diff --git a/.codex/instructions/workflow/python-ci-parity.md b/.codex/instructions/workflow/python-ci-parity.md
index 30d7160..f0ee5d6 100644
--- a/.codex/instructions/workflow/python-ci-parity.md
+++ b/.codex/instructions/workflow/python-ci-parity.md
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ Load this file when changing tracked `.py` files in this repo or when debugging
 - Before commit or push after tracked Python changes, run the exact repo CI gates:
   - `pylint --rcfile .pylintrc $(git ls-files '*.py')`
   - `bandit -q $(git ls-files '*.py')`
+- Prefer the directory-based `python3 -m unittest discover -s <path> -p 'test_*.py'` commands in this repo over module-addressed `python3 -m unittest package.module` invocations when tests import local helpers such as `test_support`.
 - If the change touches `skills/memory-refiner/`, run:
   - `python3 -m unittest discover -s skills/memory-refiner/tests -p 'test_*.py'`
 - If the change touches `tools/signoz-codex/`, run:
diff --git a/instructions/workflow/core.md b/instructions/workflow/core.md
index 42d6301..2651273 100644
--- a/instructions/workflow/core.md
+++ b/instructions/workflow/core.md
@@ -13,3 +13,7 @@
 - Use exact `zsh -ic` or `zsh -lc` script-string forms only when the command is shell-only or alias-only.
 - For shell aliases/functions that need arguments, prefer `zsh -ic 'command "$@"' command arg...` so execpolicy can match stable argv tokens.
 - Do not present shell-wrapper forms as if they were the intended command shape for ordinary executables.
+
+## Commit Scope
+
+- When the user asks to `commit`, default to committing only the task-relevant files. Broaden the scope only when the user explicitly says `all`, `everything`, or names additional files.