@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ Inspired by [ultracite](https://github.com/haydenbleasel/ultracite) and NaverPay
 
 ## Quick Start
 
-Run from the root of any project that has a `package.json`:
+Run from the root of your project. A `package.json` is optional: without one (Gradle, pubspec or Cargo-only projects) `init` offers only the AGENTS.md block and its guides, and `update` and `doctor` work as usual:
 
 <CodeGroup titles={["bun", "pnpm", "npm"]}>
 
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ pleaseai-code-style init --yes   # non-interactive, accept defaults
 
 ### `update`
 
-Refresh **only** the `AGENTS.md` rules block without touching packages or other config files. Use this after bumping `@pleaseai/code-style` to pull in the latest rules.
+Refresh the `AGENTS.md` rules block and the guides in `.agents/code-style/` without touching packages or other config files. Use this after bumping `@pleaseai/code-style` to pull in the latest rules.
 
 ```bash
 pleaseai-code-style update
@@ -122,9 +122,9 @@ These rules are managed by `@pleaseai/code-style`. Run
 My own content stays here untouched.
 ```
 
-The CLI **only** owns the content between the two marker comments — everything else in `AGENTS.md` is preserved verbatim. Running `update` twice in a row is a no-op; the block never duplicates.
+In `AGENTS.md`, the CLI **only** owns the content between the two marker comments — everything else is preserved verbatim. Running `update` twice in a row is a no-op; the block never duplicates.
 
-The full canonical rules are shipped per language for AI assistants that prefer to read the long version: start with `node_modules/@pleaseai/code-style/rules/general.md` (every language), then the language guide listed in `node_modules/@pleaseai/code-style/rules.md` (for example, `node_modules/@pleaseai/code-style/rules/typescript.md` for TypeScript and JavaScript).
+The full canonical rules are copied into your project per language for AI assistants that prefer to read the long version, so they resolve without `node_modules`: start with `.agents/code-style/general.md` (every language), then the guide of your language (for example, `.agents/code-style/typescript.md` for TypeScript and JavaScript). `NOTICE.md` and `LICENSE-Apache-2.0.txt` in the same directory carry the attribution for the adapted guides. Commit `.agents/code-style/`: `init` and `update` rewrite it, overwrite its files and remove the guide of a language that is no longer selected (other files there are never touched). `doctor` checks that every guide the block links exists.
 
 ## Options
 
 
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ sidebar:
 
 ## 빠른 시작
 
-`package.json`이 있는 프로젝트 루트에서 실행하세요:
+프로젝트 루트에서 실행하세요. `package.json`은 필수가 아닙니다. 없는 프로젝트(Gradle, pubspec, Cargo 전용)에서는 `init`이 AGENTS.md 블록과 가이드만 제공하며, `update`와 `doctor`는 그대로 동작합니다:
 
 <CodeGroup titles={["bun", "pnpm", "npm"]}>
 
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ pleaseai-code-style init --yes   # 비대화형, 기본값 수락
 
 ### `update`
 
-패키지나 다른 설정 파일을 건드리지 않고 `AGENTS.md` 규칙 블록 **만** 새로 고칩니다. `@pleaseai/code-style`을 업그레이드한 뒤 최신 규칙을 적용할 때 사용하세요.
+패키지나 다른 설정 파일을 건드리지 않고 `AGENTS.md` 규칙 블록과 `.agents/code-style/`의 가이드를 새로 고칩니다. `@pleaseai/code-style`을 업그레이드한 뒤 최신 규칙을 적용할 때 사용하세요.
 
 ```bash
 pleaseai-code-style update
@@ -122,9 +122,9 @@ CLI는 `AGENTS.md`에 마커로 구분된 블록을 작성하므로, 주변에
 내 콘텐츠는 그대로 유지됩니다.
 ```
 
-CLI는 두 마커 주석 사이의 내용 **만** 관리하며 — `AGENTS.md`의 나머지 내용은 그대로 보존됩니다. `update`를 연속으로 두 번 실행해도 no-op이며, 블록이 중복되지 않습니다.
+`AGENTS.md`에서 CLI는 두 마커 주석 사이의 내용 **만** 관리하며 — 나머지 내용은 그대로 보존됩니다. `update`를 연속으로 두 번 실행해도 no-op이며, 블록이 중복되지 않습니다.
 
-전체 원본 규칙은 AI 어시스턴트가 긴 버전을 읽기 원할 때 참고할 수 있도록 언어별로 나뉘어 함께 배포됩니다. `node_modules/@pleaseai/code-style/rules/general.md`(모든 언어)를 먼저 읽고, `node_modules/@pleaseai/code-style/rules.md`에 나열된 언어별 가이드를 읽으세요(예: TypeScript·JavaScript는 `node_modules/@pleaseai/code-style/rules/typescript.md`).
+전체 원본 규칙은 AI 어시스턴트가 긴 버전을 읽기 원할 때 참고할 수 있도록 언어별로 나뉘어 프로젝트에 복사되므로 `node_modules` 없이도 읽을 수 있습니다. `.agents/code-style/general.md`(모든 언어)를 먼저 읽고, 사용하는 언어의 가이드를 읽으세요(예: TypeScript·JavaScript는 `.agents/code-style/typescript.md`). 같은 디렉터리의 `NOTICE.md`와 `LICENSE-Apache-2.0.txt`에 각색한 가이드의 출처 표기가 있습니다. `.agents/code-style/`은 커밋하세요. `init`과 `update`가 이 디렉터리를 다시 쓰며 파일을 덮어쓰고, 더 이상 선택하지 않은 언어의 가이드는 삭제합니다(디렉터리의 다른 파일은 건드리지 않습니다). `doctor`는 블록이 가리키는 가이드가 모두 있는지 확인합니다.
 
 ## 옵션
 
 
@@ -12,12 +12,13 @@ eslint/prettier/editorconfig/ast-grep 패키지를 설치하고, AI 코딩 어
 
 ## 사용법
 
-`package.json`이 있는 프로젝트 루트에서 실행하세요:
+프로젝트 루트에서 실행하세요. `package.json`은 필수가 아닙니다. 없는 프로젝트(Gradle,
+pubspec, Cargo 전용)에서는 `init`이 AGENTS.md 블록과 가이드만 제공합니다:
 
 ```bash
 bunx @pleaseai/code-style         # `init`과 동일
 bunx @pleaseai/code-style init    # 대화형 설정
-bunx @pleaseai/code-style update  # AGENTS.md 규칙 블록만 다시 적용
+bunx @pleaseai/code-style update  # AGENTS.md 규칙 블록과 가이드 다시 적용
 bunx @pleaseai/code-style doctor  # 현재 프로젝트 상태 확인
 bunx @pleaseai/code-style check   # 파일 이름과 테스트 경로 검사 (ADR-0022)
 ```
@@ -200,7 +201,7 @@ bunx @pleaseai/code-style check --strict   # 발견 사항이 하나라도 있
 
 ## `AGENTS.md` 블록
 
-CLI는 아래 마커 사이의 내용만 관리합니다 — `AGENTS.md`의 나머지 내용은
+`AGENTS.md`에서 CLI는 아래 마커 사이의 내용만 관리합니다 — 나머지 내용은
 사용자의 것이며 그대로 보존됩니다:
 
 ```md
@@ -210,10 +211,14 @@ CLI는 아래 마커 사이의 내용만 관리합니다 — `AGENTS.md`의 나
 ```
 
 `@pleaseai/code-style`을 업그레이드한 뒤에는 `pleaseai-code-style update`를
-다시 실행하면 이 블록만 새로고침할 수 있습니다. 전체 규칙은 참고용으로
-언어별로 나뉘어 함께 배포됩니다. `node_modules/@pleaseai/code-style/rules/general.md`(모든 언어)를
-먼저 읽고, `node_modules/@pleaseai/code-style/rules.md`에 나열된 언어별 가이드를 읽으세요
-(예: TypeScript·JavaScript는 `node_modules/@pleaseai/code-style/rules/typescript.md`).
+다시 실행하면 이 블록과 블록이 가리키는 가이드를 새로고침할 수 있습니다. 전체 규칙은 언어별로 나뉘어 프로젝트에
+복사되므로 `node_modules` 없이도 어떤 프로젝트에서나 읽을 수 있습니다.
+`.agents/code-style/general.md`(모든 언어)를 먼저 읽고, 사용하는 언어의 가이드를 읽으세요
+(예: TypeScript·JavaScript는 `.agents/code-style/typescript.md`). 각색한 가이드의 출처 표기는
+`NOTICE.md`와 `LICENSE-Apache-2.0.txt`에 있습니다. `.agents/code-style/`은 커밋하세요.
+`init`과 `update`가 이 디렉터리를 다시 쓰며 파일을 덮어쓰고, 더 이상 선택하지 않은 언어의
+가이드는 삭제합니다(디렉터리의 다른 파일은 건드리지 않습니다). `doctor`는 블록이 가리키는
+가이드가 모두 있는지 확인합니다.
 
 ## 옵션
 
 
@@ -12,12 +12,13 @@ NaverPay's [`@naverpay/code-style-cli`](https://github.com/NaverPayDev/code-styl
 
 ## Usage
 
-From the root of any project that has a `package.json`:
+From the root of your project. A `package.json` is optional: without one (Gradle,
+pubspec or Cargo-only projects) `init` offers only the AGENTS.md block and its guides:
 
 ```bash
 bunx @pleaseai/code-style         # same as `init`
 bunx @pleaseai/code-style init    # interactive setup
-bunx @pleaseai/code-style update  # re-apply the AGENTS.md rules block only
+bunx @pleaseai/code-style update  # re-apply the AGENTS.md rules block and its guides
 bunx @pleaseai/code-style doctor  # check current project status
 bunx @pleaseai/code-style check   # check file names and test paths (ADR-0022)
 ```
@@ -382,8 +383,8 @@ does not catch lost tests.
 
 ## `AGENTS.md` block
 
-The CLI owns only the content between these markers — everything else in
-`AGENTS.md` is your content and is preserved verbatim:
+In `AGENTS.md`, the CLI owns only the content between these markers — everything
+else is your content and is preserved verbatim:
 
 ```md
 <!-- pleaseai-code-style:start -->
@@ -392,12 +393,15 @@ The CLI owns only the content between these markers — everything else in
 ```
 
 Re-run `pleaseai-code-style update` any time you upgrade `@pleaseai/code-style`
-to refresh just this block. The full rules are shipped per language for
-reference: start with `node_modules/@pleaseai/code-style/rules/general.md`
-(every language), then the language guide listed in
-`node_modules/@pleaseai/code-style/rules.md` (for example
-`node_modules/@pleaseai/code-style/rules/typescript.md` for TypeScript and
-JavaScript).
+to refresh this block and the guides it links. The full rules are copied into your project, per
+language, so they resolve in every project (no `node_modules` needed): start
+with `.agents/code-style/general.md` (every language), then the guide of your
+language (for example `.agents/code-style/typescript.md` for TypeScript and
+JavaScript), with `NOTICE.md` and `LICENSE-Apache-2.0.txt` for the attribution
+of the adapted guides. Commit `.agents/code-style/`; `init` and `update`
+rewrite it, overwrite the files and remove the guide of a language that is no
+longer selected (other files in the directory are never touched). `doctor`
+checks that every guide the block links exists.
 
 ## Options
 
 
@@ -15,6 +15,9 @@ apply to every language, then the guide for the language you are writing:
 - [`rules/html-css.md`](./rules/html-css.md) — HTML and CSS
 
 `pleaseai-code-style init` and `update` point your `AGENTS.md` block at the
-general guide plus the guide of each selected language. Languages are detected
+general guide plus the guide of each selected language, and copy those guides
+(with `NOTICE.md` and `LICENSE-Apache-2.0.txt`) into `.agents/code-style/` in
+your project, so the links work without `node_modules`. Commit that directory;
+`update` rewrites it. Languages are detected
 from marker files in the project root, or set with `--lang <list>`; `update`
 keeps the languages the existing block links unless `--lang` is given.
@@ -10,8 +10,9 @@ import {
   upsertMarkerBlock,
   writePackageJson,
 } from './fs-utils.js'
+import { guidePath, syncGuides } from './guides.js'
 import { t } from './i18n.js'
-import { detectLanguages, languagesFromAgentsBlock, RULES_PREFIX } from './languages.js'
+import { detectLanguages, languagesFromAgentsBlock } from './languages.js'
 
 async function confirmOverwrite(file: string, auto: boolean): Promise<boolean> {
   if (auto) {
@@ -182,7 +183,7 @@ function wantsCodeOrganization(ctx: ToolContext): boolean {
 }
 
 function agentsBody(ctx: ToolContext, languages: Language[]): string {
-  const guides = ['general', ...languages].map(id => `\`${RULES_PREFIX}/${id}.md\``)
+  const guides = ['general', ...languages].map(id => `\`${guidePath(id)}\``)
   const pointer = guides.length > 1
     ? `${guides.slice(0, -1).join(', ')} and ${guides.at(-1)}`
     : guides[0]
@@ -200,6 +201,10 @@ export async function applyAgentsMd(ctx: ToolContext): Promise<ToolApplyResult>
   const languages = ctx.languages ?? languagesFromAgentsBlock(existing) ?? detectLanguages(ctx.cwd)
   const next = upsertMarkerBlock(existing, agentsBody(ctx, languages))
 
+  const guides = syncGuides(ctx.cwd, languages)
+  result.created.push(...guides.created)
+  result.updated.push(...guides.updated)
+
   if (existing == null) {
     writeFileSync(target, next)
     result.created.push(label)
 
@@ -10,22 +10,21 @@ import {
   detectPackageManager,
   installCommand,
   isPackageInstalled,
+  readFileOrNull,
   readPackageJson,
 } from './fs-utils.js'
+import { assertGuidesWritable } from './guides.js'
 import { t } from './i18n.js'
-import { detectLanguages, LANGUAGES } from './languages.js'
+import { detectLanguages, guidePathsFromAgentsBlock, LANGUAGES } from './languages.js'
 
 export interface CommandOptions {
   cwd: string
   autoAccept: boolean
   languages?: Language[]
 }
 
-function assertProjectRoot(cwd: string): void {
-  if (!existsSync(resolve(cwd, 'package.json'))) {
-    log.error(t('noPackageJson'))
-    process.exit(1)
-  }
+function hasPackageJson(cwd: string): boolean {
+  return existsSync(resolve(cwd, 'package.json'))
 }
 
 function mergeResults(results: ToolApplyResult[]): ToolApplyResult {
@@ -53,27 +52,30 @@ function reportResults(result: ToolApplyResult): void {
 // --- init -------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 export async function runInit(opts: CommandOptions): Promise<void> {
-  assertProjectRoot(opts.cwd)
   intro(t('appTitle'))
 
-  const pm = detectPackageManager(opts.cwd)
-  log.info(t('detectedPm')(pm))
-
-  const pkg = readPackageJson(opts.cwd)
+  const withPackages = hasPackageJson(opts.cwd)
+  const pm = withPackages ? detectPackageManager(opts.cwd) : undefined
+  const pkg = withPackages ? readPackageJson(opts.cwd) : undefined
+  if (pm != null) {
+    log.info(t('detectedPm')(pm))
+  }
 
-  const options = TOOLS.map((tool) => {
-    const installed = tool.packages.length > 0
+  const available = withPackages ? TOOLS : TOOLS.filter(tool => tool.packages.length === 0)
+  const options = available.map((tool) => {
+    const installed = pkg != null
+      && tool.packages.length > 0
       && tool.packages.some(p => isPackageInstalled(pkg, p))
     return {
       value: tool.id,
       label: installed ? `${tool.label} ${t('alreadyInstalled')}` : tool.label,
     }
   })
 
-  const initialValues = opts.autoAccept ? TOOLS.map(tool => tool.id) : undefined
+  const initialValues = opts.autoAccept ? available.map(tool => tool.id) : undefined
 
   const selectedIdsRaw = opts.autoAccept
-    ? TOOLS.map(tool => tool.id)
+    ? available.map(tool => tool.id)
     : await multiselect({
         message: t('selectTools'),
         options,
@@ -94,7 +96,7 @@ export async function runInit(opts: CommandOptions): Promise<void> {
   }
 
   const selectedTools: Tool[] = selectedIds
-    .map(id => TOOLS.find(tool => tool.id === id))
+    .map(id => available.find(tool => tool.id === id))
     .filter((tool): tool is Tool => tool != null)
 
   let languages = opts.languages
@@ -117,13 +119,17 @@ export async function runInit(opts: CommandOptions): Promise<void> {
       languages = chosen
     }
   }
+  if (selectedTools.some(tool => tool.id === 'agents-md')) {
+    // Fail before installing anything rather than leave a half-configured project.
+    assertGuidesWritable(opts.cwd, languages ?? [])
+  }
 
   // 1. Install packages (de-duped) for selected tools.
   const packagesToInstall = Array.from(
     new Set(selectedTools.flatMap(tool => tool.packages)),
   )
 
-  if (packagesToInstall.length > 0) {
+  if (pm != null && packagesToInstall.length > 0) {
     const [cmd, args] = installCommand(pm, packagesToInstall)
     const spin = spinner()
     spin.start(t('installing'))
@@ -152,7 +158,6 @@ export async function runInit(opts: CommandOptions): Promise<void> {
 // --- update -----------------------------------------------------------------
 
 export async function runUpdate(opts: CommandOptions): Promise<void> {
-  assertProjectRoot(opts.cwd)
   intro(t('appTitle'))
   const result = await applyAgentsMd({ cwd: opts.cwd, autoAccept: true, selectedToolIds: [], languages: opts.languages })
   reportResults(result)
@@ -163,21 +168,21 @@ export async function runUpdate(opts: CommandOptions): Promise<void> {
 // --- doctor -----------------------------------------------------------------
 
 export function runDoctor(opts: CommandOptions): void {
-  assertProjectRoot(opts.cwd)
-  const pkg = readPackageJson(opts.cwd)
-  const pm = detectPackageManager(opts.cwd)
-
   log.info(`${t('doctorHeading')}:`)
-  log.info(`  ${t('detectedPm')(pm)}`)
 
-  // Package-based tools only — file-only tools (agents-md) are reported below.
-  for (const tool of TOOLS) {
-    if (tool.packages.length === 0) {
-      continue
+  const packageBased = hasPackageJson(opts.cwd)
+  if (packageBased) {
+    const pkg = readPackageJson(opts.cwd)
+    log.info(`  ${t('detectedPm')(detectPackageManager(opts.cwd))}`)
+
+    for (const tool of TOOLS) {
+      if (tool.packages.length === 0) {
+        continue
+      }
+      const installed = tool.packages.every(p => isPackageInstalled(pkg, p))
+      const suffix = installed ? t('doctorOk') : t('doctorMissing')
+      log.info(`  ${tool.label} — ${suffix}`)
     }
-    const installed = tool.packages.every(p => isPackageInstalled(pkg, p))
-    const suffix = installed ? t('doctorOk') : t('doctorMissing')
-    log.info(`  ${tool.label} — ${suffix}`)
   }
 
   if (opts.languages != null) {
@@ -188,15 +193,17 @@ export function runDoctor(opts: CommandOptions): void {
     log.info(`  ${languages.length > 0 ? t('doctorLanguages')(languages.join(', ')) : t('doctorNoLanguages')}`)
   }
 
-  // File presence checks.
-  const files = [
-    'eslint.config.mjs',
-    '.editorconfig',
-    'AGENTS.md',
-    'sgconfig.yml',
-  ]
+  // File presence checks. Without a package.json, init offers only the AGENTS.md block.
+  const files = packageBased
+    ? ['eslint.config.mjs', '.editorconfig', 'AGENTS.md', 'sgconfig.yml']
+    : ['AGENTS.md']
   for (const f of files) {
     const exists = existsSync(resolve(opts.cwd, f))
     log.info(`  ${f} — ${exists ? t('doctorOk') : t('doctorMissing')}`)
   }
+
+  for (const guide of guidePathsFromAgentsBlock(readFileOrNull(resolve(opts.cwd, 'AGENTS.md'))) ?? []) {
+    const exists = existsSync(resolve(opts.cwd, guide))
+    log.info(`  ${guide} — ${exists ? t('doctorOk') : t('doctorMissing')}`)
+  }
 }