diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9b2390a741
--- /dev/null
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+# Agent guide
+
+Conventions for AI-assisted development in this repository. See [development.md](./development.md), [backend/README.md](./backend/README.md), and [frontend/README.md](./frontend/README.md) for full setup details.
+
+## Non-interactive commands
+
+Use these shell commands for CI-parity build and test (no prompts). Mirrors [.github/workflows/test-backend.yml](./.github/workflows/test-backend.yml) and lint hooks in [development.md](./development.md).
+
+```bash
+docker compose up -d db mailcatcher
+cd backend && uv run bash scripts/prestart.sh && uv run bash scripts/tests-start.sh
+uv run prek run --all-files
+```
+
+Run `uv run prek run --all-files` from the repository root. Run the `docker compose` and `backend` steps from the repository root as well.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a9049b4779..e6d943e4b1 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -222,6 +222,8 @@ Deployment docs: [deployment.md](./deployment.md).
 
 General development docs: [development.md](./development.md).
 
+Agent / CI-parity commands: [AGENTS.md](./AGENTS.md) (non-interactive build and test).
+
 This includes using Docker Compose, custom local domains, `.env` configurations, etc.
 
 ## Release Notes