diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index a8b0d09..907915e 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -2,6 +2,10 @@
 
 This document tracks the AI agents and MCP servers configured in this project.
 
+> **🔴 AUTOMATIC COMMITS**: AI agents MUST commit and push changes automatically WITHOUT prompting. Use atomic commits (one logical change per commit), conventional format (`feat:`, `fix:`, `docs:`), and verbose messages. See [docs/SDLC.md](docs/SDLC.md) for full commit policy.
+
+> **📋 SDLC Compliance**: All MCP/LSP development MUST follow [docs/SDLC.md](docs/SDLC.md). Key rule: **Protocol handshake is NON-NEGOTIABLE** - build + start + protocol validation ALL required before marking a server as "working".
+
 > **Status Tracking**: Current operational status of all MCP servers is maintained in [STATUS.md](STATUS.md). Please refer to that file for the latest status of each server.
 
 > **Journal Maintenance**: ALL work performed on this project MUST be documented in [JOURNAL.md](JOURNAL.md). This is an append-only journal that tracks Architecture Decision Records (ADRs), insights, patterns, and the reasoning behind all work done. Never delete entries from the journal. Each entry must be date/time stamped.
@@ -180,6 +184,23 @@ docker compose stop <service-name>
 
 ## Development Notes
 
+### SDLC Compliance (REQUIRED)
+
+**Read [docs/SDLC.md](docs/SDLC.md) before working on any MCP/LSP server.**
+
+The SDLC defines the mandatory validation workflow:
+1. **BUILD**: Container must build without errors
+2. **START**: Container must start without immediate crash
+3. **PROTOCOL**: Must receive valid JSON-RPC response to handshake
+
+Without ALL THREE, a server is NOT "working".
+
+MCP handshake command:
+```bash
+echo '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","method":"initialize","params":{"capabilities":{},"protocolVersion":"2024-11-05","clientInfo":{"name":"test","version":"1.0.0"}},"id":1}' | \
+  timeout 10 docker run --rm -i kneldevstack-aimiddleware-<service>
+```
+
 ### Critical: STATUS.md Maintenance
 
 **STATUS.md MUST always be kept fully up to date** as it is the single source of truth for operational status of all MCP servers in this project.
@@ -235,15 +256,17 @@ All LSP and MCP instances must be configured in `crush.json` for Crush to use th
 
 ## Validation Checklist
 
-For each agent, verify:
+For each agent, verify in order:
 - [ ] Container builds successfully
 - [ ] Container starts without errors
+- [ ] **Protocol handshake returns valid response** (MANDATORY - see SDLC)
 - [ ] Logs show proper initialization
 - [ ] Environment variables are correctly set (if required)
-- [ ] MCP protocol handshake completes
 - [ ] Tools are registered and available
 - [ ] Resources are accessible (if applicable)
 
+> **⚠️ CRITICAL**: Items 1-3 are NON-NEGOTIABLE. Do not mark a server as "working" without protocol validation.
+
 ## References
 
 - [Model Context Protocol](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/)