Chapter 8: The brief

Criteria say what must happen. The next three terms say what must not.

Scope

The edges of the job: which files, features and behaviours this task may change, and which it may not. One line of scope can save a long review.

Agents overshoot and undershoot, and you pay either way: too much is a diff you must read, too little is a follow-up. They can't tell how much you were hoping for. So say it, with something you can check, such as a folder and a rough size.

Say it to your agent

“Only change src/webhooks/ and its tests. If you think anything else needs to change, stop and list it in your reply instead of changing it. Aim for under 100 changed lines.”

The workshop

Name a word, or describe what you mean in everyday language.