BuilderIO

workspace-conventions

Shared conventions for a multi-app Agent-Native workspace: finding version-matched framework docs and source, shared vs app-owned code, file and blob storage, env and secrets, agent scratch files, and Dispatch Resources. Use when working across workspace apps, storing files or credentials, or looking up framework APIs.

BuilderIO 7,495 684 Updated 1mo ago
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Install

npx skillscat add builderio/agent-native/workspace-conventions

Install via the SkillsCat registry.

SKILL.md

Workspace Conventions

The long-form detail behind the workspace AGENTS.md core rules. Read this
before adding shared code, storing files or secrets, creating workspace
resources, or looking up framework APIs.

Framework Docs Lookup

Read agent-native-docs for the lookup workflow (framework-search first, then
the focused docs-search / source-search readers, and the rg fallback).

The workspace-specific slugs it does not list are workspace and
multi-app-workspace. Feature flags and other specialized workflows are
optional; read their skill only when the app uses them. Use package docs for framework APIs,
the package corpus for reusable framework/template patterns, and this
AGENTS.md plus .agents/skills/ for workspace-specific conventions.

Before building common workspace or agent UI, read agent-native-toolkit to
inventory existing public kits and installed package seams. Read
customizing-agent-native before adapting shared UI. Use the supported
ladder: configure → compose → eject the smallest unit → propose a shared seam.
Preview before --apply, commit agent-native.ejections.json, and never edit
node_modules or eject protected runtime contracts.

Shared Conventions

  • All AI/LLM behavior goes through the app's agent chat. UI and server code
    must not call model providers, AI SDK generateText() / streamText(), or
    other inline LLM APIs directly. Use sendToAgentChat() for local app-agent
    work, including hidden context and submit: false prefill/review flows.
    Keep actions deterministic and focused. If a workflow is framed as research,
    analysis, generation, recommendation, or synthesis, let the agent
    orchestrate provider/data actions in the open AgentSidebar instead of hiding
    the work in one opaque action or a separate follow-up textbox.
    Only use useAgentChatContext, setAgentChatContextItem,
    listAgentChatContext, removeAgentChatContextItem, and
    clearAgentChatContext when UI needs two-way sync with staged context chips.
    Read .agents/skills/delegate-to-agent/SKILL.md before building agent-driven
    UI or "AI" features.
  • Put shared code in packages/shared only when multiple apps need it.
  • Keep app-specific screens, actions, state, and skills inside apps/<app>.
  • SQL is for structured records, metadata, references, and searchable text. Store
    large files/blob payloads (base64, data: URLs, images, video/audio, PDFs,
    ZIPs, screenshots, thumbnails, session replay chunks) in configured file/blob
    storage and persist only URLs, ids, or handles.
  • Store shared runtime configuration in the workspace root .env; use
    apps/<app>/.env only for app-specific overrides. For public app behavior,
    prefer the default in agent-native.config.ts and use the deterministic
    AGENT_NATIVE_CONFIG_<UPPER_SNAKE_PATH> alias only when a non-secret value
    needs a deployment override. Never hardcode API keys,
    tokens, webhook URLs, signing secrets, private Builder/internal data, customer
    data, or credential-looking literals in source, docs, prompts, fixtures,
    application state, action responses, or generated app content. Use
    secrets/OAuth/runtime configuration and obvious placeholders in examples.
  • Each app deploys its own /* page function, and that function ships whatever
    the app's server bundle depends on — including a dependency only a background
    job uses. Before an app takes on a heavy runtime (headless browser, ffmpeg,
    media processing, ML), read .agents/skills/performance/SKILL.md §9 and keep
    that work in a background function or job. A dependency belonging to one app
    does not belong in packages/shared.
  • Prefer framework defaults until the workspace has a real custom rule,
    component, plugin, action, or skill to share.
  • Keep the Workspace files view for user-authored or user-requested resources.
    Agents may create hidden agent_scratch resources for temporary working
    notes, scripts, task plans, or intermediate outputs, but should promote them
    to normal workspace visibility only when the user explicitly asks to keep or
    manage the file.
  • Runtime-editable global resources can be managed from Dispatch Resources.
    Use AGENTS.md or instructions/<slug>.md for always-on guardrails,
    skills/<slug>/SKILL.md for workspace skills, context/<slug>.md for
    personas/positioning/messaging/company facts/brand guidelines, and
    agents/<slug>.md for custom agent profiles. Scope them to All apps when
    every workspace app should inherit them. All-app resources are inherited at
    runtime; do not copy or sync them into individual apps.

Related Skills

  • adding-workspace-apps — Creating and mounting a new app under apps/.
  • agent-native-docs — The full docs and source-corpus lookup workflow.
  • agent-native-toolkit — Inventory of shared workspace and agent UI.
  • customizing-agent-native — The configure → compose → eject ladder.
  • delegate-to-agent — Routing every AI feature through the agent chat.
  • performance — Load cost, and (§9) cold-start artifact size per app.
  • secrets — Registering API keys and service credentials.
  • storing-data — Where structured data and large payloads belong.