Customize GitLab Duo Agent Platform | GitLab Docs Skip to main content Go to GitLab Docs homepage What's new? What's new? Get free trial Toggle menu * Use GitLab * GitLab Duo * GitLab Orbit * Extend * Install * Administer * Subscribe * Contribute * Solutions GitLab Duo Agent Platform Getting started Tutorials Availability Agentic Chat AI Catalog Agents Flows Sessions Customization Custom rules AGENTS.md Agent Skills Custom review instructions Code Suggestions Models Contextual awareness Composite identity Authentication Security threats Model Context Protocol Semantic code search Troubleshooting GitLab Duo Non-Agentic Data usage * GitLab Docs / * GitLab Duo / * GitLab Duo Agent Platfor… / * Customization Help us learn about your current experience with the documentation. Take the survey . Customize GitLab Duo Agent Platform You can customize the Agent Platform to match your workflow, coding standards, or project requirements. Customization options Method AI features 1 Use cases Supported in Use custom rules to provide instructions. - GitLab Duo Chat - Agents - Flows, excluding Code Review Flow - Apply personal preferences. - Enforce team standards. - GitLab UI - Editor extensions - GitLab Duo CLI Create an AGENTS.md file to provide instructions. - GitLab Duo Chat - Flows, excluding Code Review Flow - Account for project-specific context. - Organize a monorepo. - Enforce directory-specific conventions. - GitLab UI - Editor extensions - GitLab Duo CLI - Non-GitLab AI coding tools Create MR review instructions to ensure consistent and specific code review standards in your project. - Code Review Flow Apply: - Language-specific review rules. - Security standards. - Code quality requirements. - File-specific guidelines. - GitLab UI Create Agent Skills to provide skills. - GitLab Duo Chat - Flows, excluding Code Review Flow - Provide shareable skills - Add custom slash commands - GitLab UI - Editor extensions - GitLab Duo CLI - Non-GitLab AI coding tools Footnotes : * Support varies by where you use these features. For more information, see the documentation for each customization method. Best practices When you customize the Agent Platform, apply the following best practices: * Start with minimal, clear, and simple instructions, and add more as needed. Keep the instruction file as short as possible. * Make sure the instructions are specific and actionable. Provide examples as needed. * Choose the method that matches your use case. * Combine multiple methods to tailor and control how GitLab Duo behaves. * If you use multiple methods, consider the following file structure for your project: Project root directory |─ AGENTS.md # Applies to multiple Duo features |- skills/<skill-name>/ |─ SKILL.md # Applies to multiple Duo features |─ .gitlab/duo/ |─ chat-rules.md # Custom Chat-specific rules |─ mr-review-instructions.yaml # Custom code review standards |─ ... # Other configuration as needed You can include other configuration files in the .gitlab/duo/ folder, such as custom flow definitions , or an MCP server configuration file. * Document your choices in comments to explain why certain instructions exist. * Protect customization files with Code Owners to manage changes. Related topics * Hooks for GitLab Duo CLI * Customization options * Best practices * Related topics * Facebook * LinkedIn * Twitter * YouTube Company * About GitLab * View pricing * Try GitLab for free Feedback * View page source * Edit in Web IDE * Contribute to GitLab * Suggest updates Help & Community * Get certified * Get support * Post on the GitLab forum Resources * Terms * Privacy statement * Use of generative AI * Acceptable use of user licenses *