Coding agent task specifications that work

Effective coding-agent task specifications define a bounded, verifiable outcome rather than relying on vague requests, particularly for delegated or autonomous work. They should identify the relevant repository and area, describe the desired user or system behavior, provide reproduction steps or concrete inputs and outputs where applicable, establish scope boundaries, and include independently testable acceptance criteria with clear triggers and expected results. Specifications should also cover important negative cases, such as rejected unauthorized access or preserved existing behavior during migrations, while avoiding unnecessary implementation prescriptions. Stable project conventions, build commands, security rules, and validation expectations can be maintained in an AGENTS.md file, while task-specific context should link to relevant tests, incidents, designs, or requirements without overwhelming the agent. Before assigning work, reviewers should confirm the outcome, limits, evidence, required checks, remote-action approval authority, and pull-request review process so that implementation can proceed without guesswork and completion can be evaluated from observable evidence.

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