Mintlify has introduced install.md, a new standard for writing installation instructions that AI agents can execute autonomously. The proposal aims to eliminate the friction of humans parsing docs and running commands, instead letting AI handle the tedious setup process. It's already live on Mintlify-hosted sites for tools like Cerebras and Firecrawl.

Traditional software documentation is built for humans, not machines. This creates inefficiency as AI agents grow more capable but still require manual guidance for tasks like installation. The install.md format provides a structured, LLM-readable file that defines objectives, verification criteria, and step-by-step tasks, allowing agents to adapt instructions to specific environments autonomously.

Developers can auto-generate an install.md file through Mintlify or host one manually. The format is flexible, letting authors encode edge cases and troubleshooting knowledge without cluttering public-facing documentation. Users can pipe the file directly into an LLM like Claude, which executes the steps while optionally seeking approval, creating a safer, more adaptable installation process than running raw shell scripts.