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

# Output Modes

> Copy mode vs link mode, and how markers protect your content

dev-workflows supports two output modes, configured during `devw init` or in `.dwf/config.yml`.

## Copy Mode (default)

```yaml theme={null}
mode: copy
```

Writes compiled content directly into the target files. This is the simplest and recommended mode.

## Link Mode

```yaml theme={null}
mode: link
```

Writes compiled files to `.dwf/.cache/` and creates symlinks from the expected output paths. Useful if you want a single source of truth without duplicating content.

When using link mode, `.dwf/.cache/` is automatically added to `.gitignore`.

## Markers

When compiling to CLAUDE.md or GEMINI.md, the generated content is wrapped in markers:

```markdown theme={null}
<!-- BEGIN dev-workflows -->
# Project Rules

## Conventions

- Always use named exports.

<!-- END dev-workflows -->
```

If you have **manual content** outside the markers, it is preserved on recompile. This lets you keep hand-written rules alongside generated ones.

## Which bridges use markers?

Not all bridges use BEGIN/END markers. It depends on whether the output file is shared with other content:

| Bridge            | Output                            | Markers | Why                             |
| ----------------- | --------------------------------- | ------- | ------------------------------- |
| Claude Code       | `CLAUDE.md`                       | Yes     | File may contain manual rules   |
| Gemini CLI        | `GEMINI.md`                       | Yes     | File may contain manual rules   |
| VS Code / Copilot | `.github/copilot-instructions.md` | Yes     | File is shared with other tools |
| Cursor            | `.cursor/rules/devworkflows.mdc`  | No      | File is fully managed by devw   |
| Windsurf          | `.windsurf/rules/devworkflows.md` | No      | File is fully managed by devw   |

Files without markers are **completely overwritten** on each compile. Do not add manual content to these files — it will be lost.