docs: Add documentation for running agents locally #9507

bdougie · 2026-01-13T17:34:13Z

Description

Waiting on #9497

This PR adds documentation for running Continue agents locally, including:

Updated agents overview documentation
New guide for running agents locally
Updated docs.json configuration

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Checklist

I've read the contributing guide
The relevant docs, if any, have been updated or created
The relevant tests, if any, have been updated or created

Screen recording or screenshot

[TODO: Add screen recording or screenshot if applicable - see this PR as a good example]

Tests

Documentation changes - no tests required.

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Status	Task	Actions
▶️ Queued	Update docs on PR	View
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Summary by cubic

Adds documentation for running Continue agents locally with version-controlled agent files and GitHub Actions integration. Updates the Agents overview and navigation to make local agents easy to find and use, and fixes broken links in the Agents pages.

New Features
- New guide: “Run Agents Locally” with quick setup, agent file format, CLI usage, CI workflow, and security best practices.
- Agents overview updated with a “Local Agents” tab and card linking to the guide.
- Navigation updated (docs.json) to include the new guide under CLI Guides.
Bug Fixes
- Fixed internal anchor path in Agents intro to point to /agents/overview#pre-configured-agents.
- Updated Mission Control link in Agents overview to https://hub.continue.dev/agents.

^{Written for commit 9a701e2. Summary will update on new commits.}

- Update agents overview documentation - Add new guide for running agents locally - Update docs.json configuration Generated with [Continue](https://continue.dev) Co-Authored-By: Continue <[email protected]>

continue · 2026-01-13T17:34:17Z

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continue-staging · 2026-01-13T17:34:17Z

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continue-development-app · 2026-01-13T17:34:17Z

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Removed redundant text from title to potentially fix Mintlify build issue Generated with [Continue](https://continue.dev) Co-Authored-By: Continue <[email protected]>

Fixed incorrect path from /hub/agents/overview to /agents/overview for the pre-configured-agents anchor link Generated with [Continue](https://continue.dev) Co-Authored-By: Continue <[email protected]>

- Remove draft_pr.md (no longer needed) - Add discussion_response.md Generated with [Continue](https://continue.dev) Co-Authored-By: Continue <[email protected]>

…inue into bdougie/run-agents-docs

Use 4 backticks for outer code fence to prevent nested code blocks from breaking MDX parser. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.5 <[email protected]>

Replace inline workflow with Continue's reusable workflow which handles agent discovery, parallel execution, and check reporting. GH_TOKEN is now automatically provided for agents using the gh CLI. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.5 <[email protected]>

bdougie · 2026-01-14T01:09:45Z

Waiting on #9497

RomneyDa · 2026-01-14T22:33:52Z

docs/guides/run-agents-locally.mdx

+  </Card>
+
+  <Card title="Use Descriptive Names" icon="tag">
+    Name agent files clearly: `conventional-title.md`, `security-scan.md`, `deploy-checklist.md`.


I'm not certain but I think name: in the agent file will take precedence and is potentially preferred. Maybe worth noting they can both be used (I think)

Updated - clarified name field is displayed, filenames for organization

RomneyDa · 2026-01-14T22:34:05Z

docs/guides/run-agents-locally.mdx

+    - Simplify the prompt and add more specific instructions
+    - Check if the agent has access to required tools
+    - Enable verbose logging: `cn --verbose --agent .continue/agents/my-agent.md`
+    - Review logs at `~/.continue/logs/cn.log`


(debateably) mac-only file path

Made platform-agnostic

RomneyDa · 2026-01-14T22:37:14Z

docs/guides/run-agents-locally.mdx

+<Card title="What You'll Build" icon="folder-open">
+  A local agent system that:
+  - Keeps agent definitions version-controlled alongside your code
+  - Runs agents with Continue CLI for local development


potential confusion, the user would run the agent locally not the system

Removed section

RomneyDa · 2026-01-14T22:37:40Z

docs/guides/run-agents-locally.mdx

+  - Keeps agent definitions version-controlled alongside your code
+  - Runs agents with Continue CLI for local development
+  - Automates agent execution on pull requests via GitHub Actions
+  - Applies consistent workflows across your team


this bullet point feels unnecessary

Removed section

RomneyDa · 2026-01-14T22:38:39Z

docs/guides/run-agents-locally.mdx

+  - Applies consistent workflows across your team
+</Card>
+
+## Why Local Agents?


Potential confusion: "Local agents"; it's in github and that's where the value is. Maybe "codebase" agents or similar?

The alternative is Cloud agents. Using the word local is to distinguish between what's in mission control

The distinction makes sense, I think the word "local" might be a point of confusion

Added clarifying note at top distinguishing local (repo) vs cloud (Mission Control)

RomneyDa · 2026-01-14T22:47:01Z

docs/guides/run-agents-locally.mdx

+       --agent .continue/agents/analysis-only.md
+
+    # Always ask before running commands
+    cn --ask "Bash(*)" --agent .continue/agents/my-agent.md


--ask will not work in CI/CD since user can't intervene, so maybe best if we don't mention it

RomneyDa · 2026-01-14T22:47:47Z

docs/guides/run-agents-locally.mdx

+Before enabling fully automated agents:
+
+1. **Test locally first** - Run agents with `cn` to verify behavior
+2. **Use `--ask` mode** - Require approval for sensitive operations during testing


RomneyDa · 2026-01-14T22:48:13Z

docs/guides/run-agents-locally.mdx

+
+1. **Test locally first** - Run agents with `cn` to verify behavior
+2. **Use `--ask` mode** - Require approval for sensitive operations during testing
+3. **Review CI logs** - Check what commands agents execute in your workflows


unclear if the commands the agents execute will show up in logs like this

RomneyDa · 2026-01-14T22:48:42Z

docs/guides/run-agents-locally.mdx

+
+Continue provides a [reusable workflow](https://github.com/continuedev/continue/blob/main/.github/workflows/continue-agents.yml) that handles agent discovery, parallel execution, and GitHub Check reporting.
+
+### Using the Reusable Workflow (Recommended)


Says "Recommended" but it's the only proceeding option

Removed label

RomneyDa · 2026-01-14T22:50:21Z

docs/guides/run-agents-locally.mdx

+```bash
+# Use your GitHub CLI token
+export GH_TOKEN=$(gh auth token)
+cn --agent .continue/agents/my-agent.md


must set ANTHROPIC_API_KEY locally as well

Added to Environment Variables section

- Add clarifying note distinguishing local vs cloud agents - Remove redundant CardGroup section - Fix API key naming to ANTHROPIC_API_KEY - Clarify GitHub CLI pre-installed on runners - Remove unnecessary tools: built_in from examples - Rename "Rules" to "Guidelines" to avoid frontmatter confusion - Flip headless/TUI order (headless is typical) - Simplify frontmatter table, link to reference - Move GitHub Actions section before Security - Remove --ask from CI guidance (requires user intervention) - Fix mac-only log path - Add ANTHROPIC_API_KEY to local env vars section - Clarify name field vs filename in best practices Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.5 <[email protected]>

Add documentation for running agents locally

14276f0

- Update agents overview documentation - Add new guide for running agents locally - Update docs.json configuration Generated with [Continue](https://continue.dev) Co-Authored-By: Continue <[email protected]>

github-project-automation bot added this to Issues and PRs Jan 13, 2026

github-project-automation bot moved this to Todo in Issues and PRs Jan 13, 2026

mintlify bot deployed to staging - docs January 13, 2026 17:35 View deployment

bdougie and others added 2 commits January 13, 2026 11:39

Fix: Simplify title for run-agents-locally guide

d329fd4

Removed redundant text from title to potentially fix Mintlify build issue Generated with [Continue](https://continue.dev) Co-Authored-By: Continue <[email protected]>

Fix broken internal anchor link in agents intro

6e69981

Fixed incorrect path from /hub/agents/overview to /agents/overview for the pre-configured-agents anchor link Generated with [Continue](https://continue.dev) Co-Authored-By: Continue <[email protected]>

mintlify bot deployed to staging - docs January 13, 2026 19:46 View deployment

Merge branch 'main' into bdougie/run-agents-docs

5bce5b6

mintlify bot deployed to staging - docs January 13, 2026 22:26 View deployment

bdougie and others added 2 commits January 13, 2026 14:27

Clean up temporary files

138745e

- Remove draft_pr.md (no longer needed) - Add discussion_response.md Generated with [Continue](https://continue.dev) Co-Authored-By: Continue <[email protected]>

Merge branch 'bdougie/run-agents-docs' of github.com:continuedev/cont…

fcde96e

…inue into bdougie/run-agents-docs

mintlify bot deployed to staging - docs January 13, 2026 22:28 View deployment

bdougie closed this Jan 14, 2026

github-project-automation bot moved this from Todo to Done in Issues and PRs Jan 14, 2026

github-actions bot locked and limited conversation to collaborators Jan 14, 2026

fix: resolve MDX parsing error in run-agents-locally guide

7074a50

Use 4 backticks for outer code fence to prevent nested code blocks from breaking MDX parser. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.5 <[email protected]>

bdougie reopened this Jan 14, 2026

github-project-automation bot moved this from Done to In Progress in Issues and PRs Jan 14, 2026

mintlify bot deployed to staging - docs January 14, 2026 00:54 View deployment

bdougie marked this pull request as ready for review January 14, 2026 01:09

bdougie requested a review from a team as a code owner January 14, 2026 01:09

bdougie requested review from RomneyDa and removed request for a team January 14, 2026 01:09

dosubot bot added the size:L This PR changes 100-499 lines, ignoring generated files. label Jan 14, 2026

RomneyDa reviewed Jan 14, 2026

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sestinj previously approved these changes Jan 15, 2026

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dosubot bot added the lgtm This PR has been approved by a maintainer label Jan 15, 2026

bdougie dismissed sestinj’s stale review via 9a701e2 January 15, 2026 17:46

mintlify bot deployed to staging - docs January 15, 2026 17:47 View deployment

bdougie changed the title ~~Add documentation for running agents locally~~ docs: Add documentation for running agents locally Jan 15, 2026

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sestinj merged commit 17740ec into main Jan 15, 2026
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sestinj deleted the bdougie/run-agents-docs branch January 15, 2026 18:37

github-project-automation bot moved this from In Progress to Done in Issues and PRs Jan 15, 2026


		Continue provides a [reusable workflow](https://github.com/continuedev/continue/blob/main/.github/workflows/continue-agents.yml) that handles agent discovery, parallel execution, and GitHub Check reporting.

		### Using the Reusable Workflow (Recommended)

docs: Add documentation for running agents locally #9507

docs: Add documentation for running agents locally #9507

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bdougie commented Jan 13, 2026 • edited by continue bot Loading Uh oh! There was an error while loading. Please reload this page.

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bdougie commented Jan 13, 2026 •

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