FAQ

How is this different from ESLint?

ESLint checks syntax and formatting. Archon Protocol constrains architecture and behavior. ESLint tells you "unused variable". Archon Protocol tells you "this page should use skeleton screens, not show 0 while loading". They complement each other.

How many tokens does it cost?

Component	Size	When loaded
Constraint skill (each)	<5KB	Every code change
Command skill (each)	<5KB	When invoked
Agent	Own context	Isolated window

Agents run in isolated context windows — they don't consume tokens from your main conversation.

Do I need to know programming to maintain it?

Writing constraint skills is just Markdown with ❌ markers. No programming needed. The integrity tests are JavaScript (Vitest), so maintaining tests requires basic JS knowledge.

What if my tool doesn't support agents?

Skills provide the same workflows in portable SKILL.md format, supported by 27+ tools. If your tool doesn't even support SKILL.md, you can manually tell the AI:

"Read archon-protocol/skills/archon-demand/SKILL.md and follow its workflow."

Won't self-evolution cause constraint bloat?

Possibly. Mitigations:

1. Each skill is <5KB (enforced by SKILL.md spec)
2. Prohibition quality tests ensure every ❌ is specific and grep-verifiable
3. Constraint changes appear in git diff — humans can review and trim

Review constraints quarterly: merge duplicates, remove obsolete prohibitions.

How do teams use it?

1. Commit archon-protocol/ to your git repo
2. Run install.sh to deploy to each tool's directories
3. Every team member's AI tool discovers the same constraints
4. Someone finds a new anti-pattern → update constraint skill → push → team-wide effect

Can I use this for non-JavaScript projects?

Yes. All files are pure Markdown. Customize:

1. Modify prohibitions in constraint skills for your language/framework
2. Update archon.config.yaml with your stack and test command
3. Replace Vitest with your test runner if needed

The core architecture (agent-first, feedback loop, self-evolution) is language-agnostic.