Lessons for Agentic Coding: What should we do when code is cheap?

4 hours ago

Implement to learn: Use Spec-Driven Development but improve specs by writing cheap code to surface unconsidered decisions.
Rebuild often: Iterate and explore ideas through frequent implementation and reinvention to leverage cheap code.
Invest in end-to-end tests: Focus on behavioral contracts that allow freedom to rebuild without breaking product functions.
Document intent: Capture the reasoning behind decisions to guide consistent direction for you and your agent.
Keep your specs in sync: Update spec files continuously to capture learnings and ease frequent rebuilds.
Find the hard stuff: Identify and focus on challenging aspects like intuitive design, performance, and security for value creation.
Automate everything that's easy: Minimize time on easy tasks by automating them to spend more on hard work, but avoid overcomplication.
Develop your taste: Rely on your own feedback and domain knowledge when code is fast, but feedback is slow.
Agents amplify experience: Use technical expertise and intuition in prompts to save cycles and reduce unnecessary agent exploration.
Code is cheap, but maintenance, support, and security aren't: Build quickly while being mindful of long-term responsibilities and costs.

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