Direct answer
A guide that follows a verified contract to deploy, test and maintain a service in the user's account.
Why it matters
Deployment instructions become safer when guidance and judgment are deliberately assigned to different actors.
Scope
A stable concept used by Service Cards, deployment contracts and the SmallGreen Spec.
Out of scope
It is not a guarantee of security, permanence or universal compatibility.
How it works
The Agent follows the contract asks only necessary questions records actions and submits results to independent gates.
Example
An Agent may run deployment and smoke tests but cannot mark its own run SmallGreen Ready.
Machine-readable references
SmallGreen Spec · cards.json · llms.txt
Evidence and limitations
Agent compatibility applies only to the recorded model contract version environment and verification date.
Related concepts
What is Small Software? · The ownership and deployment layer · What is a Service Card?
Version
Concept v1.0 · SmallGreen Spec v0.2.1