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AI Coding Agents

The Core Workflow

Human decides → AI executes → human reviews. Skipping the first step produces well-written code that is conceptually wrong. Skipping the last step ships code nobody verified.

  • AI writes code. Humans own consequences. Bugs, security, regressions do not transfer to the AI.
  • The goal is not speed. The goal is trustable output.

Rules Files Are the Key

Project instructions (CLAUDE.md, rules files) define how code should be structured, named, and organized. Well-defined rules produce consistent output across sessions and models.

  • Without rules, each generation drifts. Variable names change. Error handling varies. The codebase becomes harder to navigate.
  • Dedicate most time to defining correct abstraction rules. This is the highest-leverage work when using AI coding agents.

What AI Handles Well (Accidental Complexity)

  • Boilerplate and scaffolding
  • Repetitive patterns that follow established conventions
  • Code generation within clear rules
  • Test generation for well-defined contracts

What AI Struggles With (Essential Complexity)

  • Business logic boundaries
  • Architecture tradeoffs
  • Decisions requiring understanding of the broader system
  • Domain modeling where the “right” answer depends on context

Decide the essential part first. Then let AI execute.

Autonomy Levels

Match autonomy to risk and clarity:

  • High autonomy: simple, well-defined tasks with clear conventions and good test coverage.
  • Tight oversight: complex tasks with ambiguous requirements, cross-module changes, or new patterns.
  • As conventions mature and coverage grows, safe autonomy increases.

Observability Is the Safety Net

In a world where engineers see less of the produced code, observability is critical. Without visibility into problems, neither AI nor humans can act.

  • Structured logs with consistent identifiers for filtering.
  • Log AI agent inputs and outputs for debugging.
  • Monitor production behavior of AI-generated code like any critical system.

Evolution

  • Feb 2026 — rewritten in rule-oriented format from AI articles, IDENTITY.md, and hands-on experience.