Agentic coding becomes effective when it consistently delivers correct updates, passes tests, and maintains a reliable record. To achieve this, it's crucial to guide code agents with a structured workflow that emphasizes clarity, evidence, and containment. Key strategies include using a repo map to prevent broad refactors by helping agents understand the codebase's structure, enforcing a diff budget to keep changes manageable, and converting requirements into executable acceptance tests to provide clear targets. Additionally, incorporating a "rubber duck" step can reveal hidden assumptions, and requiring run recipes ensures the agent's output is reproducible and verifiable. These practices enhance the agent's precision and reliability, transforming it from a flashy tool into a dependable contributor to the development process. This matters because it enables more efficient and error-free coding, ultimately leading to higher quality software development.
