diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d41bf54..4b88539 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -36,14 +36,12 @@ schema_version: 1
 id: output_file_exists
 type: deterministic
 description: Verify that output.json was generated.
-target_paths:
-  - output.json
 script: |
   import json, sys
   from pathlib import Path
   ctx = json.loads(Path(sys.argv[1]).read_text())
-  target = ctx["targets"][0]
-  assert target["exists"], f"{target['path']} not found"
+  output = Path(ctx["project_root"]) / "output.json"
+  assert output.exists(), "output.json not found"
 ```
 
 ### Harness judge check
@@ -53,10 +51,8 @@ schema_version: 1
 id: summary_is_accurate
 type: harness_judge
 description: The generated summary accurately reflects source data.
-target_paths:
-  - summary.txt
-  - source_data.json
 instructions: |
+  Read summary.txt and source_data.json.
   Compare the summary against the source data.
   Score 1 if accurate, 0 if it contains fabricated claims.
 ```
diff --git a/docs/check-format.md b/docs/check-format.md
index eccfba4..2b0cfc4 100644
--- a/docs/check-format.md
+++ b/docs/check-format.md
@@ -14,12 +14,11 @@ All check types share these fields:
 | `id` | string | Yes | Unique identifier (`[a-zA-Z0-9_-]` only) |
 | `type` | string | Yes | One of: `deterministic`, `harness_judge` |
 | `description` | string | Yes | Human-readable description |
-| `target_paths` | list[string] | No | Files/directories the check operates on |
 | `tags` | list[string] | No | Tags for filtering (future use) |
 
 ## Deterministic checks
 
-Run a Python script that asserts conditions about target files.
+Run a Python script that asserts conditions about project files.
 
 | Field | Type | Required | Description |
 |---|---|---|---|
@@ -30,11 +29,10 @@ Exactly one of `script` or `script_path` must be set.
 
 ### How it works
 
-1. Target paths are resolved relative to the project root
-2. A `context.json` file is written with check metadata and resolved targets
-3. The script runs as `python <script> <context.json>`
-4. Exit code 0 = passed, non-zero = failed
-5. Infrastructure errors (missing script, OS execution failure) = error
+1. A `context.json` file is written with check metadata and project root
+2. The script runs as `python <script> <context.json>`
+3. Exit code 0 = passed, non-zero = failed
+4. Infrastructure errors (missing script, OS execution failure) = error
 
 ### context.json shape
 
@@ -44,15 +42,7 @@ Exactly one of `script` or `script_path` must be set.
   "description": "Check description",
   "project_root": "/absolute/project/root",
   "source_path": "/absolute/path/to/check.yaml",
-  "output_dir": "/absolute/path/to/output/checks/my_check",
-  "targets": [
-    {
-      "path": "relative/path.txt",
-      "resolved_path": "/absolute/resolved/path.txt",
-      "exists": true,
-      "is_dir": false
-    }
-  ]
+  "output_dir": "/absolute/path/to/output/checks/my_check"
 }
 ```
 
@@ -63,38 +53,32 @@ schema_version: 1
 id: no_todo_comments
 type: deterministic
 description: No TODO markers in Python source files.
-target_paths:
-  - src
 script: |
   import json, sys
   from pathlib import Path
   ctx = json.loads(Path(sys.argv[1]).read_text())
-  for t in ctx["targets"]:
-      p = Path(t["resolved_path"])
-      if p.is_dir():
-          for f in p.rglob("*.py"):
-              text = f.read_text()
-              if "TODO" in text:
-                  sys.exit(1)
+  src = Path(ctx["project_root"]) / "src"
+  for f in src.rglob("*.py"):
+      if "TODO" in f.read_text():
+          sys.exit(1)
 ```
 
 ## Harness judge checks
 
-Send target file content to the configured harness agent with evaluation instructions.
+Invoke the configured harness agent with evaluation instructions. The agent can read project files on its own.
 
 | Field | Type | Required | Description |
 |---|---|---|---|
 | `instructions` | string | Yes | Evaluation criteria for the judge |
 | `model` | string | No | Override the harness model for this check |
-| `target_paths` | list[string] | Yes | Must be non-empty |
 
 ### How it works
 
-1. Target files are read and included in a judging prompt
+1. A judging prompt is built from the check description and instructions
 2. The configured harness agent subprocess receives that prompt
 3. The final verdict must include `{"score": 0|1, "reason": "..."}`
 4. Score 1 = passed, 0 = failed, parse error = error
-5. Harness spawn failures, timeouts, or unreadable targets = error
+5. Harness spawn failures or timeouts = error
 
 ### Example
 
@@ -103,11 +87,9 @@ schema_version: 1
 id: readme_has_install_steps
 type: harness_judge
 description: README clearly explains how to install the package.
-target_paths:
-  - README.md
 instructions: |
-  Does the README give a new user enough information to install
-  and run the package locally? Score 1 if yes, 0 if no.
+  Read README.md. Does it give a new user enough information to
+  install and run the package locally? Score 1 if yes, 0 if no.
 ```
 
 ## Auto-discovery
diff --git a/skills/eval-banana/SKILL.md b/skills/eval-banana/SKILL.md
index c064519..e58ab32 100644
--- a/skills/eval-banana/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/eval-banana/SKILL.md
@@ -35,8 +35,6 @@ schema_version: 1            # Always 1. Required. No default.
 id: my_check_id              # Unique across the project. Pattern: [a-zA-Z0-9_-]+
 type: deterministic          # One of: deterministic, harness_judge
 description: Human-readable  # Required. Non-empty.
-target_paths:                # Files/dirs the check operates on. Resolved from project_root.
-  - path/to/file.json        # Optional. Content is passed to the script/judge when provided.
 tags: [fast, critical]       # Optional list of free-form tags.
 ```
 
@@ -51,17 +49,16 @@ schema_version: 1
 id: output_has_result_key
 type: deterministic
 description: output.json exists and contains a 'result' key.
-target_paths:
-  - output.json
 script: |
   import json, sys
   from pathlib import Path
 
   ctx = json.loads(Path(sys.argv[1]).read_text())
-  target = ctx["targets"][0]
-  if not target["exists"]:
+  project_root = Path(ctx["project_root"])
+  output = project_root / "output.json"
+  if not output.exists():
       sys.exit(1)
-  data = json.loads(Path(target["resolved_path"]).read_text())
+  data = json.loads(output.read_text())
   if "result" not in data:
       sys.exit(1)
 ```
@@ -78,22 +75,12 @@ The script is invoked as `python <script> <context.json>`. Read `sys.argv[1]` to
   "description": "output.json exists and contains a 'result' key.",
   "project_root": "/abs/path/to/project",
   "source_path": "/abs/path/to/project/eval_checks/my_check.yaml",
-  "output_dir": "/abs/path/.../.eval-banana/results/<run_id>/checks/output_has_result_key",
-  "targets": [
-    {
-      "path": "output.json",
-      "resolved_path": "/abs/path/to/project/output.json",
-      "exists": true,
-      "is_dir": false
-    }
-  ]
+  "output_dir": "/abs/path/.../.eval-banana/results/<run_id>/checks/output_has_result_key"
 }
 ```
 
 Key points:
-- `targets` entries align 1:1 with `target_paths` in the YAML, in order.
-- `resolved_path` is absolute — use it directly, don't re-resolve from `path`.
-- `exists` and `is_dir` are pre-checked for convenience.
+- `project_root` is absolute — use it to locate any file in the project.
 - The subprocess runs with `cwd = project_root`, so relative paths in the script also resolve from there.
 
 ### Deterministic failure mapping
@@ -105,32 +92,30 @@ Key points:
 
 ## Writing a `harness_judge` check
 
-Invokes the configured harness agent with instructions. The agent must eventually emit JSON: `{"score": 0|1, "reason": "one sentence"}`. When `target_paths` are provided, their content is included in the prompt. When omitted, the agent can read files on its own.
+Invokes the configured harness agent with instructions. The agent can read files on its own. It must eventually emit JSON: `{"score": 0|1, "reason": "one sentence"}`.
 
 ```yaml
 schema_version: 1
 id: readme_explains_install
 type: harness_judge
 description: README gives a new user enough info to install the package.
-target_paths:
-  - README.md
 instructions: |
-  Does the README give a new user enough information to install
-  and run the package locally (environment setup, install command,
-  and how to invoke it)? Score 1 if yes, 0 if anything critical
-  is missing.
+  Read README.md. Does it give a new user enough information to
+  install and run the package locally (environment setup, install
+  command, and how to invoke it)? Score 1 if yes, 0 if anything
+  critical is missing.
 ```
 
 Guidelines for good instructions:
 - State the exact condition for score 1 and score 0.
 - Be binary — avoid "mostly", "partially", etc.
 - Reference concrete things to look for.
+- Tell the agent which files to read.
 - Keep it short. Long instructions confuse the judge.
 - Do not ask for scores outside {0, 1} — the parser rejects anything else as `error`.
 
 Optional fields:
 - `model: gpt-5.4` — override the default harness model for this one check.
-- Multiple `target_paths` — all files are concatenated with separators in the prompt.
 
 ## Auto-discovery rules
 
diff --git a/skills/eval-banana/references/examples.md b/skills/eval-banana/references/examples.md
index f52f777..2566c23 100644
--- a/skills/eval-banana/references/examples.md
+++ b/skills/eval-banana/references/examples.md
@@ -20,18 +20,18 @@ schema_version: 1
 id: changelog_exists_and_nonempty
 type: deterministic
 description: CHANGELOG.md exists and is at least 200 chars.
-target_paths:
-  - CHANGELOG.md
 script: |
-  import json, sys
+  import sys
   from pathlib import Path
 
-  ctx = json.loads(Path(sys.argv[1]).read_text())
-  target = ctx["targets"][0]
-  if not target["exists"]:
-      print(f"missing: {target['path']}", file=sys.stderr)
+  ctx_path = Path(sys.argv[1])
+  import json
+  ctx = json.loads(ctx_path.read_text())
+  changelog = Path(ctx["project_root"]) / "CHANGELOG.md"
+  if not changelog.exists():
+      print(f"missing: CHANGELOG.md", file=sys.stderr)
       sys.exit(1)
-  content = Path(target["resolved_path"]).read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+  content = changelog.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
   if len(content) < 200:
       print(f"only {len(content)} chars", file=sys.stderr)
       sys.exit(1)
@@ -44,15 +44,12 @@ schema_version: 1
 id: output_matches_schema
 type: deterministic
 description: output.json has required top-level keys and correct types.
-target_paths:
-  - output.json
 script: |
   import json, sys
   from pathlib import Path
 
   ctx = json.loads(Path(sys.argv[1]).read_text())
-  target = ctx["targets"][0]
-  data = json.loads(Path(target["resolved_path"]).read_text())
+  data = json.loads((Path(ctx["project_root"]) / "output.json").read_text())
 
   required = {"id": str, "created_at": str, "items": list}
   for key, expected_type in required.items():
@@ -74,20 +71,17 @@ schema_version: 1
 id: no_print_statements_in_src
 type: deterministic
 description: No print() calls in src/ (should use logging).
-target_paths:
-  - src
 script: |
   import json, re, sys
   from pathlib import Path
 
   ctx = json.loads(Path(sys.argv[1]).read_text())
-  src_dir = Path(ctx["targets"][0]["resolved_path"])
+  src_dir = Path(ctx["project_root"]) / "src"
   pattern = re.compile(r"\bprint\(")
   offenders = []
   for py_file in src_dir.rglob("*.py"):
       text = py_file.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
       for line_no, line in enumerate(text.splitlines(), 1):
-          # Skip comments and docstrings (naive but fine for most cases)
           if line.strip().startswith("#"):
               continue
           if pattern.search(line):
@@ -104,14 +98,12 @@ schema_version: 1
 id: users_csv_has_enough_rows
 type: deterministic
 description: users.csv has at least 100 rows (excluding header).
-target_paths:
-  - data/users.csv
 script: |
   import csv, json, sys
   from pathlib import Path
 
   ctx = json.loads(Path(sys.argv[1]).read_text())
-  path = Path(ctx["targets"][0]["resolved_path"])
+  path = Path(ctx["project_root"]) / "data" / "users.csv"
   with path.open() as f:
       reader = csv.reader(f)
       next(reader, None)  # Skip header
@@ -128,10 +120,8 @@ schema_version: 1
 id: readme_has_quickstart
 type: harness_judge
 description: README contains a quickstart that a new user can follow in under 5 minutes.
-target_paths:
-  - README.md
 instructions: |
-  Look for a "Quick start" or "Getting started" section in the README.
+  Read README.md. Look for a "Quick start" or "Getting started" section.
   Score 1 ONLY if it contains: (1) an install command, (2) a minimum
   config step if required, and (3) at least one example command to run.
   Score 0 if any of these are missing or unclear.
@@ -144,10 +134,8 @@ schema_version: 1
 id: error_messages_are_helpful
 type: harness_judge
 description: Error messages in errors.log are helpful and professional.
-target_paths:
-  - errors.log
 instructions: |
-  Read the error messages in the log. Score 1 if they: (a) explain what
+  Read errors.log. Score 1 if the error messages: (a) explain what
   went wrong in plain language, (b) suggest what to do next, and (c) do
   NOT expose stack traces or internal paths to end users. Score 0 if
   any message is cryptic, blames the user, or leaks internals.
@@ -160,14 +148,11 @@ schema_version: 1
 id: summary_matches_source
 type: harness_judge
 description: The generated summary accurately reflects the source data.
-target_paths:
-  - summary.md
-  - source_data.json
 instructions: |
-  Compare the claims in summary.md against the facts in source_data.json.
-  Score 1 if every numeric claim, name, and date in the summary can be
-  verified from the source data. Score 0 if ANY claim is fabricated,
-  hallucinated, or contradicts the source.
+  Read summary.md and source_data.json. Compare the claims in the summary
+  against the facts in the source data. Score 1 if every numeric claim,
+  name, and date in the summary can be verified from the source data.
+  Score 0 if ANY claim is fabricated, hallucinated, or contradicts the source.
 ```
 
 ## Harness judge: multi-file comparison
@@ -177,12 +162,9 @@ schema_version: 1
 id: docs_consistent_with_code
 type: harness_judge
 description: API docs describe the actual endpoints implemented in routes.py.
-target_paths:
-  - docs/api.md
-  - src/routes.py
 instructions: |
-  For each endpoint documented in docs/api.md, check if it exists in
-  src/routes.py. Score 1 if every documented endpoint is implemented
-  AND every public endpoint in routes.py is documented. Score 0 if
-  there is any drift between the two files.
+  Read docs/api.md and src/routes.py. For each endpoint documented in the
+  API docs, check if it exists in routes.py. Score 1 if every documented
+  endpoint is implemented AND every public endpoint in routes.py is
+  documented. Score 0 if there is any drift between the two files.
 ```
diff --git a/skills/eval-banana/references/yaml-schema.md b/skills/eval-banana/references/yaml-schema.md
index 10af27c..772683d 100644
--- a/skills/eval-banana/references/yaml-schema.md
+++ b/skills/eval-banana/references/yaml-schema.md
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ Complete field reference for eval-banana check definitions. Each check file defi
 | `id` | string | **Yes** | Pattern `^[a-zA-Z0-9_-]+$`, non-empty after stripping | Must be unique across ALL discovered check files |
 | `type` | string | **Yes** | One of `deterministic`, `harness_judge` | Discriminator for the Pydantic union |
 | `description` | string | **Yes** | Non-empty after stripping | Human-readable, shown in reports |
-| `target_paths` | list[string] | No | Each entry non-empty | Resolved relative to `project_root`. Optional for both check types. |
 | `tags` | list[string] | No | — | Free-form metadata. Not yet used for filtering but allowed. |
 
 `extra="forbid"` is enabled — any unknown field fails validation.
@@ -50,20 +49,10 @@ Passed as `sys.argv[1]`. Always this exact shape:
   "description": "string",
   "project_root": "/abs/path",
   "source_path": "/abs/path/to/check.yaml",
-  "output_dir": "/abs/path/to/per-check-output-dir",
-  "targets": [
-    {
-      "path": "relative/or/absolute/as/written",
-      "resolved_path": "/abs/path/resolved/from/project_root",
-      "exists": true,
-      "is_dir": false
-    }
-  ]
+  "output_dir": "/abs/path/to/per-check-output-dir"
 }
 ```
 
-`targets` length matches `target_paths` length. Entry order is preserved.
-
 ### Result mapping
 
 | Outcome | Status | Score |
@@ -83,16 +72,14 @@ Type-specific fields:
 | `instructions` | string | **Yes** | Non-empty. The evaluation prompt sent to the harness agent. |
 | `model` | string | No | Override `harness.model` for this check only |
 
-**Constraint**: `target_paths` must be non-empty for harness_judge checks.
-
 ### Prompt shape
 
 The runner builds a prompt with:
 1. A fixed instruction asking for `{"score": 0|1, "reason": "..."}` JSON output
 2. The `description` as context
 3. The `instructions` as the evaluation criterion
-4. Each target file's content, separated by `--- BEGIN FILE: <path> ---` / `--- END FILE: <path> ---`
-5. Truncation marker `[TRUNCATED]` if `llm_max_input_chars` is set to a positive value and the file exceeds it (default: 0 = no truncation)
+
+The harness agent can read project files on its own — tell it which files to check in the `instructions` field.
 
 ### Required LLM response format
 
@@ -112,7 +99,6 @@ The runner builds a prompt with:
 | Valid JSON, `score == 0` | `failed` | 0 |
 | Malformed JSON or score outside {0,1} | `error` | 0 |
 | Harness subprocess spawn/timeout error | `error` | 0 |
-| Missing / unreadable target file | `error` | 0 |
 
 ## Validation rules summary
 
@@ -126,7 +112,7 @@ The loader raises a `ValueError` naming the file path for any of these:
 - Unknown top-level field (blocked by `extra="forbid"`)
 - `type` not one of the allowed values
 - `script` AND `script_path` both set, or neither set (deterministic)
-- `instructions` empty, or `target_paths` empty (harness_judge)
+- `instructions` empty (harness_judge)
 
 The runner raises `SystemExit` for:
 - Duplicate check IDs across files (shows both file paths)
@@ -142,6 +128,5 @@ The runner raises `SystemExit` for:
 | `script and script_path are mutually exclusive` | Both set | Remove one |
 | `deterministic check must have script or script_path` | Neither set | Add one |
 | `instructions must be non-empty` | Empty or missing on harness_judge | Add instructions |
-| `command must be a non-empty list` | Empty list or not a list | Use list syntax, non-empty |
 | `id does not match pattern` | Invalid chars (dots, spaces, etc.) | Use only `[a-zA-Z0-9_-]` |
 | `Duplicate check id 'X' found in: ...` | Same id in 2+ files | Rename one |