diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 9369ea4..fca153d 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -426,3 +426,61 @@ config.toml
 firebender.json
 ruler_aider_instructions.md
 opencode.json
+
+
+# START Ruler Generated Files
+/.aider.conf.yml
+/.aider.conf.yml.bak
+/.augment/rules/ruler_augment_instructions.md
+/.augment/rules/ruler_augment_instructions.md.bak
+/.claude/CLAUDE.md
+/.claude/CLAUDE.md.bak
+/.clinerules
+/.clinerules.bak
+/.codex/config.json
+/.codex/config.json.bak
+/.codex/config.toml
+/.codex/config.toml.bak
+/.crush.json
+/.crush.json.bak
+/.cursor/mcp.json
+/.cursor/mcp.json.bak
+/.cursor/rules/ruler_cursor_instructions.mdc
+/.cursor/rules/ruler_cursor_instructions.mdc.bak
+/.gemini/settings.json
+/.gemini/settings.json.bak
+/.github/copilot-instructions.md
+/.github/copilot-instructions.md.bak
+/.goosehints
+/.goosehints.bak
+/.idx/airules.md
+/.idx/airules.md.bak
+/.idx/mcp.json
+/.idx/mcp.json.bak
+/.junie/guidelines.md
+/.junie/guidelines.md.bak
+/.kilocode/mcp.json
+/.kilocode/mcp.json.bak
+/.kilocode/rules/ruler_kilocode_instructions.md
+/.kilocode/rules/ruler_kilocode_instructions.md.bak
+/.mcp.json
+/.mcp.json.bak
+/.openhands/microagents/repo.md
+/.openhands/microagents/repo.md.bak
+/.vscode/mcp.json
+/.vscode/mcp.json.bak
+/.windsurf/mcp_config.json
+/.windsurf/mcp_config.json.bak
+/.windsurf/rules/ruler_windsurf_instructions.md
+/.windsurf/rules/ruler_windsurf_instructions.md.bak
+/AGENTS.md
+/AGENTS.md.bak
+/CRUSH.md
+/CRUSH.md.bak
+/config.toml
+/config.toml.bak
+/opencode.json
+/opencode.json.bak
+/ruler_aider_instructions.md
+/ruler_aider_instructions.md.bak
+# END Ruler Generated Files
diff --git a/.ruler/ruler.toml b/.ruler/ruler.toml
index ff2ea0e..b4cb547 100644
--- a/.ruler/ruler.toml
+++ b/.ruler/ruler.toml
@@ -91,8 +91,11 @@ enabled = true
 merge_strategy = "merge"
 
 # --- Skills Configuration ---
+# Skills are synced natively to each agent's skills directory (e.g. ~/.claude/skills/)
+# via `make skills-sync`. Disabling Ruler expansion avoids 26k+ of redundant verbose
+# content in generated instruction files (CLAUDE.md, etc.).
 [skills]
-enabled = true
+enabled = false
 
 # --- Global .gitignore Configuration ---
 [gitignore]
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index b78a764..0134693 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ sync: ruler-prepare ## Sync project commands, skills, and MCP configuration to a
 	@make skills-install
 	@make skills-sync
 	@make mcp-sync
-	@make ruler-apply-global
 	@make ruler-dotdirs-sync
 
 .PHONY: ruler-prepare