diff --git a/.agents/skills/_shared/shopify-cli-ci-repo-contracts.md b/.agents/skills/_shared/shopify-cli-ci-repo-contracts.md
index 9dae6696d24..aee77847a8d 100644
--- a/.agents/skills/_shared/shopify-cli-ci-repo-contracts.md
+++ b/.agents/skills/_shared/shopify-cli-ci-repo-contracts.md
@@ -25,6 +25,12 @@ For normal PR CI work, start with `.github/workflows/tests-pr.yml`.
 - Generated outputs are often part of the required change set when a workflow step verifies cleanliness after regeneration.
 - `dev.yml` is a useful local workflow entrypoint, but workflow YAML is the source of truth for what CI actually enforces.
 
+## Local pre-submit tooling
+
+- `pnpm pre-ci` runs the local subset of PR gates at full CI parity (type-check, lint, build, knip, codegen freshness, unit tests). `pnpm pre-ci:affected` runs the diff-scoped fast variant (nx/vitest affected; skips the codegen freshness checks unless the diff touches commands, flags, or GraphQL). Default to affected; reach for full `pre-ci` before a high-risk push.
+- Codegen freshness is single-sourced in `package.json`: `pnpm codegen` regenerates all generated files; `pnpm codegen:check:graphql` / `:oclif` regenerate and assert a clean tree. The workflow's `graphql-schema` and `oclif-checks` jobs call these scripts, so local and CI cannot drift.
+- `bin/ci-gates.js` is the source of truth mapping each `tests-pr.yml` job to a `pre-ci` command or a `ci-only` reason. `pnpm check-ci-gates` (CI job `CI gate manifest`) fails if a workflow job is unclassified or if the Node/pnpm versions in `dev.yml` and `tests-pr.yml` disagree.
+
 ## Gotchas
 
 - Do not guess from a check name alone when the workflow or job definition is available.
diff --git a/.agents/skills/cli-pre-submit-ci/SKILL.md b/.agents/skills/cli-pre-submit-ci/SKILL.md
index 98870d67742..5f09abfd00d 100644
--- a/.agents/skills/cli-pre-submit-ci/SKILL.md
+++ b/.agents/skills/cli-pre-submit-ci/SKILL.md
@@ -35,14 +35,16 @@ If the diff clearly maps to a narrow family, keep the investigation narrow.
 |---|---|
 | docs/config/wiring only, with no obvious workflow-enforced generator family | **stop there unless contradicted**: run lightweight sanity checks only (`git diff --check`, validate changed symlink targets, validate local markdown links if relevant); do not full-read large workflow/script files |
 | user is at PR time (`submit`, `open`, `update`, `restack`) | advisory mode: suggest minimal checks, staging needs, and likely CI risk; ask before running anything substantial |
-| user asks what to run before push | recommend the minimal high-signal checks implied by the workflow |
+| user asks what to run before push | `pnpm pre-ci:affected` for a diff-scoped fast check, or the minimal high-signal checks implied by the workflow; `pnpm pre-ci` for full parity before a high-risk push |
 | user asks what to commit or stage | reproduce the relevant generator/check path, then inspect git status and diffs |
 | user explicitly asks to run checks | run the minimal derived set, not the whole world |
 
 ### 2) Resolve the contract for the relevant family
 Only do this if the diff class suggests a real CI-family mapping, or if the user asks for broader confidence.
 
-Read sources in this order:
+The gate list is already resolved in [`bin/ci-gates.js`](../../../bin/ci-gates.js) — each `tests-pr.yml` job mapped to its local command (full and affected) or a ci-only reason. Read it first; `pnpm pre-ci` / `pnpm pre-ci:affected` run those gates, so most pre-submit work needs no per-diff YAML archaeology.
+
+When the manifest is not enough, resolve from the contract files in this order:
 
 1. relevant `.github/workflows/*.yml`
 2. `dev.yml`
@@ -57,11 +59,11 @@ Read only the files and script sections needed for the diff class you identified
 
 | Change shape | Inspect first | Likely response |
 |---|---|---|
-| Command/flag/help surface | docs/manifests/readme freshness jobs | derive the generator path from workflow → scripts |
-| GraphQL queries or schemas | schema/codegen freshness jobs | derive the schema fetch + codegen path |
-| TypeScript implementation or exports | type-check, lint, knip, bundle jobs | focused tests plus required static checks |
-| Test helpers, async UI, network/auth/callback logic | unit-test jobs and nearby tests | focused tests plus a CI-risk warning |
-| Workflow files or CI plumbing | affected workflow definitions | validate the changed contract directly |
+| Command/flag/help surface | OCLIF manifests/readme/docs freshness gate | run `pnpm codegen`; stage the regenerated manifests, README, and docs |
+| GraphQL queries or schemas | graphql-codegen freshness gate | run `pnpm codegen` (or `pnpm codegen:check:graphql`); stage generated types |
+| TypeScript implementation or exports | type-check, lint, knip, bundle jobs | `pnpm pre-ci:affected` (type-check, lint, knip, affected tests) |
+| Test helpers, async UI, network/auth/callback logic | unit-test jobs and nearby tests | focused affected tests plus a CI-risk warning |
+| Workflow files or CI plumbing | affected workflow definitions | validate the changed contract; `pnpm check-ci-gates` |
 
 ### 4) Finish with staging guidance
 After any generator, freshness check, or lightweight sanity pass:
@@ -75,17 +77,16 @@ After any generator, freshness check, or lightweight sanity pass:
 
 ## Gotchas
 
-- At PR time, do **not** automatically run the full workflow-equivalent validation set unless the user asks.
+- At PR time, do **not** automatically run the full workflow-equivalent validation set unless the user asks. `pnpm pre-ci` is that full set; `pnpm pre-ci:affected` is the diff-scoped fast check (and skips the codegen freshness checks unless the diff touches commands, flags, or GraphQL). Default to affected or the minimal derived checks.
 - `dev.yml` is a useful local entrypoint, but workflow YAML is the source of truth for what CI enforces.
 - Broad generated diffs are not automatically wrong; distinguish required churn from suspicious churn.
 - Do not stop at “run this command.” Explain what likely needs staging.
-- If the diff is docs/config/wiring only, do not escalate to heavyweight checks unless the workflow or the user gives a reason.
-- For docs/config/wiring-only diffs, avoid full reads of large workflow or script files unless the diff clearly maps to an enforced CI family.
+- For docs/config/wiring-only diffs, do not escalate to heavyweight checks or full reads of large workflow/script files unless the diff clearly maps to an enforced CI family.
 - If the change touches async/timing-heavy tests, local servers, callback flows, socket teardown, or workflow topology, warn that CI-only failures may still appear even after local checks pass.
 
 ## Examples
 
-- "What should I run before I push this PR?" → derive the minimal checks from workflow → `dev.yml` → `package.json`, then recommend focused tests plus any required generators.
+- "What should I run before I push this PR?" → `pnpm pre-ci:affected` for a fast diff-scoped check; if the diff touches commands, flags, or GraphQL, also run `pnpm codegen` and stage the output; `pnpm pre-ci` before a high-risk push.
 - "Submit this PR." → treat it as a pre-submit moment, suggest the minimal recommended checks and likely staging requirements first, and ask before running them.
-- "Which generated files do I need to commit?" → reproduce the relevant generation path, inspect git status, and separate required generated output from optional churn.
-- "I changed a command flag; what repo checks matter?" → start from the freshness job that enforces command-surface updates rather than from memory.
+- "Which generated files do I need to commit?" → run the relevant `pnpm codegen` path, inspect git status, and separate required generated output from optional churn.
+- "I changed a command flag; what repo checks matter?" → the OCLIF manifests/readme/docs freshness gate; run `pnpm codegen` and commit the regenerated files.
diff --git a/.claude/CLAUDE.md b/.claude/CLAUDE.md
deleted file mode 100644
index fe7f29ba506..00000000000
--- a/.claude/CLAUDE.md
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-See @../.cursor/rules/base.mdc for information on your desired behavior.
-See @../.cursor/rules/docs.mdc for details on Shopify CLI architecture and conventions.
diff --git a/.claude/CLAUDE.md b/.claude/CLAUDE.md
new file mode 120000
index 00000000000..be77ac83a18
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.claude/CLAUDE.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+../AGENTS.md
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..d79d54bbe4d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+See @.cursor/rules/base.mdc for your desired behavior.
+See @.cursor/rules/docs.mdc for Shopify CLI architecture and conventions.
+
+# Working in Shopify CLI
+
+Entry point for contributors and coding agents. It summarizes the pre-submit commands below and links to the canonical material: docs under [`docs/`](./docs/README.md), agent skills under [`.agents/skills/`](./.agents/skills).
+
+## Before you push
+
+- Run `pnpm pre-ci:affected` for a fast, diff-scoped pre-push check, or `pnpm pre-ci` for full CI parity before a high-risk push. The [`cli-pre-submit-ci`](./.agents/skills/cli-pre-submit-ci/SKILL.md) skill covers deriving the minimal set and what to stage.
+- After changing commands, flags, or GraphQL queries, run `pnpm codegen` and commit the regenerated files.
+- `pnpm check-ci-gates` keeps the local gate list ([`bin/ci-gates.js`](./bin/ci-gates.js)) and pinned tool versions in sync with the workflow.
+
+## Key docs
+
+- [Get started / setup and scripts](./docs/cli/get-started.md)
+- [Local development against services](./docs/cli/local-development.md)
+- [ESLint rules](./docs/cli/eslint-rules.md)
+- [Testing strategy](./docs/cli/testing-strategy.md)
+- [Cross-OS compatibility](./docs/cli/cross-os-compatibility.md)
+- [Changesets and versioning](./CONTRIBUTING.md)
diff --git a/docs/README.md b/docs/README.md
index 5e6e3c44c9b..4321490af04 100644
--- a/docs/README.md
+++ b/docs/README.md
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ The Shopify CLI is a tool for merchants, partners, and developers to interact wi
 The list below contains valuable resources for people interested in contributing to the CLI project in this repository.
 
 * [Get started](./cli/get-started.md)
+* [Local development against services](./cli/local-development.md)
 * [Architecture](./cli/architecture.md)
 * [Conventions](./cli/conventions.md)
 * [Performance](./cli/performance.md)
diff --git a/docs/cli/get-started.md b/docs/cli/get-started.md
index 259eabda141..ddbd4b3f571 100644
--- a/docs/cli/get-started.md
+++ b/docs/cli/get-started.md
@@ -72,5 +72,11 @@ Besides the scripts for building and running the CLIs, there are others that mig
 - `pnpm lint:fix`: Runs ESLint and Prettier checks for all the packages and fixes the fixable issues.
 - `pnpm type-check`: Type-checks all the packagesusing the Typescript `tsc` tool.
 - `pnpm clean`: Removes the `dist` directory from all the packages.
+- `pnpm pre-ci`: Runs the local subset of PR CI gates (type-check, lint, build, knip, codegen freshness, unit tests) at full parity with CI. Slower, for a high-risk push.
+- `pnpm pre-ci:affected`: The diff-scoped fast variant for routine PRs (nx/vitest affected; skips codegen freshness checks unless the diff touches commands, flags, or GraphQL).
+- `pnpm codegen`: Regenerates all generated files (GraphQL types, OCLIF manifests, README, docs). Run after changing commands, flags, or queries, and commit the result.
+- `pnpm check-ci-gates`: Verifies the local CI-gate manifest stays in sync with the GitHub Actions workflow.
+
+Prefer these scripts over invoking `eslint`/`prettier`/`tsc` directly: CI runs them through Nx over package sources, not over root `bin/` scripts.
 
 All the packages in the repository contain the above scripts so they can be executed too for an individual package.
diff --git a/docs/cli/local-development.md b/docs/cli/local-development.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..586f581fcbc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/cli/local-development.md
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# Local development against services
+
+Most contributions run against production Shopify services. When developing against a local services stack, the CLI changes behavior based on the service environment.
+
+## Service environment
+
+- `SHOPIFY_SERVICE_ENV=local`
+- `SHOPIFY_CLI_NEVER_USE_PARTNERS_API=1`
+
+In local mode the CLI maps a store's `{store}.my.shop.dev` host to `admin.shop.dev/store/{store}` — see `packages/cli-kit/src/public/node/context/fqdn.ts`.
+
+## Running the CLI
+
+See [Get started](./get-started.md) for building and running the CLI (`pnpm shopify <command>`) and the available scripts.
+
+## Before opening a PR
+
+Derive the minimal pre-submit checks for your diff (see the `cli-pre-submit-ci` agent skill), or run `pnpm pre-ci` for full local CI parity. After changing commands, flags, or GraphQL queries, run `pnpm codegen` and commit the regenerated files.