands) > 0, f"No command files in {cmd_dir}"
 
-    def test_init_options_includes_context_file(self, tmp_path):
-        """agent-context extension config must include context_file for the active integration."""
-        import yaml
-        from typer.testing import CliRunner
-        from specify_cli import app
-
-        project = tmp_path / f"opts-{self.KEY}"
-        project.mkdir()
-        old_cwd = os.getcwd()
-        try:
-            os.chdir(project)
-            result = CliRunner().invoke(app, [
-                "init", "--here", "--integration", self.KEY, "--script", "sh",
-                "--ignore-agent-tools",
-            ], catch_exceptions=False)
-        finally:
-            os.chdir(old_cwd)
-        assert result.exit_code == 0
-        ext_cfg_path = project / ".specify" / "extensions" / "agent-context" / "agent-context-config.yml"
-        ext_cfg = yaml.safe_load(ext_cfg_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")) if ext_cfg_path.exists() else {}
-        i = get_integration(self.KEY)
-        assert ext_cfg.get("context_file") == i.context_file, (
-            f"Expected context_file={i.context_file!r}, got {ext_cfg.get('context_file')!r}"
-        )
 
     # -- Complete file inventory ------------------------------------------
 
     COMMAND_STEMS = [
-        "agent-context.update",
         "analyze", "clarify", "constitution", "converge", "implement",
         "plan", "checklist", "specify", "tasks", "taskstoissues",
     ]
@@ -293,19 +258,7 @@ class MarkdownIntegrationTests:
         files.append(".specify/workflows/speckit/workflow.yml")
         files.append(".specify/workflows/workflow-registry.json")
 
-        # Bundled agent-context extension
-        files.append(".specify/extensions.yml")
-        files.append(".specify/extensions/.registry")
-        files.append(".specify/extensions/agent-context/README.md")
-        files.append(".specify/extensions/agent-context/agent-context-config.yml")
-        files.append(".specify/extensions/agent-context/commands/speckit.agent-context.update.md")
-        files.append(".specify/extensions/agent-context/extension.yml")
-        files.append(".specify/extensions/agent-context/scripts/bash/update-agent-context.sh")
-        files.append(".specify/extensions/agent-context/scripts/powershell/update-agent-context.ps1")
 
-        # Agent context file (if set)
-        if i.context_file:
-            files.append(i.context_file)
 
         return sorted(files)
 

tests/integrations/test_integration_base_skills.py

@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 """Reusable test mixin for standard SkillsIntegration subclasses.
 
 Each per-agent test file sets ``KEY``, ``FOLDER``, ``COMMANDS_SUBDIR``,
-``REGISTRAR_DIR``, and ``CONTEXT_FILE``, then inherits all verification
-logic from ``SkillsIntegrationTests``.
+and ``REGISTRAR_DIR``, then inherits all verification logic from
+``SkillsIntegrationTests``.
 
 Mirrors ``MarkdownIntegrationTests`` / ``TomlIntegrationTests`` closely,
 adapted for the ``speckit-<name>/SKILL.md`` skills layout.
@@ -26,14 +26,12 @@ class SkillsIntegrationTests:
         FOLDER: str           — e.g. ".agents/"
         COMMANDS_SUBDIR: str  — e.g. "skills"
         REGISTRAR_DIR: str    — e.g. ".agents/skills"
-        CONTEXT_FILE: str     — e.g. "AGENTS.md"
     """
 
     KEY: str
     FOLDER: str
     COMMANDS_SUBDIR: str
     REGISTRAR_DIR: str
-    CONTEXT_FILE: str
 
     # -- Registration -----------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -61,10 +59,6 @@ class SkillsIntegrationTests:
         assert i.registrar_config["args"] == "$ARGUMENTS"
         assert i.registrar_config["extension"] == "/SKILL.md"
 
-    def test_context_file(self):
-        i = get_integration(self.KEY)
-        assert i.context_file == self.CONTEXT_FILE
-
     # -- Setup / teardown -------------------------------------------------
 
     def test_setup_creates_files(self, tmp_path):
@@ -222,19 +216,18 @@ class SkillsIntegrationTests:
             body = parts[2].strip() if len(parts) >= 3 else ""
             assert len(body) > 0, f"{f} has empty body"
 
-    def test_plan_references_correct_context_file(self, tmp_path):
-        """The generated plan skill must reference this integration's context file."""
+    def test_plan_skill_has_no_context_placeholder(self, tmp_path):
+        """The generated plan skill must not carry a context-file placeholder.
+
+        Agent context files are owned entirely by the opt-in agent-context
+        extension, so the core plan skill must not reference one.
+        """
         i = get_integration(self.KEY)
-        if not i.context_file:
-            return
         m = IntegrationManifest(self.KEY, tmp_path)
         i.setup(tmp_path, m)
         plan_file = i.skills_dest(tmp_path) / "speckit-plan" / "SKILL.md"
         assert plan_file.exists(), f"Plan skill {plan_file} not created"
         content = plan_file.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-        assert i.context_file in content, (
-            f"Plan skill should reference {i.context_file!r} but it was not found"
-        )
         assert "__CONTEXT_FILE__" not in content, (
             "Plan skill has unprocessed __CONTEXT_FILE__ placeholder"
         )
@@ -283,34 +276,32 @@ class SkillsIntegrationTests:
 
         assert (foreign_dir / "SKILL.md").exists(), "Foreign skill was removed"
 
-    # -- Context section ---------------------------------------------------
+    # -- Context file ownership (extension-owned, opt-in) -----------------
 
-    def test_setup_upserts_context_section(self, tmp_path):
+    def test_setup_does_not_write_context_section(self, tmp_path):
+        """Setup must not create or manage any agent context file — that is
+        owned entirely by the opt-in agent-context extension."""
         i = get_integration(self.KEY)
         m = IntegrationManifest(self.KEY, tmp_path)
         i.setup(tmp_path, m)
-        if i.context_file:
-            ctx_path = tmp_path / i.context_file
-            assert ctx_path.exists(), f"Context file {i.context_file} not created for {self.KEY}"
-            content = ctx_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-            assert "<!-- SPECKIT START -->" in content
-            assert "<!-- SPECKIT END -->" in content
-            assert "read the current plan" in content
+        for path in tmp_path.rglob("*"):
+            if path.is_file():
+                text = path.read_text(encoding="utf-8", errors="ignore")
+                assert "<!-- SPECKIT START -->" not in text, (
+                    f"Setup wrote a managed context section into {path} for {self.KEY}"
+                )
 
-    def test_teardown_removes_context_section(self, tmp_path):
+    def test_teardown_leaves_existing_context_file_intact(self, tmp_path):
+        """A user-authored context file must survive setup + teardown untouched."""
         i = get_integration(self.KEY)
         m = IntegrationManifest(self.KEY, tmp_path)
+        ctx_path = tmp_path / "AGENTS.md"
+        original = "# My Rules\n\nUser content.\n"
+        ctx_path.write_text(original, encoding="utf-8")
         i.setup(tmp_path, m)
         m.save()
-        if i.context_file:
-            ctx_path = tmp_path / i.context_file
-            content = ctx_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-            ctx_path.write_text("# My Rules\n\n" + content + "\n# Footer\n", encoding="utf-8")
-            i.teardown(tmp_path, m)
-            remaining = ctx_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-            assert "<!-- SPECKIT START -->" not in remaining
-            assert "<!-- SPECKIT END -->" not in remaining
-            assert "# My Rules" in remaining
+        i.teardown(tmp_path, m)
+        assert ctx_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8") == original
 
     # -- CLI integration flag -------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -356,9 +347,9 @@ class SkillsIntegrationTests:
         skills_dir = i.skills_dest(project)
         assert skills_dir.is_dir(), f"Skills directory {skills_dir} not created"
 
-    def test_init_options_includes_context_file(self, tmp_path):
-        """agent-context extension config must include context_file for the active integration."""
-        import yaml
+    def test_init_does_not_create_agent_context_config(self, tmp_path):
+        """agent-context is opt-in: init must not auto-install the extension
+        or write its config."""
         from typer.testing import CliRunner
         from specify_cli import app
 
@@ -375,11 +366,7 @@ class SkillsIntegrationTests:
             os.chdir(old_cwd)
         assert result.exit_code == 0
         ext_cfg_path = project / ".specify" / "extensions" / "agent-context" / "agent-context-config.yml"
-        ext_cfg = yaml.safe_load(ext_cfg_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")) if ext_cfg_path.exists() else {}
-        i = get_integration(self.KEY)
-        assert ext_cfg.get("context_file") == i.context_file, (
-            f"Expected context_file={i.context_file!r}, got {ext_cfg.get('context_file')!r}"
-        )
+        assert not ext_cfg_path.exists()
 
     # -- IntegrationOption ------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -406,8 +393,6 @@ class SkillsIntegrationTests:
         # Skill files (core commands)
         for cmd in self._SKILL_COMMANDS:
             files.append(f"{skills_prefix}/speckit-{cmd}/SKILL.md")
-        # Extension-installed skill (agent-context)
-        files.append(f"{skills_prefix}/speckit-agent-context-update/SKILL.md")
         # Integration metadata
         files += [
             ".specify/init-options.json",
@@ -446,18 +431,6 @@ class SkillsIntegrationTests:
             ".specify/workflows/speckit/workflow.yml",
             ".specify/workflows/workflow-registry.json",
         ]
-        # Bundled agent-context extension
-        files.append(".specify/extensions.yml")
-        files.append(".specify/extensions/.registry")
-        files.append(".specify/extensions/agent-context/README.md")
-        files.append(".specify/extensions/agent-context/agent-context-config.yml")
-        files.append(".specify/extensions/agent-context/commands/speckit.agent-context.update.md")
-        files.append(".specify/extensions/agent-context/extension.yml")
-        files.append(".specify/extensions/agent-context/scripts/bash/update-agent-context.sh")
-        files.append(".specify/extensions/agent-context/scripts/powershell/update-agent-context.ps1")
-        # Agent context file (if set)
-        if i.context_file:
-            files.append(i.context_file)
         return sorted(files)
 
     def test_complete_file_inventory_sh(self, tmp_path):

tests/integrations/test_integration_base_toml.py

@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 """Reusable test mixin for standard TomlIntegration subclasses.
 
 Each per-agent test file sets ``KEY``, ``FOLDER``, ``COMMANDS_SUBDIR``,
-``REGISTRAR_DIR``, and ``CONTEXT_FILE``, then inherits all verification
-logic from ``TomlIntegrationTests``.
+and ``REGISTRAR_DIR``, then inherits all verification logic from
+``TomlIntegrationTests``.
 
 Mirrors ``MarkdownIntegrationTests`` closely — same test structure,
 adapted for TOML output format.
@@ -27,14 +27,12 @@ class TomlIntegrationTests:
         FOLDER: str           — e.g. ".gemini/"
         COMMANDS_SUBDIR: str  — e.g. "commands"
         REGISTRAR_DIR: str    — e.g. ".gemini/commands"
-        CONTEXT_FILE: str     — e.g. "GEMINI.md"
     """
 
     KEY: str
     FOLDER: str
     COMMANDS_SUBDIR: str
     REGISTRAR_DIR: str
-    CONTEXT_FILE: str
 
     # -- Registration -----------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -62,10 +60,6 @@ class TomlIntegrationTests:
         assert i.registrar_config["args"] == "{{args}}"
         assert i.registrar_config["extension"] == ".toml"
 
-    def test_context_file(self):
-        i = get_integration(self.KEY)
-        assert i.context_file == self.CONTEXT_FILE
-
     # -- Setup / teardown -------------------------------------------------
 
     def test_setup_creates_files(self, tmp_path):
@@ -311,19 +305,18 @@ class TomlIntegrationTests:
                 raise AssertionError(f"{f.name} is not valid TOML: {exc}") from exc
             assert "prompt" in parsed, f"{f.name} parsed TOML has no 'prompt' key"
 
-    def test_plan_references_correct_context_file(self, tmp_path):
-        """The generated plan command must reference this integration's context file."""
+    def test_plan_command_has_no_context_placeholder(self, tmp_path):
+        """The generated plan command must not carry a context-file placeholder.
+
+        Agent context files are owned entirely by the opt-in agent-context
+        extension, so the core plan command must not reference one.
+        """
         i = get_integration(self.KEY)
-        if not i.context_file:
-            return
         m = IntegrationManifest(self.KEY, tmp_path)
         i.setup(tmp_path, m)
         plan_file = i.commands_dest(tmp_path) / i.command_filename("plan")
         assert plan_file.exists(), f"Plan file {plan_file} not created"
         content = plan_file.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-        assert i.context_file in content, (
-            f"Plan command should reference {i.context_file!r} but it was not found in {plan_file.name}"
-        )
         assert "__CONTEXT_FILE__" not in content, (
             f"Plan command has unprocessed __CONTEXT_FILE__ placeholder in {plan_file.name}"
         )
@@ -359,34 +352,32 @@ class TomlIntegrationTests:
         assert modified_file.exists()
         assert modified_file in skipped
 
-    # -- Context section ---------------------------------------------------
+    # -- Context file ownership (extension-owned, opt-in) -----------------
 
-    def test_setup_upserts_context_section(self, tmp_path):
+    def test_setup_does_not_write_context_section(self, tmp_path):
+        """Setup must not create or manage any agent context file — that is
+        owned entirely by the opt-in agent-context extension."""
         i = get_integration(self.KEY)
         m = IntegrationManifest(self.KEY, tmp_path)
         i.setup(tmp_path, m)
-        if i.context_file:
-            ctx_path = tmp_path / i.context_file
-            assert ctx_path.exists(), f"Context file {i.context_file} not created for {self.KEY}"
-            content = ctx_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-            assert "<!-- SPECKIT START -->" in content
-            assert "<!-- SPECKIT END -->" in content
-            assert "read the current plan" in content
+        for path in tmp_path.rglob("*"):
+            if path.is_file():
+                text = path.read_text(encoding="utf-8", errors="ignore")
+                assert "<!-- SPECKIT START -->" not in text, (
+                    f"Setup wrote a managed context section into {path} for {self.KEY}"
+                )
 
-    def test_teardown_removes_context_section(self, tmp_path):
+    def test_teardown_leaves_existing_context_file_intact(self, tmp_path):
+        """A user-authored context file must survive setup + teardown untouched."""
         i = get_integration(self.KEY)
         m = IntegrationManifest(self.KEY, tmp_path)
+        ctx_path = tmp_path / "AGENTS.md"
+        original = "# My Rules\n\nUser content.\n"
+        ctx_path.write_text(original, encoding="utf-8")
         i.setup(tmp_path, m)
         m.save()
-        if i.context_file:
-            ctx_path = tmp_path / i.context_file
-            content = ctx_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-            ctx_path.write_text("# My Rules\n\n" + content + "\n# Footer\n", encoding="utf-8")
-            i.teardown(tmp_path, m)
-            remaining = ctx_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-            assert "<!-- SPECKIT START -->" not in remaining
-            assert "<!-- SPECKIT END -->" not in remaining
-            assert "# My Rules" in remaining
+        i.teardown(tmp_path, m)
+        assert ctx_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8") == original
 
     # -- CLI integration flag -------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -454,35 +445,10 @@ class TomlIntegrationTests:
         commands = sorted(cmd_dir.glob("speckit.*.toml"))
         assert len(commands) > 0, f"No command files in {cmd_dir}"
 
-    def test_init_options_includes_context_file(self, tmp_path):
-        """agent-context extension config must include context_file for the active integration."""
-        import yaml
-        from typer.testing import CliRunner
-        from specify_cli import app
-
-        project = tmp_path / f"opts-{self.KEY}"
-        project.mkdir()
-        old_cwd = os.getcwd()
-        try:
-            os.chdir(project)
-            result = CliRunner().invoke(app, [
-                "init", "--here", "--integration", self.KEY, "--script", "sh",
-                "--ignore-agent-tools",
-            ], catch_exceptions=False)
-        finally:
-            os.chdir(old_cwd)
-        assert result.exit_code == 0
-        ext_cfg_path = project / ".specify" / "extensions" / "agent-context" / "agent-context-config.yml"
-        ext_cfg = yaml.safe_load(ext_cfg_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")) if ext_cfg_path.exists() else {}
-        i = get_integration(self.KEY)
-        assert ext_cfg.get("context_file") == i.context_file, (
-            f"Expected context_file={i.context_file!r}, got {ext_cfg.get('context_file')!r}"
-        )
 
     # -- Complete file inventory ------------------------------------------
 
     COMMAND_STEMS = [
-        "agent-context.update",
         "analyze",
         "clarify",
         "constitution",
@@ -544,19 +510,7 @@ class TomlIntegrationTests:
         files.append(".specify/workflows/speckit/workflow.yml")
         files.append(".specify/workflows/workflow-registry.json")
 
-        # Bundled agent-context extension
-        files.append(".specify/extensions.yml")
-        files.append(".specify/extensions/.registry")
-        files.append(".specify/extensions/agent-context/README.md")
-        files.append(".specify/extensions/agent-context/agent-context-config.yml")
-        files.append(".specify/extensions/agent-context/commands/speckit.agent-context.update.md")
-        files.append(".specify/extensions/agent-context/extension.yml")
-        files.append(".specify/extensions/agent-context/scripts/bash/update-agent-context.sh")
-        files.append(".specify/extensions/agent-context/scripts/powershell/update-agent-context.ps1")
 
-        # Agent context file (if set)
-        if i.context_file:
-            files.append(i.context_file)
 
         return sorted(files)
 

tests/integrations/test_integration_base_yaml.py

@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 """Reusable test mixin for standard YamlIntegration subclasses.
 
 Each per-agent test file sets ``KEY``, ``FOLDER``, ``COMMANDS_SUBDIR``,
-``REGISTRAR_DIR``, and ``CONTEXT_FILE``, then inherits all verification
-logic from ``YamlIntegrationTests``.
+and ``REGISTRAR_DIR``, then inherits all verification logic from
+``YamlIntegrationTests``.
 
 Mirrors ``TomlIntegrationTests`` closely — same test structure,
 adapted for YAML recipe output format.
@@ -26,14 +26,12 @@ class YamlIntegrationTests:
         FOLDER: str           — e.g. ".goose/"
         COMMANDS_SUBDIR: str  — e.g. "recipes"
         REGISTRAR_DIR: str    — e.g. ".goose/recipes"
-        CONTEXT_FILE: str     — e.g. "AGENTS.md"
     """
 
     KEY: str
     FOLDER: str
     COMMANDS_SUBDIR: str
     REGISTRAR_DIR: str
-    CONTEXT_FILE: str
 
     # -- Registration -----------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -61,10 +59,6 @@ class YamlIntegrationTests:
         assert i.registrar_config["args"] == "{{args}}"
         assert i.registrar_config["extension"] == ".yaml"
 
-    def test_context_file(self):
-        i = get_integration(self.KEY)
-        assert i.context_file == self.CONTEXT_FILE
-
     # -- Setup / teardown -------------------------------------------------
 
     def test_setup_creates_files(self, tmp_path):
@@ -190,19 +184,18 @@ class YamlIntegrationTests:
         assert "scripts:" not in parsed["prompt"]
         assert "---" not in parsed["prompt"]
 
-    def test_plan_references_correct_context_file(self, tmp_path):
-        """The generated plan command must reference this integration's context file."""
+    def test_plan_command_has_no_context_placeholder(self, tmp_path):
+        """The generated plan command must not carry a context-file placeholder.
+
+        Agent context files are owned entirely by the opt-in agent-context
+        extension, so the core plan command must not reference one.
+        """
         i = get_integration(self.KEY)
-        if not i.context_file:
-            return
         m = IntegrationManifest(self.KEY, tmp_path)
         i.setup(tmp_path, m)
         plan_file = i.commands_dest(tmp_path) / i.command_filename("plan")
         assert plan_file.exists(), f"Plan file {plan_file} not created"
         content = plan_file.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-        assert i.context_file in content, (
-            f"Plan command should reference {i.context_file!r} but it was not found in {plan_file.name}"
-        )
         assert "__CONTEXT_FILE__" not in content, (
             f"Plan command has unprocessed __CONTEXT_FILE__ placeholder in {plan_file.name}"
         )
@@ -238,34 +231,32 @@ class YamlIntegrationTests:
         assert modified_file.exists()
         assert modified_file in skipped
 
-    # -- Context section ---------------------------------------------------
+    # -- Context file ownership (extension-owned, opt-in) -----------------
 
-    def test_setup_upserts_context_section(self, tmp_path):
+    def test_setup_does_not_write_context_section(self, tmp_path):
+        """Setup must not create or manage any agent context file — that is
+        owned entirely by the opt-in agent-context extension."""
         i = get_integration(self.KEY)
         m = IntegrationManifest(self.KEY, tmp_path)
         i.setup(tmp_path, m)
-        if i.context_file:
-            ctx_path = tmp_path / i.context_file
-            assert ctx_path.exists(), f"Context file {i.context_file} not created for {self.KEY}"
-            content = ctx_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-            assert "<!-- SPECKIT START -->" in content
-            assert "<!-- SPECKIT END -->" in content
-            assert "read the current plan" in content
+        for path in tmp_path.rglob("*"):
+            if path.is_file():
+                text = path.read_text(encoding="utf-8", errors="ignore")
+                assert "<!-- SPECKIT START -->" not in text, (
+                    f"Setup wrote a managed context section into {path} for {self.KEY}"
+                )
 
-    def test_teardown_removes_context_section(self, tmp_path):
+    def test_teardown_leaves_existing_context_file_intact(self, tmp_path):
+        """A user-authored context file must survive setup + teardown untouched."""
         i = get_integration(self.KEY)
         m = IntegrationManifest(self.KEY, tmp_path)
+        ctx_path = tmp_path / "AGENTS.md"
+        original = "# My Rules\n\nUser content.\n"
+        ctx_path.write_text(original, encoding="utf-8")
         i.setup(tmp_path, m)
         m.save()
-        if i.context_file:
-            ctx_path = tmp_path / i.context_file
-            content = ctx_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-            ctx_path.write_text("# My Rules\n\n" + content + "\n# Footer\n", encoding="utf-8")
-            i.teardown(tmp_path, m)
-            remaining = ctx_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-            assert "<!-- SPECKIT START -->" not in remaining
-            assert "<!-- SPECKIT END -->" not in remaining
-            assert "# My Rules" in remaining
+        i.teardown(tmp_path, m)
+        assert ctx_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8") == original
 
     # -- CLI integration flag -------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -333,35 +324,10 @@ class YamlIntegrationTests:
         commands = sorted(cmd_dir.glob("speckit.*.yaml"))
         assert len(commands) > 0, f"No command files in {cmd_dir}"
 
-    def test_init_options_includes_context_file(self, tmp_path):
-        """agent-context extension config must include context_file for the active integration."""
-        import yaml
-        from typer.testing import CliRunner
-        from specify_cli import app
-
-        project = tmp_path / f"opts-{self.KEY}"
-        project.mkdir()
-        old_cwd = os.getcwd()
-        try:
-            os.chdir(project)
-            result = CliRunner().invoke(app, [
-                "init", "--here", "--integration", self.KEY, "--script", "sh",
-                "--ignore-agent-tools",
-            ], catch_exceptions=False)
-        finally:
-            os.chdir(old_cwd)
-        assert result.exit_code == 0
-        ext_cfg_path = project / ".specify" / "extensions" / "agent-context" / "agent-context-config.yml"
-        ext_cfg = yaml.safe_load(ext_cfg_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")) if ext_cfg_path.exists() else {}
-        i = get_integration(self.KEY)
-        assert ext_cfg.get("context_file") == i.context_file, (
-            f"Expected context_file={i.context_file!r}, got {ext_cfg.get('context_file')!r}"
-        )
 
     # -- Complete file inventory ------------------------------------------
 
     COMMAND_STEMS = [
-        "agent-context.update",
         "analyze",
         "clarify",
         "constitution",
@@ -423,19 +389,7 @@ class YamlIntegrationTests:
         files.append(".specify/workflows/speckit/workflow.yml")
         files.append(".specify/workflows/workflow-registry.json")
 
-        # Bundled agent-context extension
-        files.append(".specify/extensions.yml")
-        files.append(".specify/extensions/.registry")
-        files.append(".specify/extensions/agent-context/README.md")
-        files.append(".specify/extensions/agent-context/agent-context-config.yml")
-        files.append(".specify/extensions/agent-context/commands/speckit.agent-context.update.md")
-        files.append(".specify/extensions/agent-context/extension.yml")
-        files.append(".specify/extensions/agent-context/scripts/bash/update-agent-context.sh")
-        files.append(".specify/extensions/agent-context/scripts/powershell/update-agent-context.ps1")
 
-        # Agent context file (if set)
-        if i.context_file:
-            files.append(i.context_file)
 
         return sorted(files)
 

tests/integrations/test_integration_bob.py

@@ -8,4 +8,3 @@ class TestBobIntegration(MarkdownIntegrationTests):
     FOLDER = ".bob/"
     COMMANDS_SUBDIR = "commands"
     REGISTRAR_DIR = ".bob/commands"
-    CONTEXT_FILE = "AGENTS.md"

tests/integrations/test_integration_claude.py

@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 """Tests for ClaudeIntegration."""
 
-import codecs
 import json
 import os
 from pathlib import Path
@@ -34,10 +33,6 @@ class TestClaudeIntegration:
         assert integration.registrar_config["args"] == "$ARGUMENTS"
         assert integration.registrar_config["extension"] == "/SKILL.md"
 
-    def test_context_file(self):
-        integration = get_integration("claude")
-        assert integration.context_file == "CLAUDE.md"
-
     def test_setup_creates_skill_files(self, tmp_path):
         integration = get_integration("claude")
         manifest = IntegrationManifest("claude", tmp_path)
@@ -76,57 +71,30 @@ class TestClaudeIntegration:
         )
         assert "Prüfe Konformität" in rendered
 
-    def test_setup_upserts_context_section(self, tmp_path):
+    def test_setup_does_not_write_context_section(self, tmp_path):
+        """The CLI no longer manages the agent context file — that is owned by
+        the opt-in agent-context extension. Setup must not create or touch it."""
         integration = get_integration("claude")
         manifest = IntegrationManifest("claude", tmp_path)
         integration.setup(tmp_path, manifest, script_type="sh")
 
-        ctx_path = tmp_path / integration.context_file
-        assert ctx_path.exists()
-        content = ctx_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-        assert "<!-- SPECKIT START -->" in content
-        assert "<!-- SPECKIT END -->" in content
-        assert "read the current plan" in content
+        for path in tmp_path.rglob("*"):
+            if path.is_file():
+                text = path.read_text(encoding="utf-8", errors="ignore")
+                assert "<!-- SPECKIT START -->" not in text
 
-    def test_upsert_context_section_strips_bom(self, tmp_path):
-        """Existing context file with UTF-8 BOM must be cleaned up on upsert."""
+    def test_teardown_does_not_touch_existing_context_file(self, tmp_path):
+        """A user-authored context file is left intact on teardown."""
         integration = get_integration("claude")
-        ctx_path = tmp_path / integration.context_file
+        ctx_path = tmp_path / "CLAUDE.md"
+        original = "# CLAUDE.md\n\nUser content.\n"
+        ctx_path.write_text(original, encoding="utf-8")
 
-        # Write a file that starts with a UTF-8 BOM (as the old PowerShell script did)
-        bom = codecs.BOM_UTF8
-        ctx_path.write_bytes(bom + b"# CLAUDE.md\n\nSome existing content.\n")
+        manifest = IntegrationManifest("claude", tmp_path)
+        integration.setup(tmp_path, manifest, script_type="sh")
+        integration.teardown(tmp_path, manifest)
 
-        integration.upsert_context_section(tmp_path)
-
-        result = ctx_path.read_bytes()
-        assert not result.startswith(bom), "BOM must be stripped after upsert"
-        content = result.decode("utf-8")
-        assert "<!-- SPECKIT START -->" in content
-        assert "Some existing content." in content
-
-    def test_remove_context_section_strips_bom(self, tmp_path):
-        """remove_context_section must clean BOM from context file on Windows-authored files."""
-        integration = get_integration("claude")
-        ctx_path = tmp_path / integration.context_file
-
-        marker_content = (
-            "# CLAUDE.md\n\n"
-            "<!-- SPECKIT START -->\n"
-            "For additional context about technologies to be used, project structure,\n"
-            "shell commands, and other important information, read the current plan\n"
-            "<!-- SPECKIT END -->\n"
-        )
-        ctx_path.write_bytes(codecs.BOM_UTF8 + marker_content.encode("utf-8"))
-
-        result = integration.remove_context_section(tmp_path)
-
-        assert result is True
-        assert ctx_path.exists(), "File should exist (non-empty content remains)"
-        remaining = ctx_path.read_bytes()
-        assert not remaining.startswith(codecs.BOM_UTF8), "BOM must be stripped after remove"
-        assert b"<!-- SPECKIT" not in remaining
-        assert b"# CLAUDE.md" in remaining
+        assert ctx_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8") == original
 
     def test_integration_flag_creates_skill_files_cli(self, tmp_path):
         from typer.testing import CliRunner

tests/integrations/test_integration_cline.py

@@ -47,7 +47,6 @@ class TestClineIntegration(MarkdownIntegrationTests):
     FOLDER = ".clinerules/"
     COMMANDS_SUBDIR = "workflows"
     REGISTRAR_DIR = ".clinerules/workflows"
-    CONTEXT_FILE = ".clinerules/specify-rules.md"
 
     @pytest.mark.parametrize(
         "cmd_name, expected_filename",
@@ -105,7 +104,6 @@ class TestClineIntegration(MarkdownIntegrationTests):
             for f in created
             if "scripts" not in f.parts
             and f.suffix == ".md"
-            and f.name != i.context_file
         ]
         for f in cmd_files:
             assert f.exists()
@@ -205,18 +203,4 @@ class TestClineIntegration(MarkdownIntegrationTests):
         files.append(".specify/workflows/speckit/workflow.yml")
         files.append(".specify/workflows/workflow-registry.json")
 
-        # Bundled agent-context extension
-        files.append(".specify/extensions.yml")
-        files.append(".specify/extensions/.registry")
-        files.append(".specify/extensions/agent-context/README.md")
-        files.append(".specify/extensions/agent-context/agent-context-config.yml")
-        files.append(".specify/extensions/agent-context/commands/speckit.agent-context.update.md")
-        files.append(".specify/extensions/agent-context/extension.yml")
-        files.append(".specify/extensions/agent-context/scripts/bash/update-agent-context.sh")
-        files.append(".specify/extensions/agent-context/scripts/powershell/update-agent-context.ps1")
-
-        # Agent context file (if set)
-        if i.context_file:
-            files.append(i.context_file)
-
         return sorted(files)

tests/integrations/test_integration_codebuddy.py

@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ class TestCodebuddyIntegration(MarkdownIntegrationTests):
     FOLDER = ".codebuddy/"
     COMMANDS_SUBDIR = "commands"
     REGISTRAR_DIR = ".codebuddy/commands"
-    CONTEXT_FILE = "CODEBUDDY.md"
 
     def test_install_url_points_to_official_cli_install_docs(self):
         integration = get_integration(self.KEY)

tests/integrations/test_integration_codex.py

@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ class TestCodexIntegration(SkillsIntegrationTests):
     FOLDER = ".agents/"
     COMMANDS_SUBDIR = "skills"
     REGISTRAR_DIR = ".agents/skills"
-    CONTEXT_FILE = "AGENTS.md"
 
 
 class TestCodexInitFlow:
@@ -29,23 +28,11 @@ class TestCodexInitFlow:
         assert result.exit_code == 0, f"init --integration codex failed: {result.output}"
         assert (target / ".agents" / "skills" / "speckit-plan" / "SKILL.md").exists()
 
-    def test_plan_skill_references_configured_context_files(self, tmp_path):
-        """Plan skill should render all configured agent context files."""
-        from specify_cli import _save_agent_context_config
-
+    def test_plan_skill_has_no_context_placeholder(self, tmp_path):
+        """The core plan skill must not carry a context-file placeholder —
+        agent context files are owned by the opt-in agent-context extension."""
         target = tmp_path / "test-proj"
         target.mkdir()
-        _save_agent_context_config(
-            target,
-            {
-                "context_file": "AGENTS.md",
-                "context_files": ["AGENTS.md", "CLAUDE.md"],
-                "context_markers": {
-                    "start": "<!-- SPECKIT START -->",
-                    "end": "<!-- SPECKIT END -->",
-                },
-            },
-        )
 
         integration = get_integration("codex")
         manifest = IntegrationManifest("codex", target)
@@ -53,43 +40,31 @@ class TestCodexInitFlow:
 
         plan_skill = target / ".agents" / "skills" / "speckit-plan" / "SKILL.md"
         content = plan_skill.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-        assert "AGENTS.md, CLAUDE.md" in content
         assert "__CONTEXT_FILE__" not in content
 
-    def test_plan_skill_ignores_context_files_when_agent_context_disabled(
-        self, tmp_path
-    ):
-        """Disabled agent-context must not leak stale context_files into commands."""
-        from specify_cli import _save_agent_context_config
+    def test_plan_skill_ignores_extension_config(self, tmp_path):
+        """The extension config must not influence rendered commands: the CLI
+        no longer reads any context-file metadata when rendering."""
+        import yaml
 
         target = tmp_path / "test-proj"
         target.mkdir()
-        registry = target / ".specify" / "extensions" / ".registry"
-        registry.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
-        registry.write_text(
-            """
-{
-  "schema_version": "1.0",
-  "extensions": {
-    "agent-context": {
-      "version": "1.0.0",
-      "enabled": false
-    }
-  }
-}
-""".strip(),
-            encoding="utf-8",
+        ext_cfg = (
+            target
+            / ".specify"
+            / "extensions"
+            / "agent-context"
+            / "agent-context-config.yml"
         )
-        _save_agent_context_config(
-            target,
-            {
-                "context_file": "AGENTS.md",
-                "context_files": ["../outside.md", "CLAUDE.md"],
-                "context_markers": {
-                    "start": "<!-- SPECKIT START -->",
-                    "end": "<!-- SPECKIT END -->",
-                },
-            },
+        ext_cfg.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+        ext_cfg.write_text(
+            yaml.safe_dump(
+                {
+                    "context_file": "FROM_CONFIG.md",
+                    "context_files": ["FROM_CONFIG.md", "ALSO_CONFIG.md"],
+                }
+            ),
+            encoding="utf-8",
         )
 
         integration = get_integration("codex")
@@ -98,9 +73,8 @@ class TestCodexInitFlow:
 
         plan_skill = target / ".agents" / "skills" / "speckit-plan" / "SKILL.md"
         content = plan_skill.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-        assert "AGENTS.md, CLAUDE.md" not in content
-        assert "../outside.md" not in content
-        assert "AGENTS.md" in content
+        assert "FROM_CONFIG.md" not in content
+        assert "ALSO_CONFIG.md" not in content
         assert "__CONTEXT_FILE__" not in content
 
 

tests/integrations/test_integration_copilot.py

@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ class TestCopilotIntegration:
         assert copilot.config["folder"] == ".github/"
         assert copilot.config["commands_subdir"] == "agents"
         assert copilot.registrar_config["extension"] == ".agent.md"
-        assert copilot.context_file == ".github/copilot-instructions.md"
 
     def test_command_filename_agent_md(self):
         copilot = get_integration("copilot")
@@ -162,8 +161,9 @@ class TestCopilotIntegration:
         assert "Copy `.specify/templates/spec-template.md`" not in content
         assert "Load `.specify/templates/spec-template.md`" not in content
 
-    def test_plan_references_correct_context_file(self, tmp_path):
-        """The generated plan command must reference copilot's context file."""
+    def test_plan_command_has_no_context_placeholder(self, tmp_path):
+        """The core plan command must not carry a context-file placeholder —
+        agent context files are owned by the opt-in agent-context extension."""
         from specify_cli.integrations.copilot import CopilotIntegration
         copilot = CopilotIntegration()
         m = IntegrationManifest("copilot", tmp_path)
@@ -171,9 +171,6 @@ class TestCopilotIntegration:
         plan_file = tmp_path / ".github" / "agents" / "speckit.plan.agent.md"
         assert plan_file.exists()
         content = plan_file.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-        assert copilot.context_file in content, (
-            f"Plan command should reference {copilot.context_file!r}"
-        )
         assert "__CONTEXT_FILE__" not in content
 
     def test_complete_file_inventory_sh(self, tmp_path):
@@ -193,7 +190,6 @@ class TestCopilotIntegration:
         assert result.exit_code == 0
         actual = sorted(p.relative_to(project).as_posix() for p in project.rglob("*") if p.is_file() and ".git" not in p.parts)
         expected = sorted([
-            ".github/agents/speckit.agent-context.update.agent.md",
             ".github/agents/speckit.analyze.agent.md",
             ".github/agents/speckit.checklist.agent.md",
             ".github/agents/speckit.clarify.agent.md",
@@ -204,7 +200,6 @@ class TestCopilotIntegration:
             ".github/agents/speckit.specify.agent.md",
             ".github/agents/speckit.tasks.agent.md",
             ".github/agents/speckit.taskstoissues.agent.md",
-            ".github/prompts/speckit.agent-context.update.prompt.md",
             ".github/prompts/speckit.analyze.prompt.md",
             ".github/prompts/speckit.checklist.prompt.md",
             ".github/prompts/speckit.clarify.prompt.md",
@@ -216,15 +211,6 @@ class TestCopilotIntegration:
             ".github/prompts/speckit.tasks.prompt.md",
             ".github/prompts/speckit.taskstoissues.prompt.md",
             ".vscode/settings.json",
-            ".github/copilot-instructions.md",
-            ".specify/extensions.yml",
-            ".specify/extensions/.registry",
-            ".specify/extensions/agent-context/README.md",
-            ".specify/extensions/agent-context/agent-context-config.yml",
-            ".specify/extensions/agent-context/commands/speckit.agent-context.update.md",
-            ".specify/extensions/agent-context/extension.yml",
-            ".specify/extensions/agent-context/scripts/bash/update-agent-context.sh",
-            ".specify/extensions/agent-context/scripts/powershell/update-agent-context.ps1",
             ".specify/integration.json",
             ".specify/init-options.json",
             ".specify/integrations/copilot.manifest.json",
@@ -265,7 +251,6 @@ class TestCopilotIntegration:
         assert result.exit_code == 0
         actual = sorted(p.relative_to(project).as_posix() for p in project.rglob("*") if p.is_file() and ".git" not in p.parts)
         expected = sorted([
-            ".github/agents/speckit.agent-context.update.agent.md",
             ".github/agents/speckit.analyze.agent.md",
             ".github/agents/speckit.checklist.agent.md",
             ".github/agents/speckit.clarify.agent.md",
@@ -276,7 +261,6 @@ class TestCopilotIntegration:
             ".github/agents/speckit.specify.agent.md",
             ".github/agents/speckit.tasks.agent.md",
             ".github/agents/speckit.taskstoissues.agent.md",
-            ".github/prompts/speckit.agent-context.update.prompt.md",
             ".github/prompts/speckit.analyze.prompt.md",
             ".github/prompts/speckit.checklist.prompt.md",
             ".github/prompts/speckit.clarify.prompt.md",
@@ -288,15 +272,6 @@ class TestCopilotIntegration:
             ".github/prompts/speckit.tasks.prompt.md",
             ".github/prompts/speckit.taskstoissues.prompt.md",
             ".vscode/settings.json",
-            ".github/copilot-instructions.md",
-            ".specify/extensions.yml",
-            ".specify/extensions/.registry",
-            ".specify/extensions/agent-context/README.md",
-            ".specify/extensions/agent-context/agent-context-config.yml",
-            ".specify/extensions/agent-context/commands/speckit.agent-context.update.md",
-            ".specify/extensions/agent-context/extension.yml",
-            ".specify/extensions/agent-context/scripts/bash/update-agent-context.sh",
-            ".specify/extensions/agent-context/scripts/powershell/update-agent-context.ps1",
             ".specify/integration.json",
             ".specify/init-options.json",
             ".specify/integrations/copilot.manifest.json",
@@ -537,14 +512,14 @@ class TestCopilotSkillsMode:
             body = parts[2].strip() if len(parts) >= 3 else ""
             assert len(body) > 0, f"{f} has empty body"
 
-    def test_plan_references_correct_context_file(self, tmp_path):
-        """The generated plan skill must reference copilot's context file."""
+    def test_plan_skill_has_no_context_placeholder(self, tmp_path):
+        """The core plan skill must not carry a context-file placeholder —
+        agent context files are owned by the opt-in agent-context extension."""
         copilot = self._make_copilot()
         self._setup_skills(copilot, tmp_path)
         plan_file = tmp_path / ".github" / "skills" / "speckit-plan" / "SKILL.md"
         assert plan_file.exists()
         content = plan_file.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-        assert copilot.context_file in content
         assert "__CONTEXT_FILE__" not in content
 
     # -- Manifest tracking ------------------------------------------------
@@ -603,14 +578,13 @@ class TestCopilotSkillsMode:
 
     # -- Context section ---------------------------------------------------
 
-    def test_skills_setup_upserts_context_section(self, tmp_path):
+    def test_skills_setup_does_not_write_context_section(self, tmp_path):
         copilot = self._make_copilot()
         self._setup_skills(copilot, tmp_path)
-        ctx_path = tmp_path / copilot.context_file
-        assert ctx_path.exists()
-        content = ctx_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-        assert "<!-- SPECKIT START -->" in content
-        assert "<!-- SPECKIT END -->" in content
+        for path in tmp_path.rglob("*"):
+            if path.is_file():
+                text = path.read_text(encoding="utf-8", errors="ignore")
+                assert "<!-- SPECKIT START -->" not in text
 
     # -- CLI integration test ---------------------------------------------
 
@@ -659,20 +633,8 @@ class TestCopilotSkillsMode:
         assert result.exit_code == 0, f"init failed: {result.output}"
         actual = sorted(p.relative_to(project).as_posix() for p in project.rglob("*") if p.is_file() and ".git" not in p.parts)
         expected = sorted([
-            # Skill files (core + extension-installed agent-context command)
+            # Skill files (core commands)
             *[f".github/skills/speckit-{cmd}/SKILL.md" for cmd in self._SKILL_COMMANDS],
-            ".github/skills/speckit-agent-context-update/SKILL.md",
-            # Context file
-            ".github/copilot-instructions.md",
-            # Bundled agent-context extension
-            ".specify/extensions.yml",
-            ".specify/extensions/.registry",
-            ".specify/extensions/agent-context/README.md",
-            ".specify/extensions/agent-context/agent-context-config.yml",
-            ".specify/extensions/agent-context/commands/speckit.agent-context.update.md",
-            ".specify/extensions/agent-context/extension.yml",
-            ".specify/extensions/agent-context/scripts/bash/update-agent-context.sh",
-            ".specify/extensions/agent-context/scripts/powershell/update-agent-context.ps1",
             # Integration metadata
             ".specify/init-options.json",
             ".specify/integration.json",

tests/integrations/test_integration_cursor_agent.py

@@ -1,10 +1,8 @@
 """Tests for CursorAgentIntegration."""
 
-from pathlib import Path
 from urllib.parse import urlparse
 
 from specify_cli.integrations import get_integration
-from specify_cli.integrations.manifest import IntegrationManifest
 
 from .test_integration_base_skills import SkillsIntegrationTests
 
@@ -14,82 +12,6 @@ class TestCursorAgentIntegration(SkillsIntegrationTests):
     FOLDER = ".cursor/"
     COMMANDS_SUBDIR = "skills"
     REGISTRAR_DIR = ".cursor/skills"
-    CONTEXT_FILE = ".cursor/rules/specify-rules.mdc"
-
-
-class TestCursorMdcFrontmatter:
-    """Verify .mdc frontmatter handling in upsert/remove context section."""
-
-    def _setup(self, tmp_path: Path):
-        i = get_integration("cursor-agent")
-        m = IntegrationManifest("cursor-agent", tmp_path)
-        return i, m
-
-    def test_new_mdc_gets_frontmatter(self, tmp_path):
-        """A freshly created .mdc file includes alwaysApply: true."""
-        i, m = self._setup(tmp_path)
-        i.setup(tmp_path, m)
-        ctx = (tmp_path / i.context_file).read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-        assert ctx.startswith("---\n")
-        assert "alwaysApply: true" in ctx
-
-    def test_existing_mdc_without_frontmatter_gets_it(self, tmp_path):
-        """An existing .mdc without frontmatter gets it added."""
-        i, m = self._setup(tmp_path)
-        ctx_path = tmp_path / i.context_file
-        ctx_path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
-        ctx_path.write_text("# User rules\n", encoding="utf-8")
-        i.upsert_context_section(tmp_path)
-        content = ctx_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-        assert content.lstrip().startswith("---")
-        assert "alwaysApply: true" in content
-        assert "# User rules" in content
-
-    def test_existing_mdc_with_frontmatter_preserves_it(self, tmp_path):
-        """An existing .mdc with custom frontmatter is preserved."""
-        i, m = self._setup(tmp_path)
-        ctx_path = tmp_path / i.context_file
-        ctx_path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
-        ctx_path.write_text(
-            "---\nalwaysApply: true\ncustomKey: hello\n---\n\n# Rules\n",
-            encoding="utf-8",
-        )
-        i.upsert_context_section(tmp_path)
-        content = ctx_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-        assert "alwaysApply: true" in content
-        assert "customKey: hello" in content
-        assert "<!-- SPECKIT START -->" in content
-
-    def test_existing_mdc_wrong_alwaysapply_fixed(self, tmp_path):
-        """An .mdc with alwaysApply: false gets corrected."""
-        i, m = self._setup(tmp_path)
-        ctx_path = tmp_path / i.context_file
-        ctx_path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
-        ctx_path.write_text(
-            "---\nalwaysApply: false\n---\n\n# Rules\n",
-            encoding="utf-8",
-        )
-        i.upsert_context_section(tmp_path)
-        content = ctx_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-        assert "alwaysApply: true" in content
-        assert "alwaysApply: false" not in content
-
-    def test_upsert_idempotent_no_duplicate_frontmatter(self, tmp_path):
-        """Repeated upserts don't duplicate frontmatter."""
-        i, m = self._setup(tmp_path)
-        i.upsert_context_section(tmp_path)
-        i.upsert_context_section(tmp_path)
-        content = (tmp_path / i.context_file).read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-        assert content.count("alwaysApply") == 1
-
-    def test_remove_deletes_mdc_with_only_frontmatter(self, tmp_path):
-        """Removing the section from a Speckit-only .mdc deletes the file."""
-        i, m = self._setup(tmp_path)
-        i.upsert_context_section(tmp_path)
-        ctx_path = tmp_path / i.context_file
-        assert ctx_path.exists()
-        i.remove_context_section(tmp_path)
-        assert not ctx_path.exists()
 
 
 class TestCursorAgentInitFlow:

tests/integrations/test_integration_devin.py

@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ class TestDevinIntegration(SkillsIntegrationTests):
     FOLDER = ".devin/"
     COMMANDS_SUBDIR = "skills"
     REGISTRAR_DIR = ".devin/skills"
-    CONTEXT_FILE = "AGENTS.md"
 
 
 class TestDevinBuildExecArgs:

tests/integrations/test_integration_firebender.py

@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ class TestFirebenderIntegration(MarkdownIntegrationTests):
     FOLDER = ".firebender/"
     COMMANDS_SUBDIR = "commands"
     REGISTRAR_DIR = ".firebender/commands"
-    CONTEXT_FILE = ".firebender/rules/specify-rules.mdc"
 
     # Firebender reads custom slash commands from ``.firebender/commands/*.mdc``,
     # so this integration uses the ``.mdc`` extension instead of the ``.md``

tests/integrations/test_integration_forge.py

@@ -55,7 +55,6 @@ class TestForgeIntegration:
         assert forge.config["requires_cli"] is True
         assert forge.registrar_config["args"] == "{{parameters}}"
         assert forge.registrar_config["extension"] == ".md"
-        assert forge.context_file == "AGENTS.md"
 
     def test_command_filename_md(self):
         forge = get_integration("forge")
@@ -73,16 +72,15 @@ class TestForgeIntegration:
         for f in command_files:
             assert f.name.endswith(".md")
 
-    def test_setup_upserts_context_section(self, tmp_path):
+    def test_setup_does_not_write_context_section(self, tmp_path):
         from specify_cli.integrations.forge import ForgeIntegration
         forge = ForgeIntegration()
         m = IntegrationManifest("forge", tmp_path)
         forge.setup(tmp_path, m)
-        ctx_path = tmp_path / forge.context_file
-        assert ctx_path.exists()
-        content = ctx_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-        assert "<!-- SPECKIT START -->" in content
-        assert "<!-- SPECKIT END -->" in content
+        for path in tmp_path.rglob("*"):
+            if path.is_file():
+                text = path.read_text(encoding="utf-8", errors="ignore")
+                assert "<!-- SPECKIT START -->" not in text
 
     def test_all_created_files_tracked_in_manifest(self, tmp_path):
         from specify_cli.integrations.forge import ForgeIntegration
@@ -164,8 +162,9 @@ class TestForgeIntegration:
                 "Forge requires hyphen notation (/speckit-<cmd>) for ZSH compatibility"
             )
 
-    def test_plan_references_correct_context_file(self, tmp_path):
-        """The generated plan command must reference forge's context file."""
+    def test_plan_command_has_no_context_placeholder(self, tmp_path):
+        """The core plan command must not carry a context-file placeholder —
+        agent context files are owned by the opt-in agent-context extension."""
         from specify_cli.integrations.forge import ForgeIntegration
         forge = ForgeIntegration()
         m = IntegrationManifest("forge", tmp_path)
@@ -173,9 +172,6 @@ class TestForgeIntegration:
         plan_file = tmp_path / ".forge" / "commands" / "speckit.plan.md"
         assert plan_file.exists()
         content = plan_file.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-        assert forge.context_file in content, (
-            f"Plan command should reference {forge.context_file!r}"
-        )
         assert "__CONTEXT_FILE__" not in content
 
     def test_forge_specific_transformations(self, tmp_path):

tests/integrations/test_integration_gemini.py

@@ -8,4 +8,3 @@ class TestGeminiIntegration(TomlIntegrationTests):
     FOLDER = ".gemini/"
     COMMANDS_SUBDIR = "commands"
     REGISTRAR_DIR = ".gemini/commands"
-    CONTEXT_FILE = "GEMINI.md"

tests/integrations/test_integration_generic.py

@@ -31,10 +31,6 @@ class TestGenericIntegration:
         i = get_integration("generic")
         assert i.config["requires_cli"] is False
 
-    def test_context_file_is_agents_md(self):
-        i = get_integration("generic")
-        assert i.context_file == "AGENTS.md"
-
     # -- Options ----------------------------------------------------------
 
     def test_options_include_commands_dir(self):
@@ -161,28 +157,24 @@ class TestGenericIntegration:
 
     # -- Context section ---------------------------------------------------
 
-    def test_setup_upserts_context_section(self, tmp_path):
+    def test_setup_does_not_write_context_section(self, tmp_path):
         i = get_integration("generic")
         m = IntegrationManifest("generic", tmp_path)
         i.setup(tmp_path, m, parsed_options={"commands_dir": ".custom/cmds"})
-        if i.context_file:
-            ctx_path = tmp_path / i.context_file
-            assert ctx_path.exists()
-            content = ctx_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-            assert "<!-- SPECKIT START -->" in content
-            assert "<!-- SPECKIT END -->" in content
+        for path in tmp_path.rglob("*"):
+            if path.is_file():
+                text = path.read_text(encoding="utf-8", errors="ignore")
+                assert "<!-- SPECKIT START -->" not in text
 
-    def test_plan_references_correct_context_file(self, tmp_path):
-        """The generated plan command must reference generic's context file."""
+    def test_plan_command_has_no_context_placeholder(self, tmp_path):
+        """The core plan command must not carry a context-file placeholder —
+        agent context files are owned by the opt-in agent-context extension."""
         i = get_integration("generic")
         m = IntegrationManifest("generic", tmp_path)
         i.setup(tmp_path, m, parsed_options={"commands_dir": ".custom/cmds"})
         plan_file = tmp_path / ".custom" / "cmds" / "speckit.plan.md"
         assert plan_file.exists()
         content = plan_file.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-        assert i.context_file in content, (
-            f"Plan command should reference {i.context_file!r}"
-        )
         assert "__CONTEXT_FILE__" not in content
 
     def test_plan_defines_quickstart_as_validation_guide(self, tmp_path):
@@ -256,28 +248,6 @@ class TestGenericIntegration:
         # Generic requires --commands-dir via --integration-options
         assert result.exit_code != 0
 
-    def test_init_options_includes_context_file(self, tmp_path):
-        """agent-context extension config must include context_file for the generic integration."""
-        import yaml
-        from typer.testing import CliRunner
-        from specify_cli import app
-
-        project = tmp_path / "opts-generic"
-        project.mkdir()
-        old_cwd = os.getcwd()
-        try:
-            os.chdir(project)
-            result = CliRunner().invoke(app, [
-                "init", "--here", "--integration", "generic",
-                "--integration-options=--commands-dir .myagent/commands",
-                "--script", "sh",
-            ], catch_exceptions=False)
-        finally:
-            os.chdir(old_cwd)
-        assert result.exit_code == 0
-        ext_cfg_path = project / ".specify" / "extensions" / "agent-context" / "agent-context-config.yml"
-        ext_cfg = yaml.safe_load(ext_cfg_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")) if ext_cfg_path.exists() else {}
-        assert ext_cfg.get("context_file") == "AGENTS.md"
 
     def test_complete_file_inventory_sh(self, tmp_path):
         """Every file produced by specify init --integration generic --integration-options=--commands-dir ... --script sh."""
@@ -302,7 +272,6 @@ class TestGenericIntegration:
             for p in project.rglob("*") if p.is_file() and ".git" not in p.parts
         )
         expected = sorted([
-            "AGENTS.md",
             ".myagent/commands/speckit.analyze.md",
             ".myagent/commands/speckit.checklist.md",
             ".myagent/commands/speckit.clarify.md",
@@ -313,14 +282,6 @@ class TestGenericIntegration:
             ".myagent/commands/speckit.specify.md",
             ".myagent/commands/speckit.tasks.md",
             ".myagent/commands/speckit.taskstoissues.md",
-            ".specify/extensions.yml",
-            ".specify/extensions/.registry",
-            ".specify/extensions/agent-context/README.md",
-            ".specify/extensions/agent-context/agent-context-config.yml",
-            ".specify/extensions/agent-context/commands/speckit.agent-context.update.md",
-            ".specify/extensions/agent-context/extension.yml",
-            ".specify/extensions/agent-context/scripts/bash/update-agent-context.sh",
-            ".specify/extensions/agent-context/scripts/powershell/update-agent-context.ps1",
             ".specify/init-options.json",
             ".specify/integration.json",
             ".specify/integrations/generic.manifest.json",
@@ -367,7 +328,6 @@ class TestGenericIntegration:
             for p in project.rglob("*") if p.is_file() and ".git" not in p.parts
         )
         expected = sorted([
-            "AGENTS.md",
             ".myagent/commands/speckit.analyze.md",
             ".myagent/commands/speckit.checklist.md",
             ".myagent/commands/speckit.clarify.md",
@@ -378,14 +338,6 @@ class TestGenericIntegration:
             ".myagent/commands/speckit.specify.md",
             ".myagent/commands/speckit.tasks.md",
             ".myagent/commands/speckit.taskstoissues.md",
-            ".specify/extensions.yml",
-            ".specify/extensions/.registry",
-            ".specify/extensions/agent-context/README.md",
-            ".specify/extensions/agent-context/agent-context-config.yml",
-            ".specify/extensions/agent-context/commands/speckit.agent-context.update.md",
-            ".specify/extensions/agent-context/extension.yml",
-            ".specify/extensions/agent-context/scripts/bash/update-agent-context.sh",
-            ".specify/extensions/agent-context/scripts/powershell/update-agent-context.ps1",
             ".specify/init-options.json",
             ".specify/integration.json",
             ".specify/integrations/generic.manifest.json",

tests/integrations/test_integration_goose.py

@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ class TestGooseIntegration(YamlIntegrationTests):
     FOLDER = ".goose/"
     COMMANDS_SUBDIR = "recipes"
     REGISTRAR_DIR = ".goose/recipes"
-    CONTEXT_FILE = "AGENTS.md"
 
     def test_setup_declares_args_parameter_for_args_prompt(self, tmp_path):
         # “If a generated Goose recipe uses {{args}} in its prompt, it

tests/integrations/test_integration_hermes.py

@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@ class TestHermesIntegration(SkillsIntegrationTests):
     FOLDER = ".hermes/"
     COMMANDS_SUBDIR = "skills"
     REGISTRAR_DIR = "~/.hermes/skills"
-    CONTEXT_FILE = "AGENTS.md"
 
     # -- Hermes-specific setup: skills go to ~/.hermes/skills/ -------------
 
@@ -72,23 +71,19 @@ class TestHermesIntegration(SkillsIntegrationTests):
         """Override: Hermes writes to global, not project-local."""
         self.test_setup_writes_to_global_skills_dir(tmp_path, monkeypatch)
 
-    def test_plan_references_correct_context_file(self, tmp_path, monkeypatch):
-        """Plan skill goes to global dir, but we check it still references AGENTS.md."""
+    def test_plan_skill_has_no_context_placeholder(self, tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+        """The core plan skill must not carry a context-file placeholder —
+        agent context files are owned by the opt-in agent-context extension."""
         home = _fake_home(tmp_path)
         monkeypatch.setattr(Path, "home", lambda: home)
 
         i = get_integration(self.KEY)
-        if not i.context_file:
-            return
         m = IntegrationManifest(self.KEY, tmp_path)
         i.setup(tmp_path, m)
         # Find the plan skill in global ~/.hermes/skills/
         plan_file = home / ".hermes" / "skills" / "speckit-plan" / "SKILL.md"
         assert plan_file.exists(), f"Plan skill {plan_file} not created globally"
         content = plan_file.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-        assert i.context_file in content, (
-            f"Plan skill should reference {i.context_file!r} but it was not found"
-        )
         assert "__CONTEXT_FILE__" not in content, (
             "Plan skill has unprocessed __CONTEXT_FILE__ placeholder"
         )