MCAF

# MCAF Concepts

**Managed Code Coding AI Framework**

Developed and sustained by **Managed Code**  
March 2026

---

## 1. What MCAF Is

MCAF is a framework for building real software with AI coding agents.

It defines how to:

- keep durable engineering context in the repository
- make AI work from `AGENTS.md` plus repo-native docs and skills
- verify behaviour with tests and static analysis
- keep AI guidance small, explicit, and versioned

The goal of MCAF:

> Use AI to build real products in a way that is predictable, safe, and repeatable.

MCAF has three core elements:

- **Context** — code, docs, `AGENTS.md`, and skills live with the repo.
- **Verification** — tests and analyzers are the decision makers, not opinions.
- **Instructions** — root and local `AGENTS.md` files define how agents work here.

These concepts define the framework (the "what" and "why").  
`TUTORIAL.md` is the bootstrap procedure (the "how").  
Repository `AGENTS.md` files apply both to a specific solution.

### 1.1 Bootstrap Surface

`v1.2` is skill-first.

Bootstrap stays minimal:

- one root `AGENTS.md` template
- one `CLAUDE.md` wrapper template
- one tutorial page that explains how agents fetch and install the right skill folders

Canonical install entry point:

- Tutorial: [https://mcaf.managed-code.com/tutorial](https://mcaf.managed-code.com/tutorial)

Optional direct shortcuts:

- Templates: [https://mcaf.managed-code.com/templates](https://mcaf.managed-code.com/templates)
- Skills: [https://mcaf.managed-code.com/skills](https://mcaf.managed-code.com/skills)

## 2. Context

Context is everything needed to understand, change, and run the system.

### 2.1 Repository Context

In MCAF, repository context includes:

- application code
- automated tests
- architecture, feature, ADR, and operational docs
- skills for repeatable agent workflows
- the solution-root `AGENTS.md`
- project-local `AGENTS.md` files for multi-project solutions

Anything that materially affects development, veri