export declare function assertNotSymbolicLink(filePath: string, action: string): Promise<void>;
export declare function assertManagedPathInsideRoot(managedPath: string, rootPath: string, action: string): Promise<void>;
/**
 * Searches upwards from startPath to find a directory named .ruler.
 * If not found locally and checkGlobal is true, checks for global config at XDG_CONFIG_HOME/ruler.
 * Returns the path to the .ruler directory, or null if not found.
 */
export declare function findRulerDir(startPath: string, checkGlobal?: boolean): Promise<string | null>;
export declare function resolveProjectRootForRulerDir(requestedProjectRoot: string, rulerDir: string): string;
/**
 * Options for {@link readMarkdownFiles}.
 */
export interface ReadMarkdownFilesOptions {
    /**
     * When true, include `.ruler/agents/*.md` in the returned set so they are
     * concatenated into the top-level generated rule files. When false or
     * omitted, `.ruler/agents/` is skipped, mirroring `.ruler/skills/`.
     */
    includeAgents?: boolean;
}
/**
 * Recursively reads all Markdown (.md) files in rulerDir, returning their paths and contents.
 * Files are sorted alphabetically by path.
 *
 * `.ruler/skills/` is always skipped (skills are propagated separately).
 * `.ruler/agents/` is skipped unless `options.includeAgents` is `true`.
 */
export declare function readMarkdownFiles(rulerDir: string, options?: ReadMarkdownFilesOptions): Promise<{
    path: string;
    content: string;
}[]>;
/**
 * Writes content to filePath, creating parent directories if necessary.
 */
export declare function writeGeneratedFile(filePath: string, content: string, containmentRoot?: string): Promise<void>;
/**
 * Creates a backup of the given filePath by copying it to filePath.bak if it exists.
 * Keeps an existing backup intact so repeated applies preserve the original file.
 */
export declare function backupFile(filePath: string, containmentRoot?: string): Promise<void>;
/**
 * Ensures that the given directory exists by creating it recursively.
 */
export declare function ensureDirExists(dirPath: string): Promise<void>;
/**
 * Finds the global ruler configuration directory at XDG_CONFIG_HOME/ruler.
 * Returns the path if it exists, null otherwise.
 */
export declare function findGlobalRulerDir(): Promise<string | null>;
/**
 * Searches the entire directory tree from startPath to find all .ruler directories.
 * Returns an array of .ruler directory paths from most specific to least specific.
 */
export declare function findAllRulerDirs(startPath: string): Promise<string[]>;