> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.getgaal.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# content

> Generic file and directory sync for agent instructions, rules, commands, and settings.

```yaml theme={"theme":"nord"}
content:
  - source: <string>
    agents: <[string] | ["*"]>     # shorthand form
    global: <bool>                 # shorthand form, default false
    root: <agent|workspace>        # shorthand form, default workspace
    paths:
      <source-relative>: <destination-relative>

    targets:                       # explicit form
      - agents: <[string] | ["*"]>
        scope: <project|global>
        root: <agent|workspace>
        paths:
          <source-relative>: <destination-relative>
```

## Type

`array[ContentEntry]`

## Required

No. Omit `content:` if you only manage repositories, skills, and MCP servers.

## What it is for

Use `content:` for files an agent reads directly but that are not `SKILL.md` packages: instruction files, command directories, rules, hooks, templates, and settings.

`skills:` remains the right place for native skill collections. `content:` is the escape hatch for everything else.

## Entry fields

### `source`

| Field    | Type   | Required |
| -------- | ------ | -------- |
| `source` | string | yes      |

Accepts GitHub shorthand, HTTPS URLs, SSH Git URLs, and local paths. Remote sources are cached under gaal's cache directory before paths are copied out.

### `targets`

| Field     | Type                    | Required |
| --------- | ----------------------- | -------- |
| `targets` | array of target objects | no       |

Use `targets:` when one source needs to fan out to multiple agents, scopes, roots, or path maps.

### Shorthand fields

When `targets:` is omitted, the top-level `agents`, `global`, `root`, and `paths` fields define one target.

| Field    | Type                   | Required | Default     |
| -------- | ---------------------- | -------- | ----------- |
| `agents` | array of strings       | yes      | none        |
| `global` | bool                   | no       | `false`     |
| `root`   | `agent` or `workspace` | no       | `workspace` |
| `paths`  | map\[string]string     | yes      | none        |

### Target fields

| Field    | Type                   | Required | Default     |
| -------- | ---------------------- | -------- | ----------- |
| `agents` | array of strings       | yes      | none        |
| `scope`  | `project` or `global`  | no       | `project`   |
| `root`   | `agent` or `workspace` | no       | `workspace` |
| `paths`  | map\[string]string     | yes      | none        |

`root: workspace` writes relative to the current project. `root: agent` writes relative to the agent config root inferred from the registry.

## Example

```yaml theme={"theme":"nord"}
content:
  - source: my-org/agent-guidance
    targets:
      - agents: [claude-code]
        scope: project
        root: workspace
        paths:
          AGENTS.md: CLAUDE.md

      - agents: [codex]
        scope: project
        root: workspace
        paths:
          AGENTS.md: AGENTS.md

  - source: ./dotclaude
    agents: [claude-code]
    global: true
    root: agent
    paths:
      commands/: commands/
      settings.json: settings.json
```

## Safety

* Source and destination paths must be relative.
* `..` path segments are rejected.
* Symlinks and non-regular files are skipped.
* VCS metadata directories are skipped.
* Directory copies stage into a temporary sibling and then replace the destination.

## Related

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Configure content" icon="copy" href="/configure/content" />

  <Card title="The gaal.yaml file" icon="file-code" href="/concepts/gaal-yaml" />
</CardGroup>