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Labor · Open Source

Working context and safeguards for AI agents

With open-bridge, we give AI agents a clearly scoped context of project knowledge, rules, and tools. We use this foundation ourselves, develop it in the open, and publish it under the MIT license.

Isometric illustration: a narrow gate checks a marked path and routes content that does not match into a separate area.Isometric illustration: a narrow gate checks a marked path and routes content that does not match into a separate area.

Practical setup 01Built · active once set up

Protecting private working states from the wrong destination

The general framework and private working notes live in the same working directory. Before anything is published, it must be clear where the changes are going and whether private areas are included.

SenderArmingDestination checkPayload checkBarrierHaltedHUMANOwn destinationLet throughBypass path

Classification Open source · built safeguard, active once set up One stop by a human: Own destination

How the setup works Destination check and path check meet at one barrier. Only a known, permitted path is let through. If anything is uncertain, the operation stays halted.
Scope and limitations

Not part of this demo: The safeguard checks storage location and destination, not the content of individual permitted files. It complements technical access controls but does not replace them.

The safeguard is built, is set up locally, and we use it in our own operations.

Practical setup 02Documented process · followed by the agent

Clarifying the working context before every session

An agent can open a project fresh, on the wrong working state, or with an incomplete configuration. Without orientation, it easily starts in the wrong place.

Written taskCurrent branchPersonal branchSettingsMain branchRouterFirst-time setupSwitch branchNormal operationCore development

Classification Open source · documented startup sequence

How the setup works Several possible starting situations feed into one decision. A documented startup instruction describes the checks and the matching next step for each case.
Scope and limitations

Not part of this demo: The process is documented but not enforced by an external session mechanism. Its reliability depends on the agent actually following it.

The startup logic is part of open-bridge and publicly documented.

Practical setup 03Built · designed to work across tools

One knowledge base for several agent tools

Different agent tools look for working instructions in different places. Duplicate copies would quickly drift apart.

WorkstationHUMANRepairTestedPromisedUnverifiedDoor signsSkillsTest runTier guard

Classification Open source · shared knowledge base, tested per tool One stop by a human: Repair

How the setup works Tool-specific entry points lead to one shared knowledge base. Checks enforce the intended sharing level of the included content.
Scope and limitations

Not part of this demo: Compatibility has been tested to different degrees per tool and operating system, and needs to be checked in the specific environment.

The shared store is built and proven in practice in one tool environment. Other environments are being validated step by step.

Open source and publicly verifiable
open-bridge is publicly documented and we use it in our own operations. The safeguards support responsible working practices, but they replace neither a content review nor technical access controls.

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What rules does an agent need before its first working step?

We organize project knowledge, responsibilities, and safeguards so an agent starts with solid context and knows its limits.

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