What changed when agents started writing my code

Adopting AI agents in software development at Retool has accelerated certain tasks but hasn't simplified the overall workflow, highlighting the need for human judgment in crucial areas like code review and planning. AI agents, while effective in generating nearly all the code and identifying issues like inefficiencies and edge cases, still require engineers to provide context and make architectural decisions, as they can't correct fundamentally flawed designs. The integration of AI has improved efficiency, especially in updating and managing complex systems like the Terraform provider, but it necessitates a disciplined approach to distinguish between production-ready work and mere demonstrations. AI has enhanced planning accuracy by providing insights into existing systems, yet it hasn't reduced the time required for planning and decision-making, as human oversight remains essential. Retool's engineering culture has adapted by focusing on providing agents with the right context and documenting edge cases and bugs to ensure AI tools are effectively utilized in the development process.