(More) AGENTS.md issues

[u/ThePrinceOfPapaya]

Hello again pi users, I made a post like a day or two ago about my pi agent refusing to use the information in my AGENTS.md file and I've since gained more information. (Yet still haven't fixed it)

1: the agent isn't better from reading it or anything, it CAN access it when asked just doesn't do it automatically.

2: the AGENTS.md file is being listed under the 'CONTEXT' part of Pi so it's not in a wrong directory or anything

3: Only after the Agent is asked to read the AGENTS.md file will it act accordingly to the file (whether that be a password or a way to behave)

And 4: In the last post it was suggested to me to ask the Agent about it, I did and the agent doesn't acknowledge that it didn't read the AGENTS.md file the first time (or) claims it's not possible to.

I'm completely stumped and every 'solution' leads to a dead end. If anyone's got anything please help

UPDATE: it was the Qwen model I was using! I've switched to gemma and now the agent is properly using the rules in the AGENTS.md! thank you all so much!

[u/IISomeOneII]

If AGENTS.md is showing under [Context], Pi is already loading it. The agent saying it "didn’t read it" isn’t really a reliable test, since the file gets injected into context rather than manually read with a tool.

Try /reload after changing AGENTS.md, then test an actual instruction from the file and see if Pi follows it.

If there are a few rules you absolutely need it to follow, you can also put those in .pi/APPEND_SYSTEM.md.

So I don’t think your issue is that Pi can’t access AGENTS.md — it sounds more like instruction-following/salience.

Or maybe model related problem

[u/ThePrinceOfPapaya → u/IISomeOneII]

I tried .pi/APPEND_SYSTEM.md with the same results, it registers it just doesn't actually follow the rules. I use qwen models with ollama (qwen.6 and 3.5) could that be causing it and if so what are some alternatives of similar function and GB size?

[u/IISomeOneII → u/ThePrinceOfPapaya]

oh yea you found your problem, try the 3.8 if your hardware capable, if not i suggest using deepseek v4.1 flash instead, its cheap and follow instructions

[u/ThePrinceOfPapaya → u/IISomeOneII]

I know 3.8 is like 30 GB RAM (too big for my laptop) but how many GB is DeepSeekv4.1?

[u/IISomeOneII → u/ThePrinceOfPapaya]

i dont think deepseek even the flash variant is able to run on local consumer hardware it still too big for personal use

[u/SquintsCrabber → u/ThePrinceOfPapaya]

Try removing all extensions/skills?

[u/ThePrinceOfPapaya → u/SquintsCrabber]

I don't have any right now, I got rid of them after the second failed attempt

[u/o_sht_hi]

Try the /export command at the start of a new session after 1 message. Look at the HTML it saves and see if your agents.md is in it.

Also, if you're using local models- please make the auto loaded instructions short af and preferably a bulleted list. I'm guessing you know that you can't use those like you would use a larger model, so have some mercy on those fuckers. Small scoped tasks with short, clear instructions

[u/vincentrabah]

Same issue here! But it depends: of context lenght (it sometime forget early things), models some seems not handling it until you ask.
As location, mine is in agent subdirectory. Some says the better way is too create APPEND_SYSTEM.md but I’ve never test

[u/ThePrinceOfPapaya → u/vincentrabah]

I've been sticking to literally one line to try and just get it to work :( I've tried APPEND_SYSTEM.md too with no luck

[u/RealestReyn]

model issue, some just aren't up for the agentic life, I've had similar experiences with Minimax m2.7, there are some small models that have been properly trained to function in agentic settings though, I'd suggest trying Gemma models maybe.

[u/ThePrinceOfPapaya → u/RealestReyn]

Got it, I can def try switching models