diff --git a/apps/sol/maint/003_seed_agents_md.py b/apps/sol/maint/003_seed_agents_md.py
index 28f2e852a..8f18a43ce 100644
--- a/apps/sol/maint/003_seed_agents_md.py
+++ b/apps/sol/maint/003_seed_agents_md.py
@@ -42,7 +42,11 @@ def main() -> int:
     claude_path = journal / "CLAUDE.md"
     gemini_path = journal / "GEMINI.md"
 
-    if agents_path.exists() and _symlink_points_to_agents(claude_path) and _symlink_points_to_agents(gemini_path):
+    if (
+        agents_path.exists()
+        and _symlink_points_to_agents(claude_path)
+        and _symlink_points_to_agents(gemini_path)
+    ):
         print("all journal agent files already present")
         return 0
 
diff --git a/talent/coder.md b/talent/coder.md
index 035c31f3c..802ee8b81 100644
--- a/talent/coder.md
+++ b/talent/coder.md
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ Execute work through 5 sequential phases, each delegated to a sub-agent via the
 ### Phase 3: Implement
 
 - **Purpose**: Execute the plan — write code and verify it works.
-- **Sub-agent instructions**: Execute the design plan. Write clean, focused code following the project's conventions (the coding skill provides standards). Make minimum changes needed. Run `make test` after changes. Fix any test failures. Add tests for new behavior. Do not refactor surrounding code or add features beyond the plan.
+- **Sub-agent instructions**: Execute the design plan. Write clean, focused code following the project's conventions (the repo-root `AGENTS.md` and `docs/` references provide standards). Make minimum changes needed. Run `make test` after changes. Fix any test failures. Add tests for new behavior. Do not refactor surrounding code or add features beyond the plan.
 - **Tool access**: Full tool access: Read, Edit, Write, Bash, Glob, Grep.
 - **Expected output**: Summary of all changes made, test results, and any deviations from the plan.
 
@@ -70,8 +70,8 @@ Execute work through 5 sequential phases, each delegated to a sub-agent via the
 
 ## Development Context
 
-Sub-agents have access to the **coding** skill for solstone development
-guidelines, project structure, coding standards, testing, and environment.
-The implement and audit sub-agents will load it automatically when working
-with code. Do not inline development guidelines here — the coding skill
-is the single source of truth.
+Sub-agents should use the repo-root `AGENTS.md` developer guide plus the
+linked `docs/project-structure.md`, `docs/coding-standards.md`,
+`docs/testing.md`, and `docs/environment.md` references for solstone
+development guidance. Do not inline development guidelines here — those
+docs are the single source of truth.
diff --git a/tests/test_cogitate_coder.py b/tests/test_cogitate_coder.py
index 33552f1ef..f79b51b26 100644
--- a/tests/test_cogitate_coder.py
+++ b/tests/test_cogitate_coder.py
@@ -209,22 +209,19 @@ class TestCoderAgent:
         assert "description" in post.metadata
 
     def test_coder_references_coding_skill(self):
-        """coder.md must reference the coding skill instead of inlining guidelines."""
+        """coder.md must reference the developer docs instead of inlining guidelines."""
         from pathlib import Path
 
         coder_path = Path(__file__).parent.parent / "talent" / "coder.md"
         content = coder_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
 
-        # Should reference the coding skill, not inline dev guidelines
-        assert "coding" in content.lower()
+        # Should reference the developer guide/docs, not inline dev guidelines
+        assert "AGENTS.md" in content
+        assert "docs/project-structure.md" in content
         assert "single source of truth" in content
 
-        # The coding skill must exist with reference files
-        coding_skill = Path(__file__).parent.parent / "talent" / "coding" / "SKILL.md"
-        assert coding_skill.exists(), "talent/coding/SKILL.md not found"
-
-        coding_refs = Path(__file__).parent.parent / "talent" / "coding" / "reference"
-        assert (coding_refs / "coding-standards.md").exists()
-        assert (coding_refs / "project-structure.md").exists()
-        assert (coding_refs / "testing.md").exists()
-        assert (coding_refs / "environment.md").exists()
+        docs_dir = Path(__file__).parent.parent / "docs"
+        assert (docs_dir / "coding-standards.md").exists()
+        assert (docs_dir / "project-structure.md").exists()
+        assert (docs_dir / "testing.md").exists()
+        assert (docs_dir / "environment.md").exists()
diff --git a/tests/test_generate_agents.py b/tests/test_generate_agents.py
index 164fa932b..b9a5d1576 100644
--- a/tests/test_generate_agents.py
+++ b/tests/test_generate_agents.py
@@ -1,68 +1,26 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only
 # Copyright (c) 2026 sol pbc
 
-from __future__ import annotations
-
-import os
-import subprocess
-import sys
 from pathlib import Path
 
 
-def test_generate_agents_md_uses_fixture_journal(monkeypatch):
+def test_root_agents_md_is_hand_maintained():
     project_root = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent
     agents_path = project_root / "AGENTS.md"
-    original_content = agents_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-
-    monkeypatch.setenv("_SOLSTONE_JOURNAL_OVERRIDE", "tests/fixtures/journal")
-
-    try:
-        subprocess.run(
-            [sys.executable, "scripts/generate_agents_md.py"],
-            cwd=project_root,
-            check=True,
-            env=os.environ.copy(),
-            capture_output=True,
-            text=True,
-        )
+    content = agents_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
 
-        generated = agents_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-        assert generated.startswith(
-            "<!-- generated from sol/identity.md — do not edit directly -->"
-        )
-        assert "Sol" in generated
-        assert "Test User" in generated
-        assert "$Agent_name" not in generated
-        assert "$name" not in generated
-    finally:
-        agents_path.write_text(original_content, encoding="utf-8")
+    assert content.startswith("# solstone Developer Guide")
+    assert "generated from sol/identity.md" not in content
+    assert "docs/project-structure.md" in content
+    assert "003_seed_agents_md.py" in content
 
 
-def test_generate_agents_md_no_config(monkeypatch, tmp_path):
+def test_root_agent_symlinks_point_to_agents():
     project_root = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent
-    agents_path = project_root / "AGENTS.md"
-    original_content = agents_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-
-    monkeypatch.setenv("_SOLSTONE_JOURNAL_OVERRIDE", str(tmp_path))
-
-    try:
-        subprocess.run(
-            [sys.executable, "scripts/generate_agents_md.py"],
-            cwd=project_root,
-            check=True,
-            env=os.environ.copy(),
-            capture_output=True,
-            text=True,
-        )
+    claude_path = project_root / "CLAUDE.md"
+    gemini_path = project_root / "GEMINI.md"
 
-        generated = agents_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-        assert generated.startswith(
-            "<!-- generated from sol/identity.md — do not edit directly -->"
-        )
-        assert "your journal owner" in generated
-        assert "Sol" in generated
-        assert "$Agent_name" not in generated
-        assert "$name" not in generated
-        assert "$pronouns_subject" not in generated
-    finally:
-        agents_path.write_text(original_content, encoding="utf-8")
+    assert claude_path.is_symlink()
+    assert gemini_path.is_symlink()
+    assert claude_path.readlink() == Path("AGENTS.md")
+    assert gemini_path.readlink() == Path("AGENTS.md")
diff --git a/tests/test_journal_seeding_maint.py b/tests/test_journal_seeding_maint.py
index a30513b99..054439036 100644
--- a/tests/test_journal_seeding_maint.py
+++ b/tests/test_journal_seeding_maint.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ from pathlib import Path
 
 import pytest
 
+
 @pytest.fixture
 def journal_path(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
     monkeypatch.setenv("_SOLSTONE_JOURNAL_OVERRIDE", str(tmp_path))