[softwaredoug]

My other article on this topic advocates for using code over specs :)

It’s ok to talk to the agent in code. Or create examples for it to follow.

https://softwaredoug.com/blog/2026/07/04/write-code-not-spec...

[bluefirebrand]

> It’s ok to talk to the agent in code. Or create examples for it to follow

If you're doing this, then why not just write the effing code?

[SpicyLemonZest]

"Hey Claude, can you please make a full matrix of tests according to the following pattern and parameters? Thanks." That's 15-20 minutes of work that can run in the background while I do something else.

[softwaredoug]

Exactly this. Spending a few hours crafting and debugging a test you trust save hours of pointless agent time.

[softwaredoug]

What I mean by "talk to the agent in code" really is to code. Establish patterns. Then have the agent use those patterns as reference for other areas of the project.

[imhoguy]

What I miss in Claude Code is code completion at prompt line.. ah wait it gets back to IDE and Copilot.

[gblargg]

> My other article on this topic advocates for using code over specs :)

Code is executable. Specs are not.

[imhoguy]

Prompt is executable (interpreted) code with LLM agent harnes now, just the syntax is fuzzy.

"Please print 'hello world'"

[inigyou]

Oh no.

It's IRP.

https://esolangs.org/wiki/IRP