AI Agents: A comprehensive guide

This is a comprehensive list of AI agents, their supported rule formats and MCP support. If you’re looking AlignTrue’s ompatibility matrix, see Agent Support.

If you see anything missing or out of date, submit an update.

AI agent rule format support

Agent — exporter	Supported formats
Aider — `aider`	Rules: `AGENTS.md`, `.aider.conf.yml` MCP: `.mcp.json`
Amazon Q — `amazonq`	Rules: `.amazonq/rules/*.md` (includes `ruler_q_rules.md` and related files) MCP: `.amazonq/mcp.json`
Amp — `amp`	Rules: `AGENTS.md`
Augment Code — `augmentcode`	Rules: `.augment/rules/*.md` (includes `ruler_augment_instructions.md`)
Claude — `claude`	Rules: `CLAUDE.md` MCP: `.mcp.json`
Cline — `cline`	Rules: `.clinerules`
CrushChat — `crush`	Rules: `AGENTS.md`, `CRUSH.md` Config: `.crush.json`
Cursor — `cursor`	Rules: `.cursor/rules/*.mdc`, `AGENTS.md` MCP: `.cursor/mcp.json`
Firebender — `firebender`	Rules: `firebender.json` Config: `firebender.json`
Firebase Studio — `firebase-studio`	Rules: `.idx/airules.md` MCP: `.idx/mcp.json`
Gemini — `gemini`	Rules: `AGENTS.md`, `GEMINI.md` Config: `.gemini/settings.json`
Goose — `goose`	Rules: `.goosehints`
Junie — `junie`	Rules: `.junie/guidelines.md` Config: `.aiignore`
KiloCode — `kilocode`	Rules: `.kilocode/rules/*.md` (includes `ruler_kilocode_instructions.md`) MCP: `.kilocode/mcp.json`
Kiro — `kiro`	Rules: `.kiro/steering/*.md` (includes `ruler_kiro_instructions.md`)
OpenAI Codex — `openai-codex`	Rules: `AGENTS.md` Config: `.codex/config.toml`
Open Code — `opencode`	Rules: `AGENTS.md` Config: `opencode.json`
OpenHands — `openhands`	Rules: `.openhands/microagents/repo.md` Config: `config.toml`
Qwen Code — `qwen-code`	Rules: `AGENTS.md` Config: `.qwen/settings.json`
Roo Code — `roocode`	Rules: `AGENTS.md` MCP: `.roo/mcp.json`
Trae AI — `trae-ai`	Rules: `.trae/rules/project_rules.md`
Warp — `warp`	Rules: `WARP.md`
Windsurf — `windsurf`	Rules: `AGENTS.md` MCP: `.windsurf/mcp_config.json`
Zed — `zed`	Rules: `AGENTS.md` Config: `.zed/settings.json`
Jules — `jules`	Rules: `AGENTS.md`
GitHub Copilot — `copilot`	Rules: `AGENTS.md` MCP: `.vscode/mcp.json`
OpenAI Codex CLI — `openai-codex`	Rules: `AGENTS.md` Config: `.codex/config.toml`
Amazon Q CLI — `amazonq`	Rules: `.amazonq/rules/ruler_q_rules.md` MCP: `.amazonq/mcp.json`
AGENTS.md — `agents`	Rules: `AGENTS.md`

Agent ignore file support

AlignTrue automatically manages ignore files for agents that support them to prevent duplicate context. See Preventing duplicate rules for details.

Agent	Ignore format	AlignTrue managed	Nested support	Notes
Cursor	`.cursorignore`	✓	✓	Also supports `.cursorindexingignore` for indexing-only exclusions.
Aider	`.aiderignore`	✓	✓	Follows Git-style syntax and can sit anywhere inside the repo; `--aiderignore` overrides location.
Firebase Studio (Gemini Code Assist)	`.aiexclude`	✓	✗	`.gitignore` syntax minus negation; files listed there stay hidden from Gemini indexing.
KiloCode	`.kilocodeignore`	✓	✗	Lives in `.kilocode` and mirrors Git ignore behavior.
Gemini CLI	`.geminiignore`	✓	✗	Works like a gitignore; Gemini CLI reloads after changes.
Crush	`.crushignore`	✓	✓	Default honors `.gitignore`; `.crushignore` adds extra exclusions per project/subdir.
Warp	`.warpindexingignore`	✓	✗	Files matching the list are dropped from Warp’s indexing along with gitignored paths.
Cline	`.clineignore`	✓	✗	Git-like syntax instructs Cline which files to skip.
Goose	`.gooseignore`	✓	✗	Ensures Goose does not read or edit sensitive files.
Junie (JetBrains)	`.aiignore`	✓	✗	Files listed here require explicit approval before the AI reads or edits them.
Augment Code	`.augmentignore`	✓	✗	Git-style patterns; supports negation to include previously ignored files.
Kiro	`.kiroignore`	✓	✗	Functions like a gitignore to stop Kiro from touching listed files.
Firebender	Ignore list inside `firebender.json`	✗	✗	The `ignore` array joins global and project configs to keep files private.
Claude Code	Uses `.gitignore`	✗	✗	Claude relies on `.gitignore`; a `.claudeignore` feature request is open.
Amazon Q	Uses `.gitignore`	✗	✗	No project-specific ignore file yet; a `.q-ignore` proposal exists.
Zed (Zed Editor AI)	Uses `.gitignore`	✗	✗	Zed hides gitignored files unless `include_ignored` is enabled; no `.zedignore`.
Qwen Code	Uses `.gitignore`	✗	✗	Settings toggle whether gitignored files are considered.
OpenCode	Uses `.gitignore`	✗	✗	OpenCode relies on `.gitignore` and offers an `.ignore` override to re-include files.
OpenHands	None (planned)	✗	✗	OpenHands has no ignore file yet; a `.openhandsignore` is discussed.
OpenHands Config	None	✗	✗	Config.toml does not expose ignore patterns.
Trae AI	None documented	✗	✗	No dedicated ignore file has been published.
Windsurf	None documented	✗	✗	No documented ignore mechanism.
GitHub Copilot	None documented	✗	✗	No documented ignore mechanism.

Legend:

AlignTrue managed: AlignTrue can automatically manage this ignore file
Nested support: Agent respects ignore files in subdirectories (for scoped exports)