Best practices for coding with agents

Coding agents, such as those offered by Cursor, are transforming software development by enabling models to run complex tasks, refactor code, and iterate until tests are successful. To maximize their potential, developers need to understand how agents operate and adopt new coding patterns, particularly through the use of agent harnesses, which comprise instructions, tools, and user messages. Planning before coding is emphasized, with features like Plan Mode allowing agents to research, ask clarifying questions, and create detailed plans before execution. Effective context management is crucial, and agents can dynamically find context and utilize features like @Branch for task orientation. The guide also discusses when to start new conversations, referencing past work efficiently, and customizing agents with rules and skills to enhance their capabilities. Skills allow agents to invoke domain-specific knowledge and workflows dynamically, while rules provide static context. Techniques such as test-driven development, codebase exploration, and parallel execution with worktrees are highlighted as beneficial practices. Additionally, cloud agents allow tasks to be delegated and executed remotely, offering flexibility and efficiency in handling various coding tasks. Debug Mode offers an alternative approach for tricky bugs by generating hypotheses and analyzing runtime data. The guide concludes with traits of developers who excel with agents, emphasizing specific prompting, iterative setup, careful review, providing verifiable goals, and treating agents as collaborative tools.

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