feat: Allow configuring hints filename(s) (#3269)

Signed-off-by: Rami Chowdhury <rami.chowdhury@gmail.com>

crates/goose-mcp/src/developer/mod.rs

@@ -461,40 +461,57 @@ impl DeveloperRouter {
             },
         };
 
-        // choose_app_strategy().config_dir()
-        // - macOS/Linux: ~/.config/goose/
-        // - Windows:     ~\AppData\Roaming\Block\goose\config\
-        // keep previous behavior of expanding ~/.config in case this fails
-        let global_hints_path = choose_app_strategy(crate::APP_STRATEGY.clone())
-            .map(|strategy| strategy.in_config_dir(".goosehints"))
-            .unwrap_or_else(|_| {
-                PathBuf::from(shellexpand::tilde("~/.config/goose/.goosehints").to_string())
-            });
+        let hints_filenames: Vec<String> = std::env::var("CONTEXT_FILE_NAMES")
+            .ok()
+            .and_then(|s| serde_json::from_str(&s).ok())
+            .unwrap_or_else(|| vec![".goosehints".to_string()]);
 
-        // Create the directory if it doesn't exist
-        let _ = std::fs::create_dir_all(global_hints_path.parent().unwrap());
+        let mut global_hints_contents = Vec::with_capacity(hints_filenames.len());
+        let mut local_hints_contents = Vec::with_capacity(hints_filenames.len());
 
-        // Check for local hints in current directory
-        let local_hints_path = cwd.join(".goosehints");
+        for hints_filename in &hints_filenames {
+            // Global hints
+            // choose_app_strategy().config_dir()
+            // - macOS/Linux: ~/.config/goose/
+            // - Windows:     ~\AppData\Roaming\Block\goose\config\
+            // keep previous behavior of expanding ~/.config in case this fails
+            let global_hints_path = choose_app_strategy(crate::APP_STRATEGY.clone())
+                .map(|strategy| strategy.in_config_dir(hints_filename))
+                .unwrap_or_else(|_| {
+                    let path_str = format!("~/.config/goose/{}", hints_filename);
+                    PathBuf::from(shellexpand::tilde(&path_str).to_string())
+                });
 
-        // Read global hints if they exist
-        let mut hints = String::new();
-        if global_hints_path.is_file() {
-            if let Ok(global_hints) = std::fs::read_to_string(&global_hints_path) {
-                hints.push_str("\n### Global Hints\nThe developer extension includes some global hints that apply to all projects & directories.\n");
-                hints.push_str(&global_hints);
+            if let Some(parent) = global_hints_path.parent() {
+                let _ = std::fs::create_dir_all(parent);
+            }
+
+            if global_hints_path.is_file() {
+                if let Ok(content) = std::fs::read_to_string(&global_hints_path) {
+                    global_hints_contents.push(content);
+                }
+            }
+
+            let local_hints_path = cwd.join(hints_filename);
+            if local_hints_path.is_file() {
+                if let Ok(content) = std::fs::read_to_string(&local_hints_path) {
+                    local_hints_contents.push(content);
+                }
             }
         }
 
-        // Read local hints if they exist
-        if local_hints_path.is_file() {
-            if let Ok(local_hints) = std::fs::read_to_string(&local_hints_path) {
-                if !hints.is_empty() {
-                    hints.push_str("\n\n");
-                }
-                hints.push_str("### Project Hints\nThe developer extension includes some hints for working on the project in this directory.\n");
-                hints.push_str(&local_hints);
+        let mut hints = String::new();
+        if !global_hints_contents.is_empty() {
+            hints.push_str("\n### Global Hints\nThe developer extension includes some global hints that apply to all projects & directories.\n");
+            hints.push_str(&global_hints_contents.join("\n"));
+        }
+
+        if !local_hints_contents.is_empty() {
+            if !hints.is_empty() {
+                hints.push_str("\n\n");
             }
+            hints.push_str("### Project Hints\nThe developer extension includes some hints for working on the project in this directory.\n");
+            hints.push_str(&local_hints_contents.join("\n"));
         }
 
         // Return base instructions directly when no hints are found
@@ -1749,6 +1766,39 @@ mod tests {
         temp_dir.close().unwrap();
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    #[serial]
+    fn test_goosehints_multiple_filenames() {
+        let dir = TempDir::new().unwrap();
+        std::env::set_current_dir(dir.path()).unwrap();
+        std::env::set_var("CONTEXT_FILE_NAMES", r#"["CLAUDE.md", ".goosehints"]"#);
+
+        fs::write("CLAUDE.md", "Custom hints file content from CLAUDE.md").unwrap();
+        fs::write(".goosehints", "Custom hints file content from .goosehints").unwrap();
+        let router = DeveloperRouter::new();
+        let instructions = router.instructions();
+
+        assert!(instructions.contains("Custom hints file content from CLAUDE.md"));
+        assert!(instructions.contains("Custom hints file content from .goosehints"));
+        std::env::remove_var("CONTEXT_FILE_NAMES");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    #[serial]
+    fn test_goosehints_configurable_filename() {
+        let dir = TempDir::new().unwrap();
+        std::env::set_current_dir(dir.path()).unwrap();
+        std::env::set_var("CONTEXT_FILE_NAMES", r#"["CLAUDE.md"]"#);
+
+        fs::write("CLAUDE.md", "Custom hints file content").unwrap();
+        let router = DeveloperRouter::new();
+        let instructions = router.instructions();
+
+        assert!(instructions.contains("Custom hints file content"));
+        assert!(!instructions.contains(".goosehints")); // Make sure it's not loading the default
+        std::env::remove_var("CONTEXT_FILE_NAMES");
+    }
+
     #[tokio::test]
     #[serial]
     #[cfg(windows)]

documentation/docs/guides/tips.md

@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ LLMs have context windows, which are limits on how much conversation history the
 Turning on too many extensions can degrade performance. Enable only essential [extensions and tools](/docs/guides/managing-tools/tool-permissions) to improve tool selection accuracy, save context window space, and stay within provider tool limits.
 
 ### Teach Goose your preferences
-Help Goose remember how you like to work by using [`.goosehints`](/docs/guides/using-goosehints/) for permanent project preferences and the [Memory extension](/docs/mcp/memory-mcp) for things you want Goose to dynamically recall later. Both can help save valuable context window space while keeping your preferences available.
+Help Goose remember how you like to work by using [`.goosehints` or other context files](/docs/guides/using-goosehints/) for permanent project preferences and the [Memory extension](/docs/mcp/memory-mcp) for things you want Goose to dynamically recall later. Both can help save valuable context window space while keeping your preferences available.
 
 ### Protect sensitive files
 Goose is often eager to make changes. You can stop it from changing specific files by creating a [.gooseignore](/docs/guides/using-gooseignore) file. In this file, you can list all the file paths you want it to avoid.
@@ -45,4 +45,4 @@ You can turn a successful session into a reusable "[recipe](/docs/guides/recipes
 You don’t need to get it right the first time. Iterating on prompts and tools is part of the workflow.
 
 ### Keep Goose updated
-Regularly [update](/docs/guides/updating-goose) Goose to benefit from the latest features, bug fixes, and performance improvements.
+Regularly [update](/docs/guides/updating-goose) Goose to benefit from the latest features, bug fixes, and performance improvements.

documentation/docs/guides/using-goosehints.md

@@ -39,6 +39,10 @@ Goose supports two types of hint files:
 You can use both global and local hints at the same time. When both exist, Goose will consider both your global preferences and project-specific requirements. If the instructions in your local hints file conflict with your global preferences, Goose will prioritize the local hints.
 :::
 
+:::tip
+You can name your context files differently -- e.g. `AGENTS.md` -- and Goose can still pick them up. Configure the `CONTEXT_FILE_NAMES` setting!
+:::
+
 <Tabs groupId="interface">
     <TabItem value="ui" label="Goose Desktop" default>