# AGENTS.md ## Shell Preference - Prefer MSYS2/GNU shell commands by default. - Execute commands through `C:\msys64\usr\bin\bash.exe -lc ""` unless PowerShell is required. - Prefer GNU tools (`rg`, `find`, `sed`, `awk`, `xargs`, `git`) over PowerShell cmdlets. - Use POSIX paths inside bash (example: `/c/Users/an/Documents/src/siran/writing`). - Use PowerShell only for Windows-specific tasks that cannot be done in bash. - If PowerShell is required, state the reason briefly before running it. ## Why Commands Get Mangled - The usual failure mode is two-stage parsing: PowerShell parses first, Bash parses second. - This is not an MSYS2 bug. It is cross-shell quoting/interpolation complexity. - Treat every command as crossing two parsers unless running directly inside a Bash terminal. ## Actionable Rules - Prefer one mutation per command call for critical operations (`add`, `commit`, `amend`, `push`). - Verify after each mutation with a read command (`git status -sb`, `git log -1`). - Use Bash login shell for normal commands: `bash.exe -lc`. - Use interactive Bash only when aliases are required: `bash.exe -lic 'source ~/.bashrc; '`. - If quoting is fragile, use a temp file (for commit message or script) and then execute it. - Avoid very long `&&` chains when values include quotes, regex, or spaces. ## Safe Patterns - Basic command: `C:\msys64\usr\bin\bash.exe -lc "cd /c/Users/an/Documents/src/siran/writing && git status -sb"` - Regex search (keep regex in single quotes inside Bash): `C:\msys64\usr\bin\bash.exe -lc "cd /c/Users/an/Documents/src/siran/writing && rg -n 'printf|escape|interpolation' AGENTS.md"` - File with spaces: `C:\msys64\usr\bin\bash.exe -lc "cd /c/Users/an/Documents/src/siran/writing && sed -n '1,200p' posts/_drafts/WSL\ Was\ Optional\ -\ Codex\ and\ Git\ on\ MSYS2.md"` - Alias execution: `C:\msys64\usr\bin\bash.exe -lic 'source ~/.bashrc; gst'` ## Git Commit Message Guidance - For simple messages, use direct `-m`. - For complex messages (quotes/commas/symbols), use message file + `git commit -F`. - Avoid multi-layer `printf` escaping for commit messages unless absolutely necessary. ## Fallback Strategy - If a grep/rg/sed command gets mangled by quoting, read the file directly (`sed -n` or `cat`) and answer from exact contents. - Prefer correctness and reliability over compact one-liners.