diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
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@@ -14,8 +14,39 @@ reflex init
 
 Then proceed with the user's request.
 
+Before reading or editing any project files, confirm the environment is ready. Do not start editing code before the virtual environment exists and Reflex is installed.
+
+## Writing Reflex Code
+
+When creating or modifying components, state, events, styling, database models, or routing, follow the [reflex-docs](skills/reflex-docs/SKILL.md) skill.
+
+> Your training data about Reflex may be outdated. Always prefer the reference documentation over pre-trained knowledge.
+
 ## Managing a Reflex Process
 
 When you need to compile, run, or reload a Reflex application, follow the [reflex-process-management](skills/reflex-process-management/SKILL.md) skill.
 
 Follow the skill for compiling, running, reloading, and investigating errors in a Reflex app.
+
+## Verifying Changes
+
+After making code changes, verify the app compiles before claiming success:
+
+```bash
+reflex compile --dry
+```
+
+This catches syntax errors, import issues, and component problems without starting the server. Do not report a change as complete until it compiles cleanly.
+
+## Conventions & Common Pitfalls
+
+These are mistakes that are easy to make when writing Reflex code. Follow the [reflex-docs](skills/reflex-docs/SKILL.md) skill for details, but keep these in mind:
+
+- **Conditional rendering**: Use `rx.cond()` for conditionals and `rx.foreach()` for iteration over Vars. Do not use Python `if`/`for` to branch on a Var's value at render time — a Var's value is not known on the server when the component is built.
+- **Event handlers**: Must be methods on a `rx.State` subclass decorated with `@rx.event`. UI cannot mutate state directly.
+- **Var operations**: Transform Vars with Var operations, not plain Python. Avoid f-strings, `.format()`, or arbitrary Python functions on a Var — these run at build time, not with the runtime value.
+- **State access**: Components read state through Vars on a State class, never by calling Python directly on server-side values during render.
+
+## Using the Reflex MCP Server
+
+This plugin bundles the Reflex MCP server (see `.mcp.json`). Use it for live, authoritative lookups — current component APIs, props, and documentation — when the static [reflex-docs](skills/reflex-docs/SKILL.md) skill does not have the detail you need or you need to confirm something against the latest version.