Agentic coding / 2 MIN READ
Your first task with a coding agent
Start small. Give an agent a clear brief, then follow the change from idea to working code.
An agent is most useful when you can describe what a successful result looks like. For your first experiment, choose a small change you can check yourself: an empty state, a keyboard shortcut, or a validation message.
1. Establish the starting point
Open a project you understand. Check its working tree and run its existing checks so you know what already works. Keep unfinished work separate from the task you are about to give the agent.
git status
git diff
Read the project’s README for its actual development and test commands. Do not assume every project uses the same scripts.
2. Describe a visible result
Try this brief in your chosen coding tool:
Add an empty state to the tutorial search results.
First inspect how search and filtering work.
When no tutorials match, show: “No tutorials found. Try another search.”
The message should disappear when results are available.
Keep the existing design and keyboard behavior.
Run the relevant checks and explain what you tested.
The brief names the behavior, the boundary, and how completion will be checked. Add file paths if you know where the feature lives.
3. Read the proposed changes
Watch for edits outside the feature you requested. If the agent proposes replacing the search system to add a message, narrow the task. A small first task should produce a small, understandable diff.
4. Verify it yourself
Search for a term that matches something, then for a term that matches nothing. Clear the input. Try using only the keyboard. Check whether the message is announced to assistive technology when the results change.
Run the relevant tests and read their output. A claim that checks passed is less useful than the exact command and result.
5. Keep what you understand
Review the final diff before committing. Ask the agent to explain unfamiliar code, then compare that explanation to the implementation. The goal of this exercise is a working change you can maintain.
Continue with writing a useful task brief or reviewing agent changes.